The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-04
A ZUNI MAIDEN.
Mrs. Stevenson's Interesting Protege and
Her Observations in Washington.

Mrs. Stevenson's Interesting Protege and
Her Observations in Washington.
Washington Special.
Wewha, the Zuni maiden ian Indian priestess),
of whose appearance among the ladies receiving
at Washington tea" last month a mention has
already been made in the Times receives visitors
regularly on Fridays with Mrs. Stevenson.
whom she accompanied to Washington, and
whose guest she is. She is twenty FIVE years old
aud much larger in form than most of the
women of her race She is an Industrious young
woman, who never wishes TO be idle, and when
thus receiving buses herself in weaving with
the crude implements used by the women of her
tribe broad belt as wide and as strong as a
saddle-girth of red and white worsted. She
makes it rapidly and evenly, and makes the
pattern with perfect regularity as she goes
along, though she has model before her, and
never makes mistake in counting her threads,
however loud the talking of other women may
be around her. She understands enough English
to know what they are saying. She has lately
learned to knit, out says she will not do that
after she goes home as knitting is mans work
in Zuni and the women there never knit.
Wewha has made some sharp comments in
private to her friend Mrs. Stevenson as to the
amount of talking the Washington women do,
and has said it seemed to her that they did moth
ing but talk. But she has been much pleased
and amused by what she has when at fash
ioDable gatherings, has noticed the ladies'
dresses. and after once being with Mrs. Steven
son, when the latter was receiving, spoke Of the
difference between her own dress and that of her
FRIEND and wished to make herself look finer for
the next reception. She wanted to buy enough
red satin to make herself shirt to receive in. to
replace that oe white cotton goods. which she
wears regularly, with worsted waist and short
skirt but going to store to buy the satin
came to the conclusion that. it would require
''too much money" her own words, to buy it, SO
RETAINED though she had slipped away from
Mrs. Stevenson and had gone shopping alone.
One day, hearing a conversation. which no one
thought she understood. in English about
parasols selling very cheap then at certain
store, she quietly slipped away went alone to
the store. distance Of about mile from where
she is visiting, and astonished Mrs Stevenson
by returning an hour or two later holding big
red satin parasol over her head How she made
the girls at the store understand what she want.
ed and how they made her comprehend what
was to be paid for it is mystery. But she did
pay for it. She was quite shocked at meeting
lady at dinner in a low-neck dress, and after
wards said that the Americans spoke of the Zuni
women wearing their dresses short and showing
their legs nearly to their knees and having their
arms bare, but she thought that was better
than showing so much of the neck. She said
she liked to see little of the front of the neck
near the throat, but not much the lady she
had met had exposed. She was also shocked at
seeing the short, thin dresses of ballet dancers
at the theater.