St Josephs Academy - La Lumiere Yearbook (Prescott, AZ)

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i8 ACADEMY CHIMES. THE SNAKE DANCE. 71 mong the many marvelous feat- ures of sunny Arizona, one of V I surpassing interest is the Snake J | Dance of the Moqui Indians. This wonderful religious cere- mony has often been described but no description can possibly do the subject justice. Last summer I witnessed it for the second time and, during my stay in the Moqui village, was forcibly im- pressed by the romance, history, and strange doings of the so-called “Snake people.” Our party of eleven, including Rev. Father Anselm, O. S. F., and Rev. Father Vuillard, left Ganado, the Navajo reser- vation at sunrise on Monday, and a two days’ ride brought us to our destination. The Moqui snake dance occurs every year in one of their villages. The best Snake Men are said to be those of the village of Walpi, which is situated on a mesa about six hundred feet high, in the northern part of the territory. The Moquis regard the snake with reverence as their maternal ancestor belonged to the “snake people.” The Snake Dance is therefore a prayer for rain and the ceremonials used are con- sidered necessary to propitiate “ those above ” who control the elements so that refreshing showers descend upon the otherwise barren fields. The men who take part in the dance fast for three days previous to it and devote that time to snake-hunting. Deadly rattle-snakes are captured from the fields, and, as they are to take part in the prayer, they must undergo a pro- cess of purification. Hence, a few hours before the open air dance, all the snakes are washed in the underground kiva. In this way the terrible reptiles are prepared to engage with their “ younger brothers,” the Moquis, in the petition for rain. Very few have ever witnessed this ablution as it is a secret proceeding—those only who belong to the Snake Order are supposed to be pre- sent thereat. The performance begins at four o’clock in the afternoon, generally in the month of August; the place where it is to be given having been previously swept, branches of Cottonwood trees are placed against the quaint structure near a wonderful pillar of erosion called by the Moquis the “sacred rock.” In front of these branches is dug a deep hole and some boards firmly fixed over it, so arranged that when one steps on them a hollow sound is pro- duced. When everything is in readiness, the Antelope Men (a minor order of the Snake Men) come out, some with sacred meal, others with rattlers, still others bearing large feathers; they follow the priest who carries a basin of water which he sprinkles around the dancing grounds. The procession moves in front of the Cottonwood trees and the dancers stamp their feet on the boards so as to notify the spirits of the under- world of their presence. They file up on each side of the trees and await the coming of the Snake Men. In a short time is heard the unmistakable tramp which heralds their approach. They appear looking fierce and warlike. They walk rapidly pass the Antelope Men for some distance and back again in front of the trees; then stamp their feet as the Antelope Men did and draw up in line directly opposite them. Now they are ready to begin the Dance which consists in raising the right foot and swaying the body from side to side, beating time with a feather or a rattler and accompanying these strange move- ments by a low monotonous chant. These preliminaries occupy about ten minutes. Now comes the most exciting and in- teresting scene. One of the men stoops, lifts the snakes and distributes them to the men who handle them with freedom and readiness that seems astounding. Some are. seen with two or three snakes in their mouths and the

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ACADEMY CHIMES. 17 studies faithfully and willingly and per- forms her tasks in an intelligent, con- scientious and cheerful manner. Now glance at her sleepy seat-mate. School life for her is dull and dreary, and the idler folds her hands and indolently waits for something to turn up or, if she rouses herself from her ennui, it is to write or speak in sympathy with “The Man With the Hoe,” or “The Girl With the Mop,” or some other pessimistic theorist. In the school room, if any where, the old adage applies in all it force—“Labor ipse voluptas.” Throughout the past few months we have felt the stimulus arising from a united and generous spirit of labor. We have realized that we can never succeed until we learn to love our work. What seemed an utter impossibility to us at the beginning of the academic year has by earnest effort and dint of perseverance, become not only possible, but an accomplished fact. When the wide prospect of an immense field of labor confronted us in Septem- ber we almost dispaired of ever accom- plishing such a vast work. Yet we have advanced steadily day by day, and what seemed well nigh hopeless has been achieved. To-day we gaze with the deepest emotion retrospectively upon that portion of the field we have already reaped and garnered, and draw much pleasure from the knowledge that it is with the Divine Assistance, due mainly to our own industry. “ Nothing,” says Reynolds, “ is denied well directed labor, and nothing is to be obtained without it.” There is dignity in labor of the hand as well as of the bead, in labor to provide for bodily wants of individual life, as well as to promote some enter- prise of worldly fame. Labor clears the forest, drives the plow and scatters seeds, reaps the harvest, grinds the corn and converts it into bread, the staff of life. Those who are tempted to cease from labor and trust to luck should remember the following proverbs : Luck is waiting for something to turn up. Labor, with keen eyes and strong will, will turn up something. Luck lies in bed and wishes the post- man would bring him a legacy. Labor turns out at 6 o’clock and with a busy pen or threaded steel lays the foundation of competence. To feel that we have a great deal to do is a cause for thankfulness, and it is a mistake to think that we could do better work if we had more time to de- vote to it, for it is generally when we are busiest that we do our best. The less one has to do, the less he wants to do. He who is willing to give himself to a noble work, whether it be intellect- ual or menial, who is ready to sacrifice himself in all that his avocation de- mands, has the reasonable assurance that, by diligence and earnest devotion, he is contributing to the stability of this grand republic. We, who are standing in the day- break of a new century, must remem- ber that the young people of to-day are determining the issues of coming generations. The various activities of life call for the brain, muscle, nerve and virtue of the young as never before. Strength of mind, heart, life, character, soul, are demanded. Let us, then, go forward. Let us see that this great ordinance of Heaven be not broken down. Let us glory in the hard hands that have been scarred with service more honorable than that of war. Toil of the brain, of the heart, or of the hand, is the only true nobility, the secret of success and an inexhaustible source of contentment and happiness. Loretta Ford, ’00.

