El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-09-21
San Geronimo Day; Taos,
New Mexico, Sept. 81

Mexico still exist an Independent people, the
agricultural Pueblosr occupying their an
Client community houses. tiIling their al.
Client fields and tenaciousiy observing their
ancient customs. Taos, the northermOat
fof the pueblos and unauestionably the most
interesting Indian settlement in all the
Western Continent, is located not far from
the colorado-New Mexico line Nowhere is
there 4 more startling page of ancient bis
tory brought down to date-hefe The work
lot the living and the dead are alike promin,
cnt.
The pueblo was visited as FAR back as
1910 BY The Spanish explorer, fernando de
IAIyarado, Of Coronado's army, II was made
a Spanish mission given d priest and christ
ened san deroninl (st. Jsrome) as early
as 1917, and since those dates has changed
little.
The route cf the Denver q Rio Gfande
railroad from Colorado down through parth-
ern New Mexico to old Santa re trayersss
the most fertile and picturesque section o.
this stcried pueblo country and supplies
easy access To that one greatest Or these
indian communities-the Pueblo OF San
Geronimo de Taos. Taos Is located twenty
1--WE miles east Of the Rio HFande station of
ITaos junction, where automobile stages
meet the trains.
Annually at Taos on September sOth. the
500 inhabitants Of the two MASSEY tsfraced
clay community houses, which rise tier on
tier TO the height of five stories, celebrate
the most important Of their tribal feaets
and dances-the festival Of San Geronimo
Day. dedicated 0stenaibly, TO their patron
saint, but really a thanksgiving to the sun
god for the harvest
This festival, so old that the patriarchs
Of the pueblo know not it's beginnings, each
year attracts spectators from all over the
United States and Ii attended as well by
lother Puebios, BY ApAches and Navajos.
Accommodations for the Amsricancs are
found In the adjacent own of San FeFnans
dez de Taos, two and a half miles BY good
road, where the Mexican population Of the
surrounding country add their fiesta mer
ry.making to those OF the Taosans.
Beyond the observance OF these ordinary
politeness which deyolve upon any intrud-
lers into private grounds (for the pueblo
towns its lands), guests are unrestricted, and
therefore, rarely Is such opportunity given
to witness 4 truly Indian celebration. Spec.
tators should arrive on the morning Of the
18th, If possible; thus they win be enabled
tt see the daily lite Of the pueblo and tho
evening WIN witness the ceremonies by
which the feast itself is ushered In.
At yespers the evening before the Saints
Day the festival commences with candle OIL
terings. AS the fast-setting sun ~suffnses the
tlnvailey with tender light and the shrub
covered hills soften with rich purple and
brown, the acoIyte, an indian. climbs to the
fiat roof of the adobe chapel and with a
stone in each hand rings or beats the
to services. After services two bands
Indians, crowned with leafy chapiets and
bearing green boughs in theor hands, file
into the little a~dobe-wailed court in front
Of the chapel. They face each other in two
long lines and then. to the music Of their
own weird chant they begin the sun dance I
When the last dance il over and the hill
resound with the shrill yelps Of its per :
formers the observances of the first day
are concluded, 4
On San Geronimo Day, the 30th, every J
body Of every complexion, fIocks early to
the pueblo, and before the sun is well above
the beautiful Taos range the grounds are
alive with a strangely mixed throng. and
with fiesta booths, where are displayed for
sale melons, pinon nuts, blankets and scarfs ,
of native manufacture, pueblo pottery and
Apache baskets. 4
In the plaza stands d pine tree pole, fif
ty feet in height, and from a cross-piece !
near the top hang harvest offerings of mel
ons, bread and a slain sheep. 4
The bells in the little adobe chapel sounds
and a few of the Indians 60 into mass. At
ter the devotional exercises are concluded
q procession is formed and marches to the
race track, which is a quarter of a mile in
length. The runners, Of whom there are
fifty, are clad only in breech cloth and are
painted, no two alike. I
Fifty other runners to contest with these I
arrive from each side dart down the track. Z
No sooner do they reach the goal than two I
others set Off, and thus for two hours the I
races continue in relays OF twos. The vic {
tofious side is given the privilege Of eleotins
the governor for both pueblos for the ensu-
year. r
In the afternoon dances by hideously
painted clowns and m~ifthnakers are follow /
ed BY attempts to climb the pole, which is I
at last Accomplished, and, amid the yelis G
OF the onIookers. the sheep and harvest Of \
ferings are thrown to the ground and car l
ried off, and st. jerome is supposed to re-
jolce in the happy conclusion Of the festi' !
val honor. L
Many an illnstrious pioneer has called |
Taos home. Colonel Kit Carson lived and {
is buried there. Governor Charles Bent was {
assassinated there Feb. II, 1S4T, during the
pueblo instruction. Colonel Cerra St r
vrain. Judge Beaubein and many others Q
there at one time or another. The 1
first newspaper west OF the Missouri river
was published in Taos in 1887. &
This interesting and historic section has S
80 "a nnn LIZ II a. nidnnrr Al Ill la