THE MESA'S LITTLE PEOPLE

NDIANS of to-day shun the ruins of the Mesa Verde. They believe them inhabited by spirits whom they call the Little People. It is vain to tell them that the Little People were their own ancestors; they refuse to believe it.

When the national park telephone line was building in 1915 the Indians were greatly excited. Coming to the Supervisor's office to trade, they shook their heads ominously.

The poles wouldn't stand up, they declared. Why? Because the Little People wouldn't like such an uncanny thing as a telephone.

But poles were standing, the Supervisor pointed out. All right, the Indians replied, but wait. The wires wouldn't talk. Little People wouldn't like it.

The poles were finally all in and the wires strung. What was more, the wires actually did talk and are still talking.

Never mind, say the Indians, with unshaken faith. Never mind. Wait. That's all. It will come. The Little People may stand it—for a while. But wait. The Supervisor is still waiting.

STONES FROM SUN TEMPLE COVERED WITH GEOMETRICAL AND EMBLEMATICAL DESIGNS