--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 22:31:24 -0500
From: "Anna A. Sylvan" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: gitchmee-gumee <fwd>
Sender: "Anna A. Sylvan" <[log in to unmask]>
I don't know how authoritative this is but according to the text, Longfellow
indeed called the Lake Superior Gitchie Gumee.
http://www.chippewaboots.com/legend.html
It stands to reason
that a boot company
that's been in
business for almost
a hundred years has
more than a good
instinct for survival.
We call it Chippewa
integrity. A
commitment to
quality and consistency. A skill in crafting
the right style at the right time...always
attractive, comfortable and durable.
While the narrative epic "Song of Hiawatha"
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, draws on
history and Indian legend, it is also fictional.
Hiawatha is a young Chippewa leader living
near the south short of Lake Superior (Called
Gitche Gumee). He triumphs in struggles
with natural forces and with human and
superhuman beings. He marries the lovely
Minnehaha. Together, they rule with dignity
and justice through periods of peace, plenty,
and famine. Longfellow's creation in 1855 of
this strong, humane Indian hero was an
exceptionally positive portrayal of Native
Americans for the poet's time and it soon
became a best seller.
The same kind of proud perseverance and
legendary romanticism have also made
Chippewa boots an American classic.
Chippewa boots are best sellers because we
settle for nothing less than the best every
step of the way.
Since 1901, we have continued right in step
with tradition of the great Chippewa
craftsmen. The Chippewa Boot Company
has been refining and perfecting boot
construction techniques for nearly 100 years.
American ingenuity. American
know-how.
All inspired by some of
America's earliest,
most resourceful people, the
Chippewa
Indians.
Even in today's world of
space-age
materials and techniques,
superior
American leathers treated
properly still
provide the greatest quality
and
performance the world around.
Everywhere
technology has made
advancements in
durability or traction or
providing twice the
toughness with one quarter the
weight,
Chippewa has enthusiastically
incorporated
these advantages into its boot
construction. Whether
traditional or
ultra-modern materials, our
bottom line is
quality...in comfort and
performance.
Over the years we have placed
concerns
for function and style side by
side, and the
results have been admirable. We
have
achieved a truly incomparable
Chippewa
look, consistently fresh and
unique in the
market. True to the personality
of the
Chippewa culture that is our
namesake, it
is a no-nonsense, natural
style, with a
broken-in fold and rugged good
looks.
We couldn't be more in
agreement with our
Chippewa tradition, that
products must be
constructed to function well,
and in that
construction, there is great
beauty.
I hope this is helpful,
Anna
Johnnie Sutherland wrote:
> --- Begin Forwarded Message ---
> Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 22:05:05 EDT
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: gitchmee-gumee
> Sender: [log in to unmask]
>
> Hi,
> I need help with a question for a reference class. I need to know which lake
> is the one Longfellow referred to as Gitchee-Gumee. I know this is Lake
> Superior, but where is that documented? Any atlas or dictionary?
> Thanks to all,
> Judy W.
> --- End Forwarded Message ---
--- End Forwarded Message ---
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