New-York tribune., 1872-06-15
NEW-YORK MAGAZINES.
THE JULY GALAXY-THE CARDIFF GIANT AND
THE PHGNICIANs.

THE JULY GALAXY-THE CARDIFF GIANT AND
THE PHGNICIANS.
The July GdIary INDUCES itself in a scien-
tiee investigation which, if not wholly convincing, lie
certainly entertaining 1t is the Cardiff Giant which
comes again to the surface Of discussion as II once came
10 the surface OF an aluval deposit Of showmen. The
author of The GALAXY article, "Tammuz and the hound
Builders" gives and sustans his views with candid
assurance only less explicit than the stereotyped Gen
tlemen, 1 will not deceive youp The Cardiff Giant,
he q claims to be q statue OF Tammuz, OF
the Phenician Adonis. The markings upon the
right arm he considers Phenician inscription and
translates thus: Lord Tammuz Of the Heavens. Baal
PhGncian inscription" he says, "is not in any case
easily gotten up The conditions in which this parcn-
lar inscription appears upon the statue, under the mi
croscope are such TO preclude tho possibility OF Its
having been placed there within any recent period 1t
is only some 80 years since the Ph@ncian al
pbabet was first classified by Gesenius This inscription
could not be made up today OUT Of any collated alpha
bets that exist the form aud Arrangement Of the letters
being peculiar and yet distinctly Phpncian" The shape
OF the "Gants" head it cited as another proof OF Its
Phenician origin CONFORMING as it does 10 the type
head Of the American noundbuiders. Yet another So
called proof is the extraordinary polish OF the surface
which is not unlike the glazing with which the PhGnl-
clans decorated and preserved their statues The pc
cuaries OF the Giant its traces Of wings and the cup
like depressons in the back resembling eyes, correspond
in a measure with the description of the ancient Baal,
who was represented with eyes before and behind, and
four wings.
Our friend Of Cardiff then according to this writer,
was carved by the PL9uicans and was brought across
the ocean by colony in one Of those large and
famous "ships Of Tarshish" with which they carried
on a commerce and discovered and acquired colonial
possessions with an energy and superior 10 the
other Eastern nations. The stone god found resting
place in Nortn America with its colony
whoestablshed with like colonies agricultural civil
ization between the Mississippi and the Atlantic. No
madic northern tribes harassed these moundbuders,
internal dissensions divided them, they nearly ex-
terminated i'll a great battle near Onondaga, and
about the time Of the descent of the babarans of the
north upon Rome, the parallel mound building cyiliza-
ton in America was broken through and tramped down
by the Tartar nomads Of the Northwest They appear
TO have followed in successive waves beating against
the fortified line Of the Ohio which they finally forced
through and fought their battle of CAOns on the dark
and bloody ground Of Kentucky. There these
Huns Of the Northwest rolled the mound-build-
ing civilization southwark and into the sea. Whether
the final battle at OnOndaga which determined the fate
of the NORTHEASTERN moundbuders, occurred before or
after this event the writer does not say He only knows
that at distant period the great statue brought in
ship Of Tarshsh the Sea Of Att lying in its resting
place was lightly covered with twigs and flowers and
then with gravel The tree under whose shadow il had
reposed was caused to fall with branches extending
and protecting the slightly raised mound Here it was
perhaps left for its Winter burial looking toward
direction in the Spring Passing centuries have in the
opinion OF this antiquarian laid over both mound and
tree auvial deposit the depth Of which, when calcu
lated with all the data accurate typographical investga
tion alone give, may yield measure Of time.
Notwithstanding all these ingenious and somewhat
farfetched arguments, is inclined s TO doubt the
authenticity of Monsegneur Of Cardfs PhGniclan
origin. There is almost too much smoothness in the
story too much courtesy the way in which times and
traditions bend to each other. Possibly the author may
have his disciples for there is cavern so bare and
empty that Messeurs the antquarans viii not burrow
deghtedy therein We believe that the origin Of this
ugly AdOns has been signed and sealed modern and
vulgar but that is Of consequence. Gen. Custer
tnues his Indian sketches, and TrollOpes Eustace
Diamonds" goes its pleasant way, holding
Of the very best pictures of weak aud willy
woman imaginable. There some Anecdotes OF
PUBLIC Men" which are Passable but not too brilliant
The reason for being OF such anecdotes must be in their
wit TACT sentiments what Of these charming qualities
this article possesses the readers Of The GALAXY must
search out for themselves Mr.. IGuius Henri Browne
gossips agreeably Of mats II Name" Avery mel
odramatic Tale OF Two Lockets"he story OF klep-
tomaniae-heads the list of contents, and ghostly
phantasy by Ivan Turgenef ends it.