The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-01

children belong to the tribe of his
wife. In fact, the man is subordinated
just as in other races the woman Is
subordinated. 1t is only in recent years
that the wife has taken the husband s
name on marriage.
The Pueblo woman is devout Catho-
lie. These tribes refused stubbornly for
long time to accept the teachings OF
the early Spanish padres. When they
finally yielded they became very de-
voted to their church But, curiously
enough. with the inveterate conserva-
tism of the Indian, they only gave the
white mans God a place in their pam
theon. In private they have always
practiced their old religion. The dances
which have acquired widespread fame
IN recent years are the only outward
expression of its practice They all
have a religious significance. The In
dams of the pueblo are properly batiz-
ed with Christian names But every
one OF them has an Indian name, which
no white man ever hears.
Oldest of the Churches,
There is an old, old church at San
ildeIonso, one of the oldest now exist
ing in New Mexico, far more ancient
than San Miguel at Sante Fe. which is
often called the oldest in America A
priest comes only once or twice a year.
The interior is like vault, long. mar
row, dark and cold. with not even an
ABODE floor but just loose dirt. There
are no seats, and men and women oc-
cupy opposite sides. The men all stand.
but the women kneel. The stone wallis
are perfectly bare. High UP toward the
ceiling are little holes for windows. and
in and out of these the birds fly during
the ceremony. The ancient beams are
painted with the figures which the In
dams put on their pottery.
Probably 5000 persons have been
buried in the churchyard The Pueblos
bury without collins, opening the old
graves and tossing the bones into a
heap to make room for the new oc-
cupant. Bitterly cold storms sweep over
this land In Winter. Then the poor l. title
babies die like flies. and are wrapped
in their tiny blankets and laid away
with never a prayer or a song over
them. The Pub oe woman is exceeding
ly fond of her children. but she has no
idea of properly caring for them.
The National Government, under the
efficient supervision of Miss Estelle
Reel of Wyoming. National Superin-
tendent of Indian Schools, is conduct.
ing day school in many of the pueblos
The teacher lives at the pueblo, and
besides giving the children regular in
struction, she cooks and serves a free
hot lunch for them each day. But there
is no compulsory educational law, and
the children go to school or not, as
they please. When their great dances
are on, the school has often not a pupil
for days at a time.
Philomena keeps her house very clean
She sweeps it every day on her knees
With a short-handled broom, and she
is graceful even at this back breaking
operation. Then she vets down the
floor to prevent its returning to its
original dust. She keeps all her cook
ing in the back room, and the front
one is clean, pleasant sitting room,
There is a constant stream of company,
for they are a sociable people. The
pottery bin is in the lightest corner,
and here Philomena makes pots and
cups and jugs exactly as primitive
woman made them when she original
ed this oldest of the arts.
Homes and Food.
These people are we'll housed, but not
well fed. They had an abundance of
little crusty brown loaves of bread
baked in the outdoor oven, which was
very good, and they had coffee, which
was very bad, but there is seldom any
meat. They never sit down for good
family meal together, but squat in
relays on the floor in front of the fire.
place, a great round platter of loaves
in the centre and a steaming cup oil
coffee in front of each. They eat much
less than q white man, yet theil
endurance is much greater.
From the fireplace in every room the
pinon logs send forth their peculiarly
bright, beautiful light, and keep the
air sweet. Philomena has a cook stove
but she seems to regard it as an orna-
ment, and does al her cooking at the
fireplace. The water of the pueblo is
it's one Objectionable feature. 1t comes
from two wells, which have been in
use since the conquest, and one of them
is near the old graveyard. They have
tables and a bed. but eat and sleep
on the floor The only piece of furni-
ture they use is the one chair, which
is a rocker. and whenever 1 entered
the room the occupant. whether man
or woman, would gravely rise and Of
fer it to me.
Juan has a little farm, hardly larger
than a good sized garden, just outside
the village. Sometimes he goes away
and works on the railroad or in the
turquois mines a while. Philomena gets
ar occasional dime for her pottery.
Still, 1 hardly see how they manage to
live.
The dances are the great occasions
of their lives. The woman dance as
we'll as the men, though in a much
more sedate fashion. They wear all the
brilliant garments they can put on, but
there is nothing at all immodest in the
ceremony.
l am not quite sure that want Phil
omena to get thoroughly civilized. She
might make better coffee, but doubt
if she would be as kind to wandering
pencil pushers She might lose a good
deal that makes her fascinating now.
and it is doubtful if she would be any
happier.
Customs of KiuRss CoronataoY,