Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-29

carved monuments upward of twenty feet
in height and weighing many tons. A few
of the most important of these, chosen for
the Sculpturing on their sides, will be shown
at the fair, but main dependence will be
placed on Illustrations. and upon minor
carvings, which will exhibit to good ad-
vantage the mechanical skill and artistic
taste of the peoples. In this branch some
of the modern tribes make an excellent
showing especially in wood and slate cary
ing by the tribes of British Columbia.
The Art Of Pottery.
Next to sculpture, illustrating the ar
tistic tendency of the Indians, is the art of
pottery, in which really marvellous progress
has been made, in shape as well as in deco
ration. Notwithstanding the fact that the
mechanical appliances which give character
to the wares of the old world especially the
lathe or wheel, were entirely unknown to
them, their eSthetic skill and appreciation
are apparent, especially in their treatment
of plastic clay by purely manual means.
Among the more remarkable products Of
! native arts are the textiles, or the woven
articles and the basketry, which will be
shown by selected exhibits. The basketry
is notable because it displays the wonderful
skill of many tribes which are regarded as
still very savage. 1t is hard to find any
more exquisite work, even among our own
manufactures than that done by the dig
ger tribes and their neighbors along the
Pacific coast. These tribes are named after
their custom of digging roots, from which
they make the baskets spoken Of
Besides these other groups of products
will be selected for the exposition TO show
the unusual artistic work of these peoples
in every branch of their activity. If the
space permits a number of lay figures will
be built, displaying the highly ornamental
character and charming simplicity of their
costumes and personal trinkets. The tribes
represented will include those from the
northernmost parts of North America to the
harn RI If A ITp
fortunately said DR.. Holmes, 1.-The allotted
space is far too limited to make an i'm
pressive display, but with care in selection
much will be done to make truly represen-
tatiVe exhibit
Those Who Excel.
The best work in architecture and sculp-
ture has been accomplished by the Aztecs,
the Mayas and other tribes of Mexico and
Central America, the Incas of Peru and
various bordering South American peoples.
The most skillful carving of present times
is done by the Haida and the other tribes
of the northwest coast of this continent
while the finest pottery makers are the
Pueblo Indians Of New Mexico and Ari-
IONA. Weaving and basket making are
still practtced by great number of tribes
Palnung does not reach very high stage
save in the decoration of various wares
The entire exhibit will be placed in an
allotted portion of the government building
at the exposition. DR.. Holmes is being as
sisted In the preparation of the exhibit by
Mr.. H. w. Hendley of the National Mu-
scum, who is engaged in casting and paint
ing the objects that require to be repro
duced. He will probably visit a number of
different museums before the opening of
the worlds fair in order to make fac
SMILES of desirable objects
The architectural work, which is reuu,r-
ing more attention than any other. is be-
ing worked up by Mr.. De Lancey Gill and
his son. photographers.
The work of securing or photographing
ruins which have stood for thousands of
years all over the two continents, though
more especially in Mexico, Central Amer
Ica ana south America. is exceedingly diff
ncult at times, for some whole cities are
now found buried in dense tropical or semi
tropical forests. Dr. Holmes has made
Tor the first time plans of number of
these cities, without the forests, and thew
are very helpful in determining the uses Of
certain structures by showing their rela-
1--WE situations. All this. 1t Is understood
will be satisfactorily brought out In tho
st. Louis exposition.