The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-01-21

ors of wool without any dive whatever and the
beautiful outline blankets. in which the Navajo
mas 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
Tue agency, and the first prize awarded to
peautlful black. white and grey blanket of
artlstlc design and remarkably even and close
weave, shown in the center picture.
The Navajo silver jewelry is hand hammered
from Mexican dollars, which the traders procure
1or the Navajos, and many of the pieces are very
beautiful in design and odd and exquisite as an
ornament. The jewelry consists of rings brace
lets, 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 Navajos 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 fine exhibit in
themselves and included besides the ordinary
products or the section, many of the new vege-
tables brought from foreign lands by representa-
ttyes of the department of agriculture
Some of the Indian exhibits were brought no
less than 20 miles in wagons and on horseback
by the interested owners, and one lot of so gen.
eral5 exhibits, which deserves special mention
came from SaNoos-Tee. the vicinity of F. L. Noel's
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 unapprecatve neighboring public had sup
posed would consist of few pony races and
chicken fights, but which turned out to be an
exhibit Of agricultural products which probably
equaled any other ever made in the county for
quality and contained at least Ave times the
Quantity, is due entirely to the work of Major
w. =. Shelton. the superintendent, at Shprock
1t Is true the Navajos were producing most OF
these articles long before they ever saw or heard
OF Shelton, but they were not producing as much
as we'll nor as fine 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 effects for public inspection hut 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
s. 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 credulity. The difference between
them and the Navajos 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 1t in favorable contrast with other govern
ment and private Indian schools. @