Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-03

lance from here. Imagine a small cleared
spot amidst a tangle of wild vegetation and
scattered scrub oak enclosed. by parbed wire
to prevent the depredations of wild animals.
Rows of graves as close as they can be dug
fill the small inclosure, and on each rude
mound geometrical figures are outlined in
shells and bits of broken glass or crockery,
while old lamps, watches, clocks, bottles
and anything that can catch anG give back
the suns rays are placed upon the graves
for purposes of ornamentation. 1t was a
pathetic picture. These people have perfect
faith in a hereafter and an absolute belief
that death is but the gate of reunion.
In a broad clearing among the willows
that line the rivers bank l found a pic
turesque brush hut containing several rooms,
the walls of which were constructed of dried
limbs and foliage closely interlaced, the roof
was of tule thatch, and the hard earthen
floors were as clean as frequent sweepings
could make them. An old woman sat on a
bench in the shady, cool interior, busily
engaged in mending a child's clean calico
waist, and a small lad of perhaps 6 or 7
years, whose 1.-THE, bronze body was en-
tirely nude, peeped out of the duskiness
Of an inner apartment.
Subjects for the Camern,
Here were subjects for the photographers
art. | asked for a drink of water from the
ola, praised its GOODNESS and accepted an in
~vitation to sit down in the shade at the
same time deploring the heat of the SUMS
rays. The woman had wiped off the chair
and sprinkled the floor afresh.
The acquaintance progressed, and pres
emily the boy was ccaxed from his hiding
place, his bashfulness overcome by an ex-
preston of interest in the kitten he Rugged
! so tightly that If was nlmDgt Gnnntbara1
proving again the adage, lone touch of
nature makes the whole world kim"
Neither he nor his grandmother had a
thought of immodesty in the fact that he
was nude, though the old woman remarked
pathetically that she had washed and was
repairing his only garment, except a we'll
worn and oft-mended pair of tiny pants.
With the gift of a bag of tobacco and a
small silver coin pressed into the boys hand
the surrender was complete, and, amid a
shower of blessings, Maria said plaintiyely,
in the mixture of Spanish, Indian and Eng
lish, that is the language of her people, Il
love to smoke, but | am too poor to buy
tobacco, for the boys father, who is my SON
in-law, takes everything to buy drink with
Then she was anxious TO pose before the
camera and would have patiently "sat" for
an hour had / so desired. Later, as we
Ih6oih paaoth tiub way, liz tiilih ihI Jul AIT
hailed us, pointing to himself. He was
clad in his clean clothes and had an old
straw hat upon his head, and was the ex-
emplifcation of pride in appearance.
Half a mile further on an ancient adobe
hut, with the inevitable brush-roofed annex
in front, crowns the summit of a low hill.
Here the hoemak and cobbler for the val
ley lives. He Is a stalwart fellow, whose
wife has a pretty intelligent face, though
she speaks only the Indian language. The
younger generation have not learned the
language of their forefathers, and by the
time their children have reached maturity il
will have been utterly forgotten.
Inquiry developed the fact that on the hill
beyond, which one reached by descending the
abrupt slope Of a steep canyon and ascend
ing quite as steep a grade on the other side,
lived the great grandmother of the shoe
maker, and his offices We're Immediately Sc
cured to obtain her consent to "sit" for a
picture.
BY the side of a low tule hut, shaded
from the glare OF the sun
by some punches of tules, a bundle
of bones and parchment-like skin in the
semblance of a human being sat huddled
upon some old rags. Her bleared eyes
seemed oblivious to everything and heI
claw-like hands clutehed at the empty all
spasmodically.
A Living Mummy.
There was something horrible yet awe-in-
spring in the sight of this creature wh6
suggested the thought of nothing SO much
as a living mummy. The dropping of {
bag of tobacco into her lap worked an in.
slant and marvellous change. She awoke L
a knowledge OF her surroundings as II By
magic and, taking In the situation at
glance, particularly the eamera with the
lens pointed directly at her, she brushed
aside the wlsps of coarse gray hair an'
hitched herself into the sun. Striking al