Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-11-12
5fiesellamY.
The stone Giant.

quitc an iitSicstiHS ohS. ~ was uiscoN-
cred cd the 10th ult., and has already oc-
casioned the greatest diversity of judg-
ment among educated and trustworthy
observers. The idea that it is a petrifac-
tion is very generally discarded, although
DIR. Westcott, who has charge of the fig
ure, affirms that he saw, by the aid of a
strong light, "perforations on the flesh
like the sockets of hogs bristles, close
together on the surfa CO." Professor Hall,
the State Geologist of New York, how.
ever, after remarking that the soft parts
of animals are never petrifed, says
"The object is statue wrought by the
hand of man." DIR. Woodwork, Secre-
tary of the Board of Regents of the
University of New York, concurs in the
same opinion. The material is gypsum.
A correspondent of the Worcester Spy,
whohas examined the statue, says: The
substance appeared to me more like cal
cined gypsum than native gypsum of a
gray white color, and smouched and dis
colored as by the vegetable mold of the
sides of the pit, and it has fresh ap-
pearance." The dimensions of the stat.
ne are ten feet three inches in length,
(and would give eleven feet if the legs
were extended three feet across the
shoulders, and twenty-one inches from
the top of the head to the chin. The
above correspondent gives the following
description
The whole figure is plump and fleshy
The head is massive, but not majestic
like the heads of classic statues of Jupi
ter and the head of Webster. l think
the phrenologist would call it well bal
anced. The side is.large and would be
described as strong. The mouth is hand
some, with we'll cut but projecting lips
The nose is straight, or perhaps slanting
up on the line of the bottom of the nos
trils, and it is straight from the tip t.
the forehead. The left eye is sunk in it
cavity, the only mark of decomposition
that observed. Isaw no appearance o.
death in the face, and there was little ex
preston of intelligence or emotion. Th'
general form of the face is Caucasian
and not Indian"
| OF its artistic merits there are differ
ent opinions, though most observers speal
highly of them. Messrs. Hall and Wool
worth say When it passed from tn
hands of the artist it must have been ex
pressive and beautiful" The forme
pronounces it of far higher order ant
of entirely different character than th'
smaller works of rude sculpture founc
in Mexico and Central America, or il
the Mississippi valley. Professor Ohm
stead, a leading archeologist, and wei
acquainted with European statuary, says
GAS work of art the Cadiff statue i
perhaps better embodiment Of the in
tellectual and physical power of a rock
hurling and mountain-piling old Tital
than Italy possesses" The point of in
terest, however. is, where did this statu
come from? Prot. Olmstead thinks tha
ait is not of great antiquity" Pro-
Hall believes that it had lain lon
time in the position where it was discov
cred, because not only was there a dee
alluvial deposit above it, which had n
appearance of having been disturbed
but parts of the statue had been dissoly
ed and worn away by running water
which could only have happened befor
the alluvial deposit began to form. O
the whole, then, the Cadiff giant is ent
tied to suspension of opinion until tn
learned and acute shall have done some
thing more to clear up his interestin
case. DIR. Bulkley, of whose opinion W
spoke last week, gives the following a.
count of it:
"The body lies upon its back, now fu
ly exposed to view on all sides exceI
the under side, and when found was in
bedded about four inches in gravel an
sand of the same color precisely as IL
material of the body itself, which is
blush gray limestone. A thin layer
yellowish clay underlies this. Over tt
whole was deposit of alluvial sol
about three feet in thickness. The fiel
is clover lot, extending from the pre-
ent bed of the creek, about twenty yart
distant, up to low, sloping bank, at tt
foot of which lies the body of the gian
the face toward the bank. The uppt
portions of the body, at the left eyebro,
at the hip, the breast bone, the knee ca
and about the toes Of the left foot, al
water-worn, and thus partially polishe'
disclosing the blush gray limestone GRO
ping up through the yellowish white il
crustation of carbonate of lime viii
which the body was at one time entire
covered. The conclusion is inevitab
that at a former period the creek rs