Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-02-12
STUDY OF INDIANS
LIFE WORK TAKEN
UP BY CURTISS
Some Valuable Information
and Photographs Have Been
Secured By This Student Of
Primitive Man.


Especial Correspondence 60 che usrata1
Washington, ID c., Feb S.-Perhaps
the majority Of persons who have ever
given any thought to the history OF tho
American Indian have wondered that
Il has not received more attention
from students, and that so few at
tempts have ever been made to treat
u from a sympathetic and scholarly
standpoint These persons have not
been aware, in all probahability. that
under the patronage Of the greatest
OF American inanciers a man pecul-
iarly we'll qualified by education, tenn
permanent and enthusiasm. was maxi
ing the study OF the vanishing race
the work OF his life.
Edward s. Curtis has hut recently
begun TO tell the world what his life
work has revealed about the indian.
He has lived among the native tribes,
eaten with them. travelled with them.
been adopted into their closest rela-
tions--initiated into their religions
mysteries: In short. he has been one
of them TO whom they told their sa-
cred mythology and revealed their
barred souls as they could not do TO
any but one who seemed to- be n man
and brother actuated hy the Hottest
motives which they themselves owned.
As n result of his long years or
study and travel among the Red Men,
Mr.. Curtis acquired innumerablo pho-
Geographic studies OF the greatest ar
tistiC, historic and chronological value:
he secured Photographic records OF
the Indian languages and dialects. OF
the latter more than one thousand be-
ing known: he secured also phOno-
graphic records OF songs. chants and
other music of the Indians. One re-
suit of his labor Is work Of the great
est value. The North American In
Gian' and another result Is O series
OF lectures. or rather, of picture
operas, combining music, pictures and
narrative. II Is the latter unique fea-
ture which tho public will probably
nost enjoy, and which has proved to
be immensely popular, creating a fu-
rore wherever shown.
The city OF Washington recently
had two opportunities 70 enjoy the
/ picture-operas Of Mr.. Curtis They
were given under the auspices OF the
| Archaeological Institute of America.
and the most prominent people In
Washington were patrons OF the at
fair and filled the theator whore the
entertainment was held To attempt
10 describe in few words the
strangely beautiful music, produced by
a famous composer on the themes of
the savage chants. and the pictures
which seem to lay bare the poetic
souls OF the people who OF ali others
| that have ever lived were saturated
with the poetry that was theirs from
the most intimate, lifelong associa.
ton with nature. would be trlfling
with a great subject. Casual observ.
ers OF the Red Men know only what
Is most obvious, most sordid, most
tnpoetic. That there r. another side
TO the Red Men the casual observer
would never learn. Now that they
are diminishing I'm numbers. In power
In the extent of their sway. Il Is wei
that someone Is perpetuating what
Is noble, great and aspiring about
them.
Now that the Indian Is no longer Q
menace 20 civilization to an extent
that requires the maintenance OF mill.
| tary posts to keep him good by force
OF arms, there is great awakening OF
interest In him. Recently he was en-
couraged to organize In washington
n great society In which all the re.
naming tribes are expected TO partici
pate, the Indian Brotherhood. which
VIII some day have n vast lodge Oi
stone and steel and glass In the Capt
| itai City where the brotherhood car
hold council fires and the relics O
the fading nations can be preserved
Long before the race fades into thC
twilight OF history. however, there
viii be held great congress OF IN
dian tribes In the city az San Diego
Calf, at the big Panama. California
exposition during the entire calendar
year 1915. Here the Indians of North
America, of Mexico. Central and
South America, will be represented by
families and tribes, each one livlnn
In lbs own little reservation, I'm habita-
tons such as have become distinctive
OF the various tribes. and following
the occupations In which each one
IeXcols. The desert Indians makinl
silver ornaments. weaving their IA
I NNNNN NlNAAtNfNNf ANlNN'AAAAh AAA'AN 49, An.hi
lurtistic pottery, weaving the baskotr,
which has no equal anywhere else n
the world; these and other lndianl
demonstrating their characteristic 90
equations, will make a feature nevo
before duplicated at any exposition
or elsewhere. and Of itself viii war
rant any one In travelling across sea-
and continents TO study some OF th'
most interesting native peoples tina
have ever lived
One of the most Interested and en-
thuRlastic persons who Witnessed th'
plcture-opera OF Mr. Curtis I'm wash
ington, and listened 10 the strange bu
beautiful music. was Col ID. c. Collier
president Of the San Diego exposition
10 be held In 1915
This merely proves 10 me- sal
Colonel Collier. "the wisdom OF IN
Exposition management I'M daring Il
NJ a.. A..