Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-01-29
PRAISES CASTANEDA
Beauties OF Indian Blankets aud
Baskctry. Charm 81 tile ARR
IONA Desert

the southwest, writes an interesting
description Or his trip through the ter
ritories In last Sundays Chronicle,
The following are extracts.
The observing traveller who makes
this journey for the first time finds i
~educatiye. not wholly wearisome.
There Is variety even In the endless
stretches Of the dreariest parts Of Ari-
xona. am speaking now Of the route
followed BY the Santa Fe railroad
Besides he has had brought 70 his no
tice alternating types OF peoples and
q varying architecture illustrative Of
q life that he never before apprect.
ated. Progressive. tidy. e~nterprislng
towns are scattered far into what
not more than thirty years ago was
the desolate stretch Of western Kan.
sas, but now well titled and largely
filled with people.
No greater transformation may be
imagined than the u which groets
the traveller after the days ride
through these stretches of New Mex.
ico's ~desolatipn, fur Il Is comparative
desolation miles upon miles ~.
track, with q population 50 sparse that
II may almost be counted-~save al Las
Vegas. where the first hint Of n chang
Ing architecture may BE- noticed IN the
beautiful station Of mission style.
broad and colorful. with c~lolsterod
yerandas and deep red roof Of tiles
siIhontted against the dark blue sky.
X IL upon reaching Albuquerque
that the most wonderful change Gomez
over ail-like being lifted from the
heart Of the desert and set down in
the heart Of civilization. They were
wise who planned and carried ont the
building Of this Alyarado railroad sta
non and hotel: they made OF this far
away halting place an oasis. II fairly
dazzles the beholder not 10 Indulge
In rhapsodies over such an every day
affair 81 a railroad station. To the
average American traveller II Is some
thing new In a desert land. He got
just a glimpse OF It's possibilities In
Las Vegas, but here Ii Ii shown In
the splendor OF a great structure Of
mission design, with cloisters. patio,
eampanile. stepped facade. creamcol.
ored all. with interior woodwork or
black and fumed oak, with broad,
sweeping roofs o. red tiles and with
= dining room Of yellow and black that
has all the dainty appointments OF d
sherry's or a Dclmonico's at the east
speak broadly 81 the general effect,
this revelation OF modified spanish &c.
clesIastical architecture must have
upon the tourist viewing II for the fret
time, as he recalls the fatroofed. mis-
cradle adobcs he has passed and the
unfnyiting Indians and Mexicans he
has seen In the day and then steps
into this Spanish fairyland. dazzling
with electricity, and seats himself al
q table lighted with c~andelahra and
laid with q d~aintiness In keeping viii
me whole atmosphere OF the surround,
ings, What a revolution In raiIroad
methods Of the plains,
Study Of Blankets and Baskets.
There are other things which now
: for. the nrst time begin 10 awaken new
interest In the average traveller. II
pecially II Il be a woman. one III
these Is the eylden, advent INTO 4 r.
rlo that q developing chronological.
attractions Another Is the hepiider.
ing displays q Navajo blankets aaa.
another the wealth ii Indian baskelry
'oneeesd IRON AL paris of the wesl
northwest and southwest. for ,he n.
dian woman Il the master workman
~ his az, o. weaving. and for eent,ir
hes in many tribes II has been ber
great industry The navajo Is me-,
ceiied for the blanket. This admlra.
uon for the finer. more artistic proo.
utcs Of their looms grows as the ~.
eier prolones his stay ii the ~ Aner
leaving Albuquerque he gegins 10 a..
velop new ideas concerning them and
ne learns. Or trys to learn, how 10 ais.
uhgnish weayes and how TO discrimin.
ate between the Germantown crudIio.
with which the market Is flooded =
ohe oid'tirne Indian spun and dyed
products, which he is not long in as.
cer'ainins are costly and yearly grow.
ing dearer. BY the time he has pass.
go through half a dozen collections b..
tween Albuquerque and los Angeles