Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-03-07
AN INDIAN ASSOCIATION.
Help Given the Rebecca Collins Hospital,
New Mexico.
New York Tribune.)

New York Tribune.)
The New York City Indian Associa-
ton held it's regular monthly meeting
yesterday at 1890 a. m. In the pleasant
parlors of the Broadway tabernacle,
Broadway and Thirty-fourth street, the
president, Mrs. Hamilton S. Gordon, in
the chair.
The secretary, Mrs. Horace Green.
read a letter from Mrs. Eldridge, SUI
p%erintendent of the Navajo mission at
Jewett, N. NJ, which told Of the COM
pletion of the Rebecca Collins Memorial
Hospital at hat place, and urging the
necessity for prompt action in raising
the additional funds needed for barn
and other outbuildings. 1t was voted
to forward SIS Immediately. The hos
pital was built from a fund contributed
in memory of Rebecca Collins, a de-
ceased member of the organization, and
is intended for the Navajo Indians,
among whom the association estab-
lished a mission last year. Mrs. FL
bridge, the government field matron,
has undertaken also the superintend-
ency of the mission, and contributed the
lot of thirty-five acres on which the
hospital is built. 1t is on the border line
of the Navajo reservation, which is the
home Of about rs, 900 Indians.
Women who have taken up the fad
for Indian corners" are naturally
anxious that the ornaments and hang
ings of this cozy retreat shall be the
genuine articles.
The blankets made by the Navajo In
dams in New Mexico and Arizona pro-
duce fine decorative effects, as the de-
signs are bold and striking, the princi-
pal colors used being brilliant reds and
blues and white. Their wearing quail
ties are remarkable, and they are made
of all wool and beaten down in the loom
so tight that a good specimen Is abso-
lutely waterproof.
The genuine hand woven blankets are
never common, and a always COM
mand large prices. Often the Indians
use Germantown yarn instead of that
of their WI manufacture, but do the
weaving by hand. The cheaper blankets
are mainly in broad stripes or alter
| nate broad and narrow stripes, with
diamond and zigzag effects, in red,
gray, blue. green or black. Better
grade ones have more intricate designs,
and are of a much more even and
smoother weave.
A small one, suitable for use as a rug,
can be bought at anywhere from $3.50
and IS up to $25. Those about 24x4s
inches bring from Sc to $35, according to
the grade, while large ones, sometimes
reaching a size of 7x9 or 10 feet, run up
much higher. The rare old blankets are
hands Of collectors.
DR.. Pepper speaks in terms of high
praise of the Navajo Indians. He says
that they are truthful, honest, faithful,
and, contrary to the general belief. ex-
tremely cheerful. 1t was somewhat sur
prising to be told that the pun Is pop
ular with them, and that their sense of
humor is strongly developed. DR.. Pep
per believes that the governments best
policy Is to aid them In their efforts to
lead a civilized life. The gift Of 10000
sheep some years g he considers the
brightest page in the whole history of
the governments dealings with the In
dians.
The association has pledged itself to
raise $500 Of the $500 necessary to secure
the services Of a woman physician at
the new hospital, and earnestly appeals
to the friends of the Indian for help.