The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-06-05

man with the soul and brain and eye
OF an artist.
In his years of experience among
the different tribes Mr.. Curtis has be-
come adept In the handling of his SUD-
jects, and relates numerous amusing
anecdotes. One time down in Arizona
Curtis engaged a Moki boy. a bright
youngster to act as his interpreter.
This Is in accordance with a custom
| that must be observed among the Nav
a1os this lad was host in himself.
For instance, he would say in reply to
I a suggestion from Curtis: Him no
orudder. Me no hire pony for 81. Me
give him two BITS
And 1t was Me no hire Injun to pose
for ~. Me give um ten cents"
And SO Curtis got him Navajo pho
tos for about a quarter the price he
expected to pay for them.
But what difference once they en-
tered the Moki's own country. For
example, Mr.. Curtis would say this to
his interpreter: Now, Charley, you
| offer this lot of Indians so cents IL they
will pose for me-" And Charley would
turn to his brothers and cousins and
say In his native tongue: This man
says he won't take your picture unless
J you charge him IS apiece, and I think
you are big--fools If you let him on
that easy" Charley would then turn
to Curtis and soy: Red brother no
to Curtis and say: Red brother no
savoy fifty cents. Want ten dollars"
Now. see here. Charley" Curtis
would say, severity. you're lying to
Ugh. Me no lie. You no like Char
ley's way of doin' business. talk your
self. Ugh"
And Curtis. like others endowed
with artistic genius. chafed under the
restraint of straight Photographic
work. He wanted to take up a work
that called for artistic merit and
could find no subject of as great pos
sibflities for historic value as the In
dian. This people had no "represen-
tative men," They builded for the
present without thought of the NOR
row: they prepared for the hour heed
less of time. And for that reason the
American Indian fought. weakened and
vanquished. Instead of the painted
features. the arrows and the bow. we
find him in blue jeans and the cowboy
hat of standardization.
The following year I Joined Grin
nell in Montana This was the season
of the Blackfoot sun dance. Grinnell
has been with them at this season
of the year for twenty years He was
long ago. named as their honorary
chief. The formation of the sun dance
of lodges. In the center of this circle
are erected the ceremonial lodges and
te lodhge Of the head chief The cere-
monial lodge is occupied by Ginnell.
whom they consider their great fatn-
er, and chief.
LAS the friend of Ginnell, r
was the guest of the Blackfoot people
and in this way was enabled to get
many pictures and to see and observe
much of their ceremonial life that in
other ways would have been impos-
sible. / lived with Grinnell in his
lodge, and nights as we sat by the
lodge fire, and as the flames played
with the shadows among lie lodge
poles and lit up its smoky walls, we
thought a great deal and talked a lit
tie.
within ten days after l had left
Grinnell and our Blackfoot friends in
Montana, I was among the Hopi of
Arizona. Again 1 was very fortunate,
as 1 succeeded in getting several very
fine negatives of the Hopi snake
priests. something which heretofore had
been considered out of the ques ION.
saw the snake dance at the village OF
this strange and most striking cere-
mony OF the aborigines.
"On this trip into ARIZONA / also
made several pictures of the Navajo
people and was able to see a little of
their life. From what l. saw I formed
a very poor opinion of them: however,
those who know them we'll say that /
saw the worst. low-down lot of this
tribe on the reservation, and they fur
Their stated that with a more thorough
knowledge of them. I shall be compell-
ed to change my opinion. I hope the
coming season will give me such an
opportunity, as they are one of the
groups which / plan to photograph
during the season OF 1904.
Since the Hopi journey, have Wis
tied the Mohaves of the colorado
River, the Havasupais in their strange
and mysterious canyon home, the Zu-
mis- and lastly the Apaches--the great
est OF them all.