New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-03-15
TAOS SOLVES THE HIGH
COST OF LIVING FOR A
GREAT MANY PEOPLE

The following little story. imbody-
ING the impressions OF Mable Dadgt,
is author. recently appeared n the
Washington Times. 1t will be OF in
~tcrest TO people Of Taos and those
familiar with the quaint old town.
Taos is a little village on a great
plain, with hills behind it, and to
the north, a big mountain to shelter
it.
C'ndcr the mountain the Indians
have their pucblo-four square miles
Of land on which they live and cnl.
~trvate. Each man has a piece OF
land and he raises enough on IT to
keep him and his family.
They have their horses and cows
and pips-and they have built fine
shelters for them Of evergreen boughs
and roofs matched with yellow straw.
They have a stream running through
the pueblo where the animals all
come to drink at night and morn
ing. -,
They have irrigated their land by
means Of a great ditch and every
man has his share Of digging IN 1t
to keep it m the right condition.
Everyone has enough to eat and
rlrntv of time to live and dance
and sing ard make headW1rk and
hunt,
All around Taos arc little Mexi-
can villages made Of onc-Story adobe
houses, dirt color, and with hri"h'
tive painted doors and windo"
frames. And the MeHicanS farm the
lard. too, and RAISE the food they
need.
Then Tor many fnilcN ~ar"thn lie
ranches Of different kinds, where
catrle roye-or where fruit IS rats-
ed.
Every morning the square, or plaza,
in Taos IS iull Of movement ard
color. Three or four big stores, with
every sort OF things any one needs
for thc business of living, 'acc on the
plaza. The road runs around all tonr
sides OF it, and on the inner Slde
Of the road IS a white PICKET renee
VIII ch surrounds a grassy park WIN
n din1inutiTc banastand IN the cent
er,
NJ intervals, on the outside OF the
frcc, h'tchint posts are driven mt
the ground al around the park,
and h-rc the Me car teanSfcrN hltcl,
their big horses and wagons ana
cowboys leave their PONIES ana me
Indians theirs. They come IN from
all around the countryside to sho7
and get mail and exchange their
garden stnff-and II is very lively
and amusing. ,
The McicaNns are dark-Skinncd
and wear broad-brImmed hats, ana
they look Spanish, as indeed th'y
are.
The cowboys are tanned and .rud-
dy. often blue-eycd and with clear
cut features, and their spurs make
clanking sound as they walk.
Every one is good-humored and
ready to do a good turn to the next
fellow. The air is full of sunshine
an cheer and vitality.
Every one-like people, every
where else-is concerned with liv-
ing; that is, concerned about their
daily food, and having warmth
enough, and getting pleasure out OF
life.
And they all seem TO be success
full in this business OF living.
They seem to like lite to k what
they are doing. No one seems ner-
vous here, or restless or suspicious
Of the Others.
If there is a dance they all want
to go to it. If any one comes along
who can make music in any way
they all want to hear It. They are
always ready for anything.
In Taos you buy meat, and the
best of meat, tor ~ cents a pound.
Twenty cents a pound Tor good
beef! :,
And you buy wood-pine ana
spruce-for 81 the wagon load
And you can rent a small one