The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1911-03-03
Hopes 10 Interpret Odd Indian
Designs Worked.
New York Woman 10 Sent on Long
Wait to Aborigines Of Southwest
by American Museum Of
Natural History.

New York Miss Mary Lots l,lUgcll,
who started recently Tor an extended
trip among the Indians OF the south.
west whore sEo viii study baskotry
on itB native heath, "a the iirst woman
ever sent out by the American Mu.
scum OF Natural History for purposes
Of original research. Hitherto men
oniy have been employed TO penetrate
tho wilds and the deserts In its DO.
half Hut now II has come 10 a crisis
and woman nlls the void The mu'
scum has a fine collection OF Indian
baskets. They are OF all shapes and
sizes and uses. covered with Intricate
designs In significant colors. Some OF
tho facts of tLclr construction are
known. but the scientists are aware OF
many mysteries which await solution
"Morc man"-cyon scientific man
cannot get at these secrets, lie tries,
and tho taciturn old squaw mutters:
Me no know" Mere man discovers
that the Indian woman Is bound by
rules OF religious observance not to
discuss her work with men. Even the
braves OF tho tribe do not know how
the beautiful designs arc executed,
and the white man Is doubly help
less,
II Ia Miss Kissclls enthusiasm. com
blned with her knowledge Of textiles
and hnndcraft that has won her place
/ In tho museum. II II 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 baskctry from collections there.
IT, Munich she asked such lllumlnat.
I ing questions about how some baskets
were made that the veteran scientist
saw new light ON his subject
well. we'll. he cried. Gelighted, the
Old Joy Of discovery In his heart
4 "Who would have thought baskets
/ meant so much? Wen know more
when you come again. madame"
Feminine scientists. as class. are
full OF enthusiasm, Miss Klsscll has
found, and also they sometimes see
| things which masculine science over,
/ looks For instance. a Inngo oNpodl.
| ton brought back a curious little cap
/ made by some tribes OF that region
| The minute Miss klssell saw II she
recognized II as Irish crochet lace.
done In straw, The sight thrilled her
womnn's heart Irish crochet In the
Congo! How was II dono1 The mon
Of the expedition looked blank enough
wi en- questioned What. indeed. was
one stitch or another TO them II
seemed as II the secret would remain
untold when II developed that the eN.
| ploror's wife had been with the party
"why. yes" she said In surprise, Il
know an about H. OF course sat
with the women for hours and watch
ed them do It."
Mas klssell's field will be the Pima.
| speaking tribes OF Arizona. the largest
| encnmpment being near Tucson, but a
trip OF sixty miles further down to.
ward Mexico may be necessary She
will go alone. fearing nothing and
trusting to her beads and mirrors to
carry her through In safety
Now a woman is going to try her
hand nj tCrretlng out those secrets.
Feminine intuition and an unborn nat.
ural understanding OF squaw psychol.
osy are expected 10 accomplish much.
For the rost Miss klssell will depend
on making friends with the papoosos
1T viii take time OF course" said
Miss Kisson TO get them TO regard
me In a friendly way ! shall stay In
ono village long enough TO feel Uc.
Qualntod Then ! shall take my knit.
ung work maybe and 80 to spend tho
/ afternoon with ono OF my ueighbors.
Two or three others viii dIop In, and
ven AN git ANA chat AS We work. |