Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-07

more because they are new aud revolutionary
than because there is any fact or sound argu-
ment to disprove them. He maintains that the
civilization anciently existing in America, did
not come here from abroad; it was originated
here at time when this continent extended
much further into the Atlantic ocean than at
present. He asks, with other scholars who at.
tempt no explanation, how the Egyptians, in
Solou's time, knew so much of the Atlantic
ocean as we see in that story of the lost Atlantis,
which was recorded in their annals.
According to Pato's account of what Scion
learned from the annals of Egypt, Atlantis was
great body Of land in the exterior ocean, "
beyond the pillars of Hercules. It was as large
as "Asia and Libya combined" meaning Asia
Minor and Northern Africa, 1t was the scat of
a Furnishing empire, and had much communi-
cation with the countries on the Mediterranean.
Finally, after long history, it sunk beneath the
ocean, during frightful CONFUSION of nature;
and this cataclysm interrupted navigation, and
put an end to communication between that old
Atlantic world and the Mediterranean countries.
Brasseur de Bourb0urg finds, in the native
American books, abundant references to such q
catastrophe, by which portion of the continent
extending far into the Atlantic, was engulfed.
This destruction was the result Of terrific con-
WILSON'S of earth and sea, in which earthquakes,
tremendous volcanic eruptions, and overwhelm-
ing "tidal waves" were the principal forces.
The engulfed portion of the continent, he be-
lieves, was "Atantis." 1t was the first seat of
civilized life; and its civilization was afterwards
maintained in the region where we find myster-
GUS ruins of old cities. He claims, in support of
this hypothesis, the additional circumstance
that the words Atlas, Atlantis, and Atlantic, all
derived from the native speech of Mexico and
Central America, are entirely foreign TO every
known language of the old world
SO far, we can not disprove his position
although we may say it is not sufficiently proved
1t interleres with current beliefs concerning an
tiquity and ancient history; but this does not
dsprove it, for some Of these current beliefs are
unwarranted and absurd, quite as much so as
the current astronomical theories, which, after
wild and desperate struggle, gave way to the
revolutionary discoveries of Calico. Mean
while it is quite impossible TO believe with
Brasseur dc Bourbourg, that Egypt was created
and those in Egypt have nothing in common.
The TWO countries were entirely different in
their language, in their styles of architecture in
their written characters, AMI in the physical
characteristics Of their earliest people as we see
them sculptured or painted on the monuments.
An Egyptian pyramid is no more the same
thing as a Mexican pyramid, than Chinese
do l. tba ac lin bt
house. 1t was not m ldc in the same way nor
for the same uses. The ruined monuments show,
in generals and in particulars, that the original
civilizers in America, called Colhuas, were pro-
foundly different from the ancient Egyptians.
The two peoples cannot explain each other.
IT WAS AN ORIGINAL CIVILIZATION.
1t has been said very justly, by one of the
most intelligent explorers, that the American
monuments care different from those of any
other known people, of new order, and entire
ly and absolutely anomalous; they stand alone"
The more we study them, the more we feel it
necessary to believe that the civilization they
represent was originated in the region where
they are found. 1t did not come from abroad.
1t was the work of some remarkably gifted
it was discovered. 1t was, undoubtedly, very
old. Its constructions seem to have been re-
fined and artistic development of a style of
building, found in ruler forms, throughout
Mexico, and in the Mississippi valley. They
show us the idea of the mound-builders, wrought
out in stone and em5ellished By art. There are
the low pyramidal platforms for great ediices;
iUb rod do
with their great starways and their level sum
mits paved o. cemented, which remind us of the
great Aztec temple in the city of Mexico. The
decorations and the writing, also, are entirely
original. There is no imitation of the work of
any people ever known in Asia, Africa or Eu-
rope. 1t is manifest, that the method of build
ing seen in the great ruins, began with the ruder
forms of mound-work, and became what we
find it, by gradual dev ,lopment, as the advanc
ing civilization supplied new ideas and gave
higher skill. But the culture anil the work were
wholly original, -wholly American.
If, as there is reason to believe, the countries
on the Mediterranean had communication with
America, in very ancient times, they found here
a civilization already developed, and contrib
uted nothing to change its style of building
and decorating cities. They may have in
tiuenced it in other respects for the commune
cation must have been long continued, and may
or may not have been interrupted, as Brasseur
de Bourbourg supposes, by the cataclysm that
enguled Atlantis. Religious symbols and de-
vices are found in the American ruins, similar
to those of the Phencians. Among these, is
the device of the serpent, which appears con-
stantly. 1t was a common device of the Pheni-
elan race, in all the countries it occupied The
cross, supposed by some to represent the mount
ing of the magnetic needle, was among the en-
bIems Of the goddess Astarte. 1t is common
among the sculptures in the American ruins; and
a figure occurs, strikingly like Astarte, one at
Palenque being described as follows cit Is a
female figure moulded in stucco, holding a child
on her left arm and hand, just as Astarte ap-
pears on the Sidonian medals" There was sun
worship in America and the phallic ceremonies
exit in some places, in the time of Cortez.
In Asia, these and devices of the serpent were
always connected with sun-worship. Humboldt
was sure that these symbols, and others we
have not mentioned, came from the old world
Whether we adopt this or some other explana-
tion the traditions on both sides of the Atlantic
can have no meaning, unless it be admitted,
that there was communication between the two
continents, in times of which we have no his
tory.
New Jersey paper makes the excellent sug-
gestion to New York ladies, who receive calls on
New Years day, that, instead of making private
bar rooms of their Oarlors they Should rive m