194503 Desert Magazine 1945 March

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THEM A G A Z

MARCH 1945 -25 CENTS

INDIANS FOUND HEALTH BYLIVING CLOSE TO NATURE

Out of an intimate acquaintance withnearly all the Indian tribes of the South-west, George Wharton James in 1907wrote a book which perhaps better thananything published before or since revealsthe reasons for the rugged vitality of theAmerican redskin as the first Europeansettlers found him on this continent.A revised edition of the book was pub-lished in 1916, but the most of these havelong since disappeared from circulation.So long as the Indian remained true tothe traditions of his tribe in matters ofoutdoor life, work, diet and self-restrainthe was immune to the ailments so commonto the civilized white races—diseases of the

lungs,

disorders of the stomach and thenervous system and old-age disability. Iflater generations of Indians have fallenvictim to these white man's ills, it is be-cause he has departed from the ways of hisfathers.James' book THE INDIANS' SECRETSOF HEALTH, is based on the primitiveway of life of the redskin. It was a goodway of life from the standpoint of healthbecause it was closely attuned to Nature.He lived close to the earth, with littleartificial protection against variations intemperature and weather and living con-ditions—and because this was true hisadaptive functions remained active. Andtherein was the source of his immunity tomany of the white man's ailments.There is wide scope to James' treatmentof the subject of Indian health. There arechapters on food, work, poise, sex, adoles-

ence,

parenthood, nudity, social customs,self-restraint and many other phases ofIndian life. The author deals with themfrankly, and even bluntly, and as anavowed advocate: of the simplicity andnaturalness of the Indians' approach tothese questions."I would not have it thought," he says inhis foreword, "that I commend indiscrim-inately everything the Indian does and is.There are scores of things about the Indianthat are reprehensible and to be avoided ...Some of their habits are repulsive . . . Butbecause of this I do not close my eyes tothe many good things of his life ... I fullyrecognize the imperfections of the Indianwhile taking lessons from him in thosethings that go to make life fuller, richer,and better."The revised edition of the book waspublished by The Radiant Life Press, Pasa-dena, California. 280 pp. Halftone illus-trations $3.25.

THE INDIAN'S SECRE1S OF HEALTH

What the White Race May Learn from tine IndianBy GEORGE WHARTON JAMES.

Desert Crafts Shop has obtained a limited number of copies of this vol-

ume,

which has long been out of print. These copies were printed on afine grade of coated book paper (better than is available on the markettoday) and have been preserved in perfect condition. They are newbooks— although printed many years ago.American Indians enjoyed rugged health because; they followed closeto the principles Nature has prescribed for healthful living. White Ameri-cans have gotten far cway from some of these basic "musts"—and arepaying the price in pain and disability and doctor's bills.James has presented the subject bluntly—so that all may understand.

Halftone Illustrations — 280 Pages$3.25 PostpaidDESERT CRAFTS SHOP — El CentnCalifornia

THERE'S DRAMA INTHE STORY OF GEMS

"Besides having a history of their ownjewels have made history," said LucileSaunders McDonald in her entrancingbook JEWELS AND GEMS. How theymade history and where they have comefrom makes a story that is of absorbinginterest to everyone but especially to thosewho are really interested in gems. If thereis any field in which the general publicneeds an education it is the history andcomposition of gem materials and I knowof no book other than Kunz' own books,which are out of print, that so successfullypresents a complete education in the sub-ject as the McDonald book.The story of pearls and diamonds iscompletely told and while all the preciousstones are thoroughly discussed, brief men-tion is also made of nearly all the lesservarieties that have been used in jewelry.A chapter covers the 42 gem varieties thatexist in the United States and reveals thefascinating facts of the discovery rangingfrom pearls in mussels in New Jersey tothe gem mines of San Diego county, Cali-fornia.Here is a book to hand your house guestwho is waiting for the roast to cook orwaiting for you to dress. Or it is fine forthe bed stand in the guest room to relaxwith before going to sleep. And of courseif you are a lapidary or a mineralogist it is"must" for your library. It is one of myfavorite volumes.Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York,

1940.

288 pages, illustrated.—LELANDE QUICK• • •

HEALTH AND LOVE ATA DESERT OASIS

After all, the most interesting aspect ofthe desert is the people who dwell on it,and this conclusion is well confirmed bythe human drama enacted at an isolatedwaterhole on the Mojave where WillardRobertson brings a strange assortment ofcharacters in his latest novel, OASIS.Primarily, it is the story of a man andwoman who came to the desert seekinghealth—and found both health and love.But the road they traveled was long anddifficult, and there were many obstacles tobe overcome before they found their hap-piness.The plot is simple. It is a character study,with just enough action to keep a power-ful element of suspense running throughthe story.The author's presentation of the desertitself will not stand too close scrutiny, butfor the most part it is as realistic a desertas one will expect to find in most fiction.Published by J. B. Lippincott Company.220 pp. $2.50.

