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Show 1 I D lID you ever attend a dance where the girls pounced upon their partners, held them by the belt and danced until the man was ready to pay a fee to be released? Did you ever attend a dance that was full of fun and merriment yet was intended to cure a patient of dizziness, or perhaps of the dire results of seeing blood shed? Did you ever attend a dance which was closed, after the third night, with the shooting of an enemy's scalp? You who have travelled in Navajoland have probably witnessed the so-called "Squaw Dance", but very likely without having any idea of what it is all about. The past Summer seems to have produced an unusual number of these ceremonies, and our Summer workers had opportunity of participating. Far less colorful than in our earlier day.s - for now many school girls dance in modern dress, and because of the advance of "civilization" it is necessary to have police cars in attendance - these dances are still a reminder of years gone by when the ills of the body could be cured by the application of juniper ashes, red clay, tail feathers of the roadrunner and down from the eagle. Think not, however, that the Summer has been danoed away. Much' physical work has been done, and our main reason for being here - the presentation of the Gospel - has always been paramo un t. St. Christopher's Day was observed with due solemnity. Perhaps the day isn't indicated on your calendar; traditionally our Patron is commemorated on St. James' Day, July 25th, but because of our dedication we postpone the Apostle's fest ival. By the Navajo "grapevine" and through our weekly radio broadcast the invitation was sent out, and several hundred came - including a pickup load from Good Shepherd Mission at Fort Def iance, some 260 miles away. High Mass was sung, and many received the Food of Life; the sermon was an opportunity of telling again (with some local color for embellishment) the legend of St. Christopher who, after seeking vainly a fearless captain under whom he might fight, found the Saviour, and served Him by helping His chil- |
