The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-10
NEW M EXlCo.
Lecture by Hon. Clarence PulIen in
the Mechanics Course.

Seats were placed in every available posi-
ton in the library room in the Mechanics
building last night and every seat was occu-
pied when Hon. Clarence Pullen, eX-Suryey-
or General of New Mexico, commenced his
entertaining and instructive lecture Mr..
Pullen spoke for an hour on New Mexico
and retained his hearers closest attention to
the close. His subject was one that was COM
paratively new to people in the East and yet
was full of interest. He spoke Of the con-
figuration of New Mexico, its position in re-
lation to other territories and its clear, dry
and remarkably pure air. In 1878 Mr.. Pull
lens profession, civil engineering led him
New Mexico.
The country was then in lamentable con-
dition. While in some places shepherds were
patiently watching thousands of sheep and in
other places vineyards were flourishing lux
uriantly, still much of the country was over
run with deSperadoeS and the cruel and cum
ming Apache Indians. The speaker enjoyed
the privilege of journey of five months af-
ter he arrived there, during which time he
visited nearly every place in the territory.
bic value to him. He found ID the Il language Of
the inhabitants to be provincial form of
the Latin spoken in Spain three and one
half centuries ago. He heard some of the
shepherds speak almost true Latin. So eX-
ceedingly slow had been the progress of the
country-if progress there had been at all
that the people had not changed their mode
OF conversation in these long years.
Mr.. Pullen related at some length the story
OF the founding of the. Spanish colony in
New Mexico in 1891 and the causes which
led to this movement The silver and tur-
quoise mines carried on for fully eighty
years and operated by the enslaved Pueblo
Indians, received due attention and the thrill
Ing history Of the great Pueblo up
given by the lecturer. The turquoise
mines, and especially their appearance at
the present time, were described and exam
and their surroundings had been preserved
In speaking of Santa Fe at the time of the
Pueblo instruction, Mr.. Pullen referred to
the Governors palace which stands there
and which has been occupied by every Gov
ernor of New Mexico-Spanish, Mexican and
American: Mr.. Pullen described the charac-
teristics of the MeXicans, their hospitality, ed
ucation and other qualities. He spoke Of the
matter OF sun worship by the natives and
said that while many of the Pueblos had
they assembled each morning to greet the
rising sun. Mr.. Pullen spoke of the mode
OF the living of the Puebl0S and described
the adobe houses SO much used in the Terri
Tory. OOme llttle Time was devoted TO the
qualities of the Apache Indians.
The houses of the Spanish dons with their
peculiarities, and the methods of cultivation
by irrigation were fully described. The pri-
nlitive method of threshing grain by driving
animals over it and the old Roman plows are
still in use. The passing of the railroad
through the territory has mainly seemed to
improve it by the building up of the towns
directly upon the lines. The final portion of
the address was most interesting. Mr.. Pullen
exhibited to the audience, aSspecimens from
New Mexico, a lasso, Apache clubs, war cup,
cow boys whips, papooses baskets, common
baskets, and Navajo blankets. He made
few descriptive remarks about each and re-
lated anecdotes of them.
When Mr. Pullen finished he was heartily
applauded and large number Of his friends
pressed forward to congratulate him upon
the effort 1t was certainly one of the best
addresses of the kind ever given here. Mr..
Pullen will lecture in Boston Thursday be-
fore the Society of Arts at the Institute of
Technology Hall on the subject "The Road
ways of New Mexico" Early next week the
lecture delivered here will be repeated in
Lexington Mass