The Coconino sun., 1925-07-31
HOPE DO NOT LIKE THE
WOMEN DRESSED LIKE MEN

UVNkEIN VNEODEU L1AL ML1N
Every year the numbers who visit
Hopi-land, to see the summer cere-
monies, are ifioreasing, great Iiui1is'
bers now make the trip across the hot
sands, over rough roads, washed out
by recent rains, and with difficulty
cross the swollen streams, yet they
come.
In the early days when automobiles
ventured out ON the desert sand, there
were interesting stories told of al
strong span Of mules, team of
large horses and Hopi men who did
heroic work taking tourists through
the high waters, often on their backs,
thus earning a Ettle extra money.
In those days, in spite of all the
hardships, the white ladies appeared
in the villages in pretty dresses, their
long hair dressed in styles that were
beautiful and becoming, much to the
delight of the Hopi people.
It was a JOY to the Hopi woman to
see her white sister thus daintily and
nlodestly dressed and she secretly en-
tert1ined a desire to be Ike her.
The men of the tribe, with their ar
tistic turn of mind and love of the
beautiful gave them many admiring
glarices; both men and women have
welcomed the coming of tourists and
have shown them every kindness.
Sometimes woman would visit the
villages in nlannish clothes; this was
not only not admired but brought cut
feeling of disgust for the woman
who so far had lost her care for
dainty things and with it, to the Hopi
mans thought, her modesty too.
One man said, did you see that
woman half like man and half like
a woman? 1t make me just very
her head to her waist she looked like
woman but her legs look like man.
1t make me just very cross"
A party came from California; with
them was pretty young lady dressed
like man: an old Hopi man who had
a little knowledge of English, .sgou
handseme,' or if a lady with, you
beautiful but when he saw the
young lady from California he was
puzzled greatly just how to word his
greeting. Stepping up close to her
and looked at her garments, he said,
"you boy ?" then looking at her face
he said, maybe so you girl.
The Hopi woman deplores the fact
that the time has come when the
dainty clothes, the mark of w0rnan's
gentleness and modesty, has become a
thing of the past and hen long hair,
her crowning glory, has been taken
away, and she has put herself down
on level with the cowboy of the
plains with his spurs, knife and re
volver. pe A
Hopi men and women both have
talked a great deal about the subject.
and all have said it was like an insult
to them; the women lock upon their
white sisters with shame and the men.
with disgust; all agree that some
stand should be taken by them against
it.
.N0t that the dress of our women
is anything that we can boast of but
at least it is womanly; and if the
white ladies wish to come and witness
our ceremonies, where eur women
wear their best clothes, they should
not be careless enough of our taste
in these matters to offend US in this
way"
There has been some talk OF putting
up a sign board prohibiting women,
who are not dressed as such, from en-
tering the villages, though the council
has not definitely decided upon it.
One has said, "there is nothing
against ladies wearing mannish clothes
on the trip. out here, but they shonld
respect as sufficiently to put on q
womanIy garment before entering our
villages"
BUT another becomes very bold, and
being near the railroad, declares he
will aecost every woman before she
leaves the railroad and demand that
she be prepared to be properly clothed
before witnessing the ceremonies.
"A word to the wise is sufficient
We hope this summer new order OF
things will come and women visiting
the Hopi villages will not only wear
dresses but pretty dresses with pretty
sleeves in them, that they may please
the Hopi who love pretty things and
are looking for certain charm OF
dress and manners in their white sis
ters who have had advantages of
schools and colleges above all that 1t
is possible for Uncle Sam to do for
the Hopi women.
ABIGAIL E. JOHNSON,
Sunlight Mission,
Toreva, Arizona.
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