Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-01-21
The cuff DiCetiers.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT AN EXTINCT
RACE or INDnNs-THEIR ABSoRNALLY
DEVELOPED ART TASTES.

DEVELOPED ART TASTES.
The Cliff Dwelers live in Colorado and
Arizona when they arc at home, but they
have branch Office at the rooms OF ,he
National Geological Survey on Seventh
street, and there Post reporter found
them the other day.
Plaster models OF the peculiar dwell
ingS of an extinct race are among tho
most interesting objects TO be seen here.
Tho model represents the face OF the
cliff, iu The cetts and crevices OF which
these house are built Ii must have
taken good deal oi strength and skill
to scale those perpendicular walls, and
these houses we're undoubtedly blilt for
delcaco in time Of war. For the average
Indian is as lazy Hs he is lone and,
other things being equal, would have
built his house nearer 10 wood aud water.
He mas. however, succeeded in express
ing himself in house" moro articulately
than Beech,r has done at Peekskill. But
the lndisn waited to DO let alone and so
he hung his house like Mahomet's coffin,
halt way between tine heaven and the
earth. He did not care for society, and
50 be punclured the walls OF his house
with mere breathing holes, OF most in
ho.pitable size. When be wanted to put
himself on record. be engraved or paint
ed on The cliffs. ia hierogly phics, tho
story of his tr;umphs, and when lie
wrapped the drapery OF his couch about
him. and iaY down 10 pleasant dreams.
be carried down into the grave with hIm
bits OF painted pottery. "One touch OF
nature makes the whole world kin !" He,
too, had his decorative art craze. lie
may have been savage and sullen and
revengeful and centuries away from US IL
civilization and race and religion, but be
liked painted plate. And be was wiser
in his generation than We are, inasmucA
as be did not try 10 paint pictures, on his
plates and jugs. but was content with
decoration pure and ample. When the
cliff dweller became extinct, and his
brown-s.One front ceased TO be valuable
US O. house, II became valuable as q relic,
and passed INTO the hands of the scientists
from whom The reporter gathered this
small bouquet OF facts.
These chif-houses conform in shape t
the niche 10 The rock in which they arc
butt. The mason4ry is good, and thoy
are securely cemen,ed 10 the rocks. They
were. undoubtedly, fortresses, used f.!
refuge and defence. Built as they are,
in the c.ells OF the rocks, sometimes
hundreds oil feet sbovo the foot OF the
cliff. they were Ms inconvenieut as posi-
bic tor ordinary living purposes.
The cave dwellings, were made by dig
giuS irregular cavities in the faces OF
bluffs OF frisb.e rock, and then walling
up the 'front.' leaving oaiy 4 small door
was and 90 cccssiousl window at tue
side or top. When natnre lent hand
by way Of furnishing ready-made cave
the mob. savage was not too proud to
avail himself Of il.
There axe also plaster models Of the
villages in which the agricultural popu-
laiion lived The villages are made up
OF large buildings, capable OF holding
several hundred people.
Flats ?" queried the reporter, looking
at the low, broad doorless house.
Flats they evidently were. built on the
cooperative plan, aud suggesting the
idea of the community. 1t may be very
philosophical, and very hygenic, but it is
not cheerful.
There were cases OF pottery, strong,
simple shapes, and some in a good spirit
of decoration, nearly all tho forms
known to civilized srt were here.
In these rooms arc the photographs,
stereoscopic views, and vster-color
paintings done by the artists who have
accompanied the survey. 1t is the sriis-
tic side OF science. There are two cray
on portraits, typical faces, probably done
by Mr.. W. o. Holmes. "Num-pay-yen
had broad, low face. that lacked the
usual responsiveness, and had a grave
pa,hos. The American Indian woman
has the sphinx face of the new
world, ard The one question sho asks Of
civilization is, what under heaven she
was created for, and what is going to be-
come OF herP That was what sho asked
the reporter this morning. He referred
her to the Indian commission. But he
liked Num-qay-ylu. and il the fellow in
Locksley has i, still in mind to wed Il
dusky savage, and il she would take
dcwn those exaggerated puffs of hair
that made her iisean animated windmill,
he couldn't DO better than to take her.
Nature set her palette gorgeously
when she did Colorado She had such
head OF color on that she must have
reeed sometimes. Here are the Beau
tiful gates in the garden of the gods"
Through these gates ajar" we get " on
derfu vistas of color and distance.
There are mineral colors, strong with
iron al the warm earth colors. There
is Tower Greek, " the rock towers risipe
strong and dark in the foreground. and