New-York tribune., 1910-10-30

them very tight, and then they swell in use:
less skilful tribes, lower down in the scale
OF civilization, have 10 cover the basket
with clay to keep the water in. but that is
considered amateuIish by the wei informed.
Fine grasses make skirts and leggings:
coarse ones are used for sandals and belts.
Necklaces. Wristlets coats and combs can
all be manufactured from various kinds Of
twigs and weeds. OF course, the use of
these fabrics for dress is decreasing among
tribes along the path Of the tourist. and the
! Indians OF to-day are more likely to be
clothed in calico and red flannel than in
straw mating. However. Miss Kissell hopes
TO find some unspoiled peoples far from the
beaten track who still retain the fashions
/ of their ancestors and to learn from them
much more than just how they make their
baskets. The baskets are merely a means
to an end
If the original method and designs pc
culiar to one tribe in the beginning can be
separated from later requirement and IL
the cause and occasion for that method can
be discovered it will be possible" she ex-
planned, for the scientist TO discover the
original conditions surrounding that tribe
From this data its history can be built up
and important facts added to the sum total
tain kind Of tree is found in baskets made
only by one tribe II means that that tribe
originally lived IN the region where that
tree f1Ourished. Then it follows that the
tribe originally lived there. Therefore they
must be kin 10 another tribe haling from
that locality. but now far removed in a
different direction. They must both have
descended from d common mother tribe
and. before we know il, history has proved
to US without a doubt that these Indians
originated in the Garden OF Eden, OF Alaska.
or New York State, as the case may be:
and behold! another brick is laid In place
on the great structure OF history
"Anthropoogy is such an enormous sub
ject." exclaimed Miss Kissell When you
consider that II means the study of man
great. wonderful maE-with all his physical,
mental, moral and spiritual powers, it
seems strange that as a science il is still so
undeveloped. When some men grow SO en-
thusiastic just over little crawling snails,
and others give up their lives TO the study
of frogs hind legs, isn't II surprising that
we don't know more about the science OF
man? Plants We're classified years ago by
Gray. but IL IS just being realized that man
is a field for science ra ther than for history,
as we usually apply the term
IL IS MISS ktSSeiIS enthusiasm, cOmbine ed
with her knowledge OF textiles and hand
craft, that has won her place in the mu-
scum. IL is said that she even lighted
glow of enthusiasm in the cold scientific
souls of European museum directors She
was abroad last summer cleaning what
she could about basketry from collections
there In Munich she asked such illumi-
mating questions about how some baskets
were made that the veteran scientist saw
new light on his subject.
We'll. WE'LL he cried, delighted. the old
JOY of discovery in his heart. Who would
have thought baskets meant so much?
Wen know more when YOU come again,
madame"
Feminine scientists. AS a class, are full
Of enthusiasm. Miss KisseI has found. and
also they sometimes see things which mas
cuIine science Oyerlooks. For instance
a Congo expedition brought back a curious
little cap made by some tribes Of that re-
g.on. The minute Miss kissell saw il
she recognized il as Irish crochet lace.
done in straw The sight thrilled her
WOman's heart. Irish crochet in the
Congo! How was il done? The men
OF the expedition looked blank enough
when questioned. What. indeed. was one
stitch or another 10 them? II seemed as If
circle.