Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-01-12
VISITED THE INDIANS
Christmas At the Taos Pueblo Was
Celebrated In Unique
Manner.
INDIANS AT PICURIS PUEBLO
They Are Poor and Given to Drinking
Fire Water, But Promise to Work If
Supplied with Sheep and
Hand Looms.

Miss DiSette, supervising teacner OF
the Indian schools in this district, re-
turned home last evening from an in.
spection trip to Picuris and Taos. Miss
Disette speaks In glowing terms of the
winter scenery in Taos and Rio Arriba
counties, which possesses charms and
warmth Of color in winter not to be
found in summer although in summer
the scenery has a beauty and grandeur
Of it's own. Miss Disette went over the
mountains from Picuris to Taos with a
IA year old Indian boy as a guide. She
arrived at the Taos pueblo just in time
to take part in the Christmas celebra-
ton in the school house Of the pueblo.
The celebration had been postponed
several weeks on account of illness in
the teachers family. Miss Disette said
the festival was one of the most enjoy
able and unique she had ever witnessed.
Excellent music was rendered on the
mandolin at the festival by Miss Gus
dorf and on the piano by Miss Qwyer,
daughter of l. W. Dwyer, the govern
ment farmer, and Mrs. Dwyer, the gov
ernment teacher. Miss Disette says
that good work is being done for the In
dams at Taos by the government.
The school at Taos Is filled to over
flowing. The Indians at that pueblo are
among the cleanest and most self-re-
specting in the agency. Some Of the
children come to school as neat as If
cared for in boarding school. 1t is in
variably the case that the children best
cared for are relatives of returned stu
dents from government boarding
schools, who make the best use, in the
majority of cases. Of the meager edu-
cation they acquired. Miss Disette at
tended "betrothal feast" which is a
unique ceremony observed by the In
dians. The ceremony was as pretty and
refined as those mentioned in the stories
Of far-famed Arcadia.
AT Picuris the situation is less en-
couraging. The Indians at that pueblo
are miserably poor, and do not even
own a single sheep. If they do get hold
of money they spend it for liquor. sold
them, despite the law, by the settlers
in that section. The pueblo is greatly
excited at present over girl in possess
sion Of some settlers who. the Indians
claim. Is an Indian GIRL and belongs to
them.
Miss Disette Is making an effort to
introduce the industry Of spinning and
weaving on hand looms among the
Picuris Indians. They have promised
faithfully to labor If they are given the
means with which to work. Miss Di-
settle will endeavor to secure sheep for
them and hand looms, so that they can
weave their own cloth.
The buffalo dance" took place Jam
uary 6, and was witnessed by large
number of citizens from Taos and other
points. Miss Disette also saw the fine
collection of paintings Of Indians being
made at Taos by Mr.. Philips, of Hud-
son, N. Y. Mr.. Hudson has in contem-
plation a historic portrait of the pioneer
Kit Carson, and is making careful
study of the types Of pioneers which
most nearly resemble him.
Miss Disette had conference with a
number Of devoted mission teachers,
some of whom have lived from eight to
fifteen years in their present fields, and
are we'll known throughout the terri
tory. 1t is only necessary to look into
the bright, intelligent faces Of the ris-
ing generation, says Miss Disette, which
cluster around such teachers as the
Misses Craig, Hyson and Rowland, to
realize the greatness Of the work these
teachers are doing for the territory and
humanity in general.