THE DESERT MAGAZINE

DESERT

Claie- If pi

• George M. Bradt, whose bird storiesand pictures have appeared frequently inDesert, is scheduled to leave soon foroverseas dutv in the infantry. He hasbeen stationed at El Paso since early inthe war. "When the war is over," Mrs.Bradt writes, "we hope to make tracksfor Arizona and spend the rest of ourlives there—and perhaps send you somemore bird pictures." As his final con-tribution to Desert before leaving,George has sent in a fine series of desertbird pictures which are scheduled forthe April issue of this magazine.• Owen Thamer of La Jolla, California,wrote: "My wife and I miss HardrockShorty. Until Lon Garrison can resumehis Hardrock yarns for Desert, perhapswe can pinch-hit for him." With hisletter, Owen sent the Hardrock storywhich appears in Desert this month. Edi-tors of DM think the La Jolla humoristproduced an excellent Death Valley gag.We haven't been able to contact LonGarrison for many months—and we hopeOwen Thamer will continue his job ofpinch-hitting.• As the first in a series of short illus-trated stones about oddities in the desertsall over the world, Jerry Laudermilk haswritten the story of

Welwitschia m'tra-

b'lis

for April Desert. And if you wonderwhat manner of plant or beast carriessuch an atrocious name, we can onlysuggest that it is classified as flora, livesin southwest Africa, and more than any-thing else reminds you of a botanicalversion of that sea-going monster knownas the octopus.• Palm Wash, in the Borrego badlandsof Southern California, is to be the sub-ject of Randall Henderson's palm oasisstory in the April issue of Desert. Thebrackish spring among the palms in thiswash has been the base camp for LostPegleg gold searchers over a long periodof years, and is well known to most ofthe prospectors in this area.• Home gardners and seedsmen neverhave been able to do much about theDesert Lily. It doesn't like domestic life.Elmo Proctor and a few of the desertrats have been able to transplant thebulbs—but no seed catalog lists it as aregular item. Carroll Abbott, a new con-tributor for Desert readers, has givensome interesting slants on the nature ofthis "untamed lily" in a story which willappear in the April number.

March at

SOUTHWEST MUSEUM

Los Angeles, California

Southwest Museum announces a spec-ial exhibit of Hopi Indian arts and crafts,including paintings by Hopi artists andfine specimens of their weaving, potteryand basketry; together with a remarkableseries of Kachina dolls representing thedemigods and heroes of their ancientlegends. Southwest Museum is situatedir. Highland Park, Los Angeles.

Volume 8MARCH. 1945Number 5COVERBOOKSCLOSE-UPSNATURETRAVELHISTORYART OF LIVINGLETTERSPOETRYWILD LIFECRAFTSBOTANYLOST MINESHUMORPUZZLENEWSMININGHOBBYCRAFTSCOMMENT

BEAVERTAIL CACTUS. Photo by John L. Blackford,Libby, Montana.The Indians' Secrets of Health and other reviews 2Notes on Desert writers 3Where Barnacles Grow on the SageBy JOHN HILTON 4Oasis of the "Cabbage Trees"By RANDALL HENDERSON 7When Camels Came to the DesertBy FRANCES E. WATKINS 10Desert Refuge, by MARSHAL SOUTH . . . .13Comment from Desert readers 15Desert Ghost, and other poems 17They're Harmless Little ReptilesBy WELDON D. WOODSON 18Indians Made Their Own DyesBy JERRY LAUDERMILK 20Desert's Shower of Gold, by MARY BEAL ... 24Lost Mines of the Peraltas, by BARRY STORM . . 25Hard Rock Shorty of Death ValleyBy OWEN THAMER 28True or False, a test of your desert knowledge . . 28Here and There on the Desert 29Current news briefs 32Gems and Minerals—Edited by ARTHUR L. EATON 33Amateur Gem Cutter, by LELANDE QUICK . . 37Just Between You and MeBy RANDALL HENDERSON 38

The Desert Magazine is published monthly by the Desert Publishing Company, 636State Street, El Centro, California. Entered as second class matter October 11, 1937, at thepost office at El Centro, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Title registered No.368865 in U. S. Patent Office, and contents copyrighted 1945 by the Desert Publishing Com-pany. Permission to reproduce contents must be secured from the editor in writing.RANDALL HENDERSON, Editor. LUCILE HARRIS, Associate Editor.BESS STACY, Business Manager. — EVONNE HENDERSON, Circulation Manager.Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs submitted cannot be returned or acknowledgedunless full return postage is enclosed. Desert Magazine assumes no responsibility for damageor loss of manuscripts or photographs although due care will be exercised. Subscribers shouldsend notice of change of address by the first of the month preceding issue. If address is un-certain by that date, notify circulation department to hold copies.SUBSCRIPTION RATESOne year .... $2.50Canadian subscriptions

25c

extra, foreign 50c extra.Subscriptions to Army personnel outside U.S.A. must be mailed in conformity withP.O.D. Order No. 19687.

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to Desert Magazine, 636 State St., El Centro, California.

MARCH, 1945

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Parts of the magazine cannot be seen due to a system error. Perhaps the issue can be re-uploaded? Thank you for the great magazine! Andrew Ed B

reply04 / 14 / 2010