The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-12-21

A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Merry Christmas TO all. and may tho Christ
child in the sweet simplicity of faith and love,
dwell in every heart aud home
With the thought of the Christ-chiid comes ten
d-rness to all living things, deeper devotion
L., Iife's duties, ard greater JOY in serving the
helpless aud he weak ard those who are depend
cot upon US for encouragement aud comfort and
support.
wrIcoune the Chrisi-child. for shall the King
So of Heaven begin in your hearts and your lives.
CLIFFDwELLERs AT THE WORLDS FAIR.
Tu The student OF science aud the history of man
there was no exhibit at the Worlds Fair half so
Interesting the ABthropological Department, OF
hich the Cliflwellers formed = part.
What is man? How loaR has lie lived on this
sa,th? What and where were his first hahitatioms?
What we're his implements OF industry and de-
Grnse? These the great, absorbing questions Of
tlse wise men Of the ages.
hwas for q long time believed that the continent
Of America had never been the abode of civilized
man prior to the discovery Of America by Column
has and the Spanish naygators- But in Gacalan
aid portions Of South America there arc extensive
ard wonderful ruins, dating back seven or eight
hundred years. Many fine examples of the Yucca
tan ruins. carved pillars from temples. saerificiai
stars. and SO on were seen in the Anthropoiogical
Binding proper al the Worlds Fair.
Recent exploring expeditions and geological sur
views have put Il new aspect on the American Con-
asneut To the anthropoogist and scientist. 1t Is
now definitely known that the ruins OF extinct
semi-civilized races in America are much more ex-
tensive and OF vastly greater interest than are the
earliest extinct ruins of the Eastern Continent.
Europe Asia, and Africa combined
The earliest examples Of civilization on the East
srn Continent are the remains Of the Cavedwcllers
ofwestern Europe and the L,kedweIers of Switz-
erland belonging to what is known as the stone
Age the age when the implements of mans in-
dustry and weapons of defense were wholly OF
stone.
To this Stone Age" the Clifdwelfers of Amer
Sea undoubtedly belong. They antedate the Aztecs
and the TOecs those interesting and extinct races
of the southern part of North America. now known
as Mexico, who were driven ont by the rude bar
bsrians from the North. and huaIy disappeared
before the Spanish conquerors. The fsvorite
HOME OF THE CLIFFDwELLERs
vas In The canyons Of Colorado. Utah, and New
Mexico. When they lived is wholly conjecture.
The time has been estimated anywhere between
500 and 800 years ago, in the third century Of
Ihe Christian era, 1900 b. c. Some Of their
ruined castles have trees growing through them
hundreds Of years old. But who can estimate the
ages which elapsed before The trees began to grow?
Who the Cliffdwelers were, and how far back
they lived in the misis of the ages is n mystery
which may never be solved But happily for
and this mystical the ages have spared enough
of their works to tell us that strong. peaceful
people Of refined tastes AMI constructive
powers built the crumbng castles of the Rockies;
that they were well advanced in architecture for
Hborigines; had n knowledge of engineering.
shown Ia their waierworks aud irrigating canals;
that they knew how to make textile fabrics and
pottery, and that although their homes
fortresses for protection against barbarie hordes.
yet they agriculturisls pure and simple, cuti-
waiting corn. beans. pumpkins, squashes. and
variety of grains for food.
The Clifdweilers have long been the wonder Of
scientists but beyond the specialists few have had
opportunity of faDiliarzing themselves with so
q subject. To ilie II. Jay Smith Exploring Co..
who spent two years in the great MAncos region,
preparing their Worlds Fair exhibit. full credit
must be given for p"pnIarizinE aH;hropology and
eihnology and stimulating study aud research in
most important branches of modern science.
The construction Of the Clif iweers' Building
al the Worlds Fair and the arrangement Of the
exhibits Of the exploring party required the n
String labor OF skilled company Of scientists and
artists for many weeks When the work was CON-
peled il was the most remarkable oi,jec,-IessOu of
science practically demonstrated which has ever
been seen in this country any other. The out
side Of the ClifTdw elIers' Building represented
BATTLE ROCK MOUNTAIN.
o bold landmark rising up ia the desert Of south
western Colorado. The exterior weird and
strange: the interior, brilliantly lighted with
oesed electric lights. realistic scene marvel
Gus with the gathered nsemeHlOes OF q long van
ished race
The gateway Of Battle Rock Mountain was made
10 represent Of the dwellings Of the cliffs.
Passing on. Jeff the civilization OF the 18Th CEN
fury aud found himself among the strange sur
roundinSs ofthe celebrated Mancos Canyon. Rocks
covered with yucca plant and sagebrush
both sides To the hight Of 20 feet aud ia the
Of the cTumbiing sandstone produced on a scale OF
one-tenlb their real size the picturesque ruins
Of greatest areiseOogic Interest. Every hing pro-
duced was from the measurements aud diagrams
Of the exploring party. verified by photographs
taken at the same Time.
Clif Palace. on the Jeff was one Of the ruins re-
produced a scale OF one-ientb. This palace was
once the abode Of !. go human beings It's tower
and balconies were ia =, good state of preservation
On the right was 50 aAre Tower House. a I0-story
structure, all Of stone, aud ON the opposite side
Canyon Balcony House exhibiting one If the fast
disappearing examples of cedar balconies now aad
then found Ia that region. Further on rose High
House. Of tile inaccessible refugees Of the perse-
cuted CliTdweiiers.
The best proof 81 the theory that the
cLIFPDwELLINGs WE'RE F0RTREssEs
IL in the fact thai u bile their buildings had bal
comics. doors and windows, overlooking the can
yons where their homes were buili, yet they built
no stairs and cut no steps. They merely cut out
slight foot and hand-holds 10y nleAr- Of which with
the aid OF ladders. and perhaps ropes made from
yucca plant they made tie perilous ascent and de-
scent to and from their dwellings
In the Clifdwe iiers' Building At the Worlds
Fair exhibited models Of the interior of these
dwellings. which were OF great aid in understand
ing the mode Of life of their strange inhabitants
These models were Of the assembly -roonis kitcii-
ems. graves, and grsuaries; for. strange it may
seem, the CfIdweliers laid away iheir dead Ia
rooms in their own dwellings. removing stones and
walling them in.
The clear, pure air Of Colorado and Utah with
the high ard dry situation OF the clIff,iweliBgs
has been the means of preserving b.dies OF the
dead in good state of preservation as the en-
balmed mummies Of Egypt. Then, who know
but these people Understood the of EN- bal ming
The mumnlies OF men. women ard children will,
skulls and hair, burial robes aud wrAppines. are
found in their ruined buildings in great numbers
Many were exhibited lea the CiiIdweliers' Museum.
One Of the FIRST mummic- discovered by the Jay
Smith explorers named "She," after Rider
BaggaTd's fancfui creation. she " Is one Of The
best preserved Of the She House collection OF
nummies. which is very large and interesting.
The Clifdwellers living-roo are circular
stone apartments with stone seat ali around and
a stone fireplace ia the center or rather a stone
column, With n bowl-shaped top aud "a place below
Tor building fire. first glimpse suggests a very
HHloky kitchen, but those having a knowledge %