Pueblo chieftain., 1921-06-30
Ry Frederic ]. Haskin.

the nearest thing IN existence to a pic
torial representation of the bureau ol
the human race and its works, in all Of
their variety. is contained in the col
lection of photographs owned by the
National Geographic Society here
which has taken for its mission in life
to make all parts of the world knowr
to all of its inhabitants.
For many years the most accurate de-
scription possible was relied upon tc
teach to the housekeeping the customs
dress. climate, religion, flora, fauna
likes and dislikes OF the countries OF
the world and their peoples. Eagerly
though this was received. the most
skilfull writing in the world was not
found entirely to fill tho bill. The
marvels and beauties OF the world
could not be pictured adequately In
cold type. Something better and more
human was needed, and the camera
supplies it
Since then men have been Drawing
the clements and the whins and pre-
JUDGES of strange peoples the world
over IN order that pictures of life as 1t
Is in every nook and corner might be
procured and presented to millions OF
people doomed by circumstance to n
first-hAnd view OF only small por-
ton OF the earth's surface
Although approximately 200 OF these
photographs arc published yearly by
the National Geographic Society. there
are filed away in its Washington offices
and awaiting presentation some $50. :
0oo other pictures Of the widest range.
the subjects varying from the southern
polar regions to the eArth's northern
axis. from the snow-c1pped peaks OF
tho Himalayas to our own Death VAL
ley: and as geography includes the
fauna the collection extends to tho
wondrous fish who spend their lives
hundreds OF fathoms deep in tropical
waters. as well as tho fcatbcred song
stcrs of the skies.
Many popular but erroneous ideas
have been exploded by this wide use
of the camera. Pictures dispcllcd the
idea that n Chinaman Is congenitally
unable to laugh. Mothers of children
in far-on India lavish the Same affcc-
ton on their offspring as do mothers In
Louisiana or Connecticut. An East
Indian woman. possessed of n daughter.
docs not invariably huri her progeny
of tho sacred Gangc-. any more than
tho shark turns over on Its back to
rcnd its prey.
Pictures That Are Hard - Get
In many lands. notably In tho Mos
ler, countries. tho greatest persuasion
IN necessary to induce men and women
to submit TO having their photographs
taken. as explorers. photographers. and
stan men OF the Geographic Society
would have them taken. Often there is
mct n flat determination that no pic
turc shall be taken. all OF which Is
born of an ancient law.
Mohammcd, founder Of tho religion
bearing his name. to guard againSt
having. his followers slip back into
idolatry. expressly forbade tho pictured
representation OF any living thing. and
this injunction is largely needed by the
believers in Allah to this day. often
they carry It further. and look with
suspicion and dis,rus. upon any ono
who disrcgards the mandate of tho
Prophet. The ere of the camera Is to
them An evil thing. to be shunned AZ
tho plague. Despite this handicap
many pictures of the peoples OF the
Mosiem world havc appeared In the
publication OF the society. even one OF
tho racred carpet at Mecca, and hun
dreds more arc in the fiies, OF the or
ganiyatfon.
The geneea1 use Of the cnmera In
sorne of tho show places Of tho world.
not only by professional photographers
and artists. but by tourista has
brought a realization to the peoples OF
some of these places that they can gain
rclf by posing. In Sicily this has re-
suited In practically every native re-
AActhe " tr ArN'T'NN NJ y
courtesy. So generally has this spread
through the island that II is now al
most an imr disability to obtain even
casual snapshot unless the natives
are paid for their services. Thus Dos
ing has come to he an important sourco
Of revenue to the peasants there.
Tho oasis of Biskrs. in Algeria IA
another instance. StafY men of tho
Geographic Society have found n dis
inclination 10 being photographed on
the part Of the residents there which
was at hrs' put down to reliE ous
scrupies. yet the aversion to tho
camera was quickly overcome at the
sight OF money. Tho picturesque peo-
pie Of the oasis had found demand
for their portraits with the back
ground of their romantic haunts. and
thrifty put price on their coopera-
ton.
On tho island of Maarkcn. In Hoi-
lard. no1rly everyone ir primarily
poser for tho Grant camera man. But
there. too. this posing Is for a price.
Daily these islanders Young and old.
stgire themselves in the old ia shtonsd
Dutch costume. and arc willing prey
Tor the hunter with the caneralif first
their palms are crossed with silver
A. Nolendan. Holland. where the cos
tune differs, tho Same situation exists
The su.nir,cu. ATM
The ancient abori Einsis Of Japan. the
Ainu race. have strong disinciiration
to the Csmrra. and uafthnr nnousx nor