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ACADEMY CHIME . i9 sight is “ as thrilling as it is hideous and as exciting as it is repulsive.” Some two hundred snakes are used in one of these dances, and examination has proved that the fangs and poison - glands are in a normal and deadly con- dition both during the washing cere- mony and at the close of the dance. They proceed in double file; one man holds the snakes and the other attracts the attention of the monsters with the feather he carries, this acting as a charm keeps the snakes from biting the one holding them. There are, generally about ten Moqui girls standing on one side of the enclosure, holding baskets of sacred meal, and every time the snake- men pass them they scatter some of this meal. This has been repeated several times when the leader of the Antelopes makes a ring of the meal and sprinkles it with water. All the men now throw the snakes into the ring and the women cast the remainder of the sacred meal over them. All make a “grab” for the snakes and, taking as many as they can hold, run down the mesa. When they reach the base they fling the snakes in every direction and a general melee ensues. On their return from their race down the hill they drink of a medicine pre- pared by the women, and also bathe themselves with it. The medicine is of such efficacy that, in case of a bite hav- ing been inflicted by any of the rattle- snakes, it serves as an anTldote. How and from what it is produced is known only to themselves. Many, I believe, have vainly endeavored to force the Moquis to disclose the secret ; it would be a benefit to humanity to possess a remedy for rattlesnake poison. After the performance, the Snake and Antelope men adjourn to their respec- tive kivas and there await the women who are to bring them the much-needed food. Every woman from the three vil- lages of the mesa contributes something and they feast themselves to satiety. A Moqui Indian will never kill a snake. There is an ancient tradition among them that they received their language from the snakes which prob- ably accounts for their reverence. The morning of the Snake Dance, Rev. Father Vuillard celebrated Mass in the village of Walpi, the first time the Holy Sacrifice had been offered in that place for upwards of two hundred and fifty years. Barbara Hubbell, ’00. ALUMNA NOTES. Miss Elva Haskell, ’96, is teaching at Cottonwood, Arizona. Mrs. Bennet, nee Fannie Lindsay, ’94, of Jerome, visited the Academy a short time since. Miss Maddie Freuler, ’94, who was obliged to discontinue teaching on ac- count of ocular trouble, is now in San Diego under medical treatment. Miss Dollie Butler, ’97, has accepted a position with the Sunset Telephone Company. Her sister, Josephine, stud- ent, ’90, is teaching at Skull Valley. Miss Cora Lindsay, ’96, after an extended sojourn at the seaside, re- turned to Prescott and will make her home with her guardian, Mr. W. O’Neil. Miss Alice Campbell, ’98, after spend- ing a year in Washington, D. C., has returned to school for a post-graduate work. Alice is our exemplary gradu- ate. Ever regular in attendance at Sodality meetings and promptly on hand for First Friday rehearsals, her bright example is one well worthy of imitation. She manifests her affection for and her loyalty to her Alma Mater by rendering cordial assistance to all who are “ eager to drink at the foun- tain of Knowledge.” We welcome you to the class-room, Alice, for your pres- ence awakens sweet memories of “Ye olden time.” Barbara Hobbell, ’00.