Semi-weekly herald., 1914-09-28

Mss anu tCkCidDltS WIS Lastly anu
comprised everything grown.
When you read that 5000 watermel-
ons would be given away you prob
ably thought it was one of the fair
jokes, but those present discovered it
was no joke but . reality. In the CEN
| ter Of the fair arena were stacked
watermelons like cordwood. Around
this were tables on each side and end,
$50 feet long by rs wide and three
to four feet wide. From six to
dozen men with sharp knives were
kept constantly cutting melons. They
were not runts, all being about of a
size, 35 to so pounds. Sometimes
there would be three or four hundred
but we doubt if there were less than
fifty eating from early in the morn
ing until sundown. Being very hot
and dry one could eat quarter or an
eighth of q melon and in ten minutes
be ready for another hunk. Wish you
were there? Well, yes. When the
eating was over at night there were
500 to 1000 melons untouched.
Thus passed the day. After sup
per came another concert and then
every one hiked for the Indian grounds
where the wonderful Y'beshi dance
was in progress. For this event great
preparations had been made All day
long those to take part were pre-
pairing. This time instead of Indians
! forming the circle great cavalcade
| of wagons backed in formed ring,
there being two hundred or more of
them. Inside of the wagon ring were
lined Indians and then more Indians.
The dance is somewhat different from
the ones our people are used to see
ing. 1t is a prayer to the spirits,
supposed to dwell in the La Plata
mountains. for the healing of a wom-
an, in this case it was maiden, sup
posed to be suffering from some all
ment. 1t starts with Enthusiastically
dressed warriors of large dimensions,
their faces enveloped in a sort of
mask with head-dress of feathers. In
the lead is sort of monk who leads
the maiden. Arriving at the desig-
mated spot the small company halts
and the monkish Indian, still holding
her hand, repeats a long rig-marole,
the portent of which we did not as
certain. All appeared very solemn
and it must have been terrible-to be
talked to the way he did to the maid
en- but, like all things except Tenny-
sons brook, there is an ending. Then
the maiden sat down on a chair and
soon the warriors were dancing. The
hour being late we left after the first
set" which consumed about half an
hour.
We are up a little after 5 next
morning to do little repairing on the
machine before setting out for Farm
ing for breakfast. About $3.50 the
R. H. Sloan Graden party pulled out,
followed closely by c. C. Perkins and
the Harry Jackson machines. Six
o'clock saw us on the road, just as the
run was making its appearance on the
great Indian camp where dancing was
still in progress. However, there was
stir in the camp. Packing up was
going on everywhere while many had
departed as we passed several COM
oanies out six to ten miles. Ten min
utes of eight we landed in Farming
ton and found the rest of the party
eating breakfast except the Sloans,
Who were getting ready to pull out
for Durango, having made the run in
one hour and. forty minutes-about
record time for that road. After two
and a half hours we are homeward
bound again, arriving in Durango
shortly after 2, making the run from
Shiprock in less than six hours, no
wonderful feat, but pretty good time
for Ford"
Just word in conclusion. Superin-
tendent W. T. Shelton is sure born
Indian man. One of the reasons of
his success is the strict discipline he
enforces. His word is law as it should
be. He is surrounded by competent
corps of office men, teachers and gen.
eral workers. He has established a
splendid reputation on merit and
Washington has dealt very generous
ly with the school and it is hoped
the Great Father" in the east will
continue to make it so Shiprock will
go ahead. It's wonderful plnce-a
regular beauty spot and until you
have seen the place and witnessed the
annual fair do not think of going to
Europe on a sightseeing tour. The
fair this year was by far the best
in the history of the school, It may
be as good in future years, but we
do not believe it will be excelled. But
it can be inferior and still be well
worth the trip. We wish all of the
Indian officials in Washington would
take week off some time and visit
the school during these annual fiestas.
1t would be an eye-opener. The blan-