Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1909-12-30

ors of wool without any dye whatever and the
beautiful outline blankets in which the Navajo
has reached the highest perfection Of the art.
These blankets were judged by Frank Staplin
Navajo blanket expert OF Pennington, N. NJ, J. l..
Parsons of Durango and Miss Emma Loomis of
the agency and the first prize was awarded to
a beautiful black, white and grey blanket of
artistic design and remarkably even and close
weave, shown in the center picture
The Navajo silver jewery is handhammered
from Mexican dollars, which the traders procure
for the Navajos, and many Of the pieces are very
~5eautiful in design and odd and exquisite as an
ornament. The jewelry consists of rings brace
let's. neck chains charms and many other articles.
1t should be remembered that none OF the prod
ucts raised at Shiprock under the supervision Of
the superintendent and employees were permitted
TO participate for prizes but every prize went to
reservation Nayajos for products purely their
own The vegetables and other agricultural prod
ucts Of the agency are. however, worthy of spe-
cial mention. as they formed a fine exhibit in
themselves and included, besides the ordinary
products Of the section, many of the new vege.
tables brought from foreign lands by representa-
tiyes Of the department of agriculture.
Some Of the Indian exhibits were brought no
less than 70 miles in wagons and on horseback
by the interested owners. and one lot of so gen.
eral exhibits. which deserves special mention,
came from Sa-NoosTee, the vicinity of F. l.. Noels
trading post. This lot contained the prize-win-
ming assortment OF silver work and other prize
winners
The success OF the first Navajo fair. which
the unappreciatiye neighboring public had sup.
posed would consist of a few pony races and
chicken fights, but which IT, -yu out TO be an
exhibit OF agricultural products which probably
equaled any other ever made In the county. for
quality, and contained at least FIVE times the
quantity, is due entirely TO the work of Major
W. T. shelton the superintendent at Shiprock
Il is true the Nayajos were producing most OF
these articles long before they ever saw or heard
OF Shelton, but they were not producing as much.
as well nor as fine a quality as they have been
since coming into contact with the influence OF
the institution which he has founded Neither
could they have been induced TO have brought
together their most valuable and cherished per
sonal sHe,, for public inspection but for the con.
hdence which this agency has awakened within
them.
We have therefore seen the first beneficial
effects of education and proper example upon this
neglected people. The changes which have been
wrought upon those coming In contact with this
institution have been SO rapid and sweeping that
it challenges creduIity. The difference between
them and the Nayajos on some other parts OF the
reservation Is SO marked that they would not be
taken for the same people, and It is these differ
ences that commend the policies and practices
initiated by Mr. shelton at this Institution and
places t In favorable contrast with other govern.
ment and private Indian schools