The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-26
PRIZE BEAUTIES
AMONG INDIANS
St. Louis Fair Artists Re-
veal New Pretty Girl.
GRACEFUL, SINEWY, QUEENLY
Mokis of Arizona and Pueblos of New
Mexico Thought to Garry
Of Prize.
GRACEFUL, SINEWY, QUEENLY

II has remained for a group Of scuIp-
tors and decorative artists employed in
the adjournment of the Worlds Fair
buildings at St. Louis TO discover really
beautiful and graceful girls in the
squalid houses Of the Indians on the
sandy. shimmering deserts of the
Southwest In their quest for models
for statuary and mural pictures repre-
senting the typical American young
women-strong, muscular. resolute. and
graceful In body, and with clear-cut
features and softly nodded, placid facial
cxpressiOn-the st. Louis Fair artists.
according to the Brooklyn Eagle"
were for time almost beside them
selves. Out OF scores of applicants they
found no models that met their expec-
tauons. Something in expression.
physique, poise, or symmetry was al
ways lacking to satisfactorily typify
the American girl. according to the ex-
acting conception of her by the artists.
Some one suggested that inasmuch as
the Indian tribes of New Mexico and
Arizona have preserved more Of their
aboriginal character and customs than
any other Indians, and have lived far
apart from the white mans civilization,
that good. purely Indian models might
= 4H.
Pueblos. and Navajos.
Hunted Source of Beauty Supply.
So it came about that the Worlds
Fair artists went hunting for models
among the little adobe mud houses OF
the Pueblos, among the noisome hogans
OF the NavajOs. amid the canyons of
northern Arizona. and among the foul
and savage brush wickiups of the
Apaches. down on the seas Of yellow,
sands in southern Arizona and New
Mexico.
So also, it came about that the ar
lists found, where they had least ex-
pected il. models for a new type OF
American womanhood - young women
perfect in muscular development" said
one OF the artists. graceful. sineyyy.
queenly in poise. with finely nodded fea-
lures, an unusually graceful head set
upon most symmetrical neck and shouI-
oers, black hair-they were the most
str1kingly handsome people ony Of us
had looked upon in a long time. In car
rage each was grace personiled.
Ihey could speak but few English
words. There they lived in squalor and
NTH, with their parents. amid dogs.
meas and Uncle Sans rations. with no
other thought ever animating them than
the next grub time. As models in any
city in the world they would be IN
constant demand b. artists. But they
wouldn't let us photograph them. rot
even for any money we offered them. -
The consensus of opinion among peo-
pie who know most about the various
western tribes is that for prettiness of
face, gentility OF manners, and petite
ness Of figure, the young women Of the
SueblOs OF New Mexico are the most at
tractive of all our Indians The au-
thoriues In the Carlisle and Haskell In
dian schools concur in the opinion
w Whether IL is the unique garb of the
Pueblo women-that is thick wrap-
ping OF the legs from the ankles to
knees in white buckskin, eIaborately
embroidered moccasins. a short skirt of
red WOODEN goods reaching TO the knees.
q light tunic Of black or yellow with
wide sleeves OF white cotton and belts
OF bead work, beside a vast adornment
OF ropes OF beads and strings of SNOWY
stCnes-perhaps # is this that makes a
Pueblo girl the pleasing creature she is
to the tourists on the overland trains
through the Territories.
The Bellies of Mokiland.
Pretty maidens abound among the
Mckis of northeastern Arizona. A per
son who witnessed the snake-dance
ceremonies several years ago, said that
he found among the tribe some of the
most charming and lively young women
he had ever seen. The MolCis live on
the top Of several enormous mesas or
tablelands OF sandstone that rear them
selves from 200 to 800 feet out OF a vast
sea of yellow sand. No race in America
Is more completely cut off from all the
rest of the world The Mokis are a
clsanly. agricultural. devout. and par
ticularly moral people. numbering some
1000 souls. EthnOlOgists say the Monks
are the most interesting tribe on the
continent
The visitor I'm Mokilandi observes, first
Of all, the perennial good nature of the
people Of the towering mesas. No one
j. ever too old there TO enjoy a romp with
the children, to run races that would
put most white people TO bed for i week.
TO roll and play in the sand. and to sit
up all night singing gutteral songs.
Next, the prettiness OF the girls. es-
pecially between the ages Of fourteen
and twenty, too, impresses itself upon
the visitor. Everywhere, as one goes
up and down through the crooked
streets in the crazy old stone and adobe
town, one sees groups of Moki Indian
girls that would make a fortune for the
artist who could put these scenes prop
erly on canvas. There are plump little
girls, chock full of health and activity,
and running over with mirth. chattering
among themselves like a bevy of mag
pies.
The average Indian Is solemn crea-
ture But these MOkis are a laughing
singing, fun-loving race. One sees I'm
almost every one Of the ridiculously lit
tie squat houses girl or two, whose big
dreamy. black eyes. rudy cheeks. grace
fuI figure, well rounded bust, and deli
cate, soft features make a pretty thing
to look upon. The Moh girls know that
they are famous for their good looks,
and the way they battle, comb and comb
again their marvelously luXuriant black
hair, eat herbs for beauty reasons. and
fight against becoming adipOse too early
i'm life is worthy the finest husbands in.
the land.
. OVERCOME BY HEAT.
While laying bricks at the new build
ing in course Of construction as Eslin