Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-02-08
WILL LIVE WITH
INDIAN FRIENDS
Mrs. Stevenson is on
Her Way to Taos
Pueblo.
TELLS PAST EXPERIENCES
Likes Red Men and Has
Never Had Any Trouble
With Them Before.

Il believe that the practice OF send
ing Indian boys and girls to eastern
schools provided for them by the gov
ernment, while done with the best of
Intentions, Is the most demoralizing
thing the western Indians have ever
had to contend with
This statement was made last night
by Mrs. Matilde Cox Stevenson, Of the
Bureau of American Ethnology, who Is
now en- route to Taos where she will
live for six months among the Pueblo
Indians near there, for the purpose OF
securing data for a book upon their
lives and customs. She Is accompa.
lnied by Mrs. Hackenberry, her secre.
Itary.
Lived Among Indians.
Mrs. Stevenson lives In Washington
but has spent much OF her life among
the Indianpof the southwest In the
interests of the bureau. She made
her first trip to New Mexico and It's
Capital City, in 1879, with her hus.
band who was then engaged In the
work Mr.. Stevenson who was famil'
iarly known as Captain" Is now dead.
but his widow still carries on the in.
vestigations which he had made life
work. She Is we'll known In the south
west and particularly among the zuni
Indians with whom she spent much
time, In the early days.
Yesterday she visited among her old
friends in Santa Fe, called upon Arch.
bishop Peter Bourgade and ex,Gover.
nor Prince, and saw many Of the city's
old land marks that are fast disappear
Ing. She spoke interestingly of her
work among the Indians,
Regarding my statement that the
eastern Indian schools are demorallz-
ing, | maintain that the Indians edu,
Gated in the cast, return to their
tribes, take up the old customs and
ways and in the end are the most un.
principled Indians in the tribe. |
have never known it to fail The rea-
son, 1t seems to me, Is that the In
dian Is not far enough advanced for
the high standard of education attempt.
ed in the eastern schools Teach an
Indian to read, write and count, but
nothing more at present. Then teach
him useful things such as farming or
sheep raising according to advanced
methods and similar occupations. This
Is done In the western schools to bet,
ter advantage.
Likes zunis.
II know more about the Zuni In,
dians perhaps than any other branch
OF the Pueblos l spent considerable
time among them years ago. and have
recently issued a book The Zuni In
dians' which contains an outline OF
what I learned from them. find that
In this work it Is better to know one
tribe thoroughly before undertaking to
study others, as 1t makes the work
easier. know the Zuni Indian Ian.
guage and If necessary shall learn the
tongue of the Taos Indians, However.
II they speak the Spanish language
auently may not find 1t necessary. 1t
Is always easier, however. for an In
dian to talk of himself. his Ideas and
feelings, in his own mother tongue
rather than that of foreign people.
II want to secure house right In
the Taos Pueblo and stay there for
six months No. am not an Indian
myself,-dont even eat Indian food.
but there Is only one way to carry on
my work and that Is to get among the
people | am studying. first have to
win their confidence. This do by
kindness, combined with firmness. |
never break my word with an Indian
and have never had an Indian break
his word with me. Although l am
woman, do not fear the Indians.
Not Afraid.
II would not be afraid to 60 right
now among the most savage and de-
generated tribes In the Philippines and
take up my abode. | do not believe
they would harm me. have never
been martyr and never expect to
be. Human nature Is the same every.
where and the Indian has his share. II
Is this that rely upon. II the Indians
know that am with them, not to plum
der or do them harm, they reclprocate
by treating me in the same manner.
"At Taos want to learn all about
the practice Of the priests, the religious
ceremonials. the secret societies Of
which there are many and the general
lives OF men. women and children. To
accomplish this | must see them un-
der all conditions. 60 into their homes
when they are awake, when they have
retired. In sickness and death and un,
der all circumstances.
80 many people say that the III
III.