Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-01
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
Letter From Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Editor Of Jnaidta Sentinel a=d Republican,
MLpfiRtoirR, Pa.

bottOi IOu UIt w q ucy 1uuluud.
Editor Of Juaidta Sentinel a.d Republican,
MtfiRtotrH, Pa.
DEAR SIR Since our last letter, Spring
has fairly come, ard supplsnted old and
hoary winter, who, with his usual dignity
and respect for the hoSery maiden, retired
without murmur. She has folded us in
robes of green. She has reached down and
lifted up the head of the violet and bathed
its little form with the distillation of Heav-
en-. She has brought buds and blossoms,
birds and flowers, to once more beautify the
short stopping place of man, and gladden.
his heart with her genial presence. "Up
through nature TO natures God,' We look
for her author. Not as Spiuoza would
have US look through the Pantheisticai lens
which sees all substance God, and God all
substance, but with that sight that receives
its intensity from the lids Of inspiration,
ami sees II as the effect and result of crea-
ton Separate and distinct, and but IL
tie compared with Him who is infuite and
In our former letter We commenced a
hssty sketch of the history OF Indiana, and
her first inhabitants, before proceeding any
further let us take a causal glance at pre-
historic times which embraces Archaeology.
Was there a time in the silent ages of the
past when the pulsations of a civilized peo-
pie throbbed on this continent! Is ques-
tion that Archaeologists have alter untiriHg
research been able to answer in the affirnia-
tive That anterior TO the Indians, race
OF civilized and sentient beings once taught
and nurtured all the fundamental laws of
civilization and enjoyed the grace and cul-
rure of the arts and sciences. His mould
ering relics and antiquarian characterics
that have been found are incontray ertible
evidences that in oblivion sleeps a nstion
that once was in existence where We now
occupy. Mexico and South America when
explored by the Slaniards, abounded in
powerful and well advanced nations whose
knOTledge Of the arts and sciences were
iar superior 10 the satiOns Of the north
We'll regulated systems Of government, and
uniform tenets Of religions worship chlrac-
terized this people. and the iinmensity Of
their undertakings is conclusive evidence
that the country was deRsely populated
Their pyramids, cities, temples and other
works OF magniicence and beauty, Indicate
their superior workmanship and skill that
the ancestors of these people once inhab-
tied the fertile valleys OF our great rivers,
we think there is no doubt. For We see in
the ruins that mark these places unmistak-
able signs coinciding with their ideas of de-
sign and habits. Ohio, New York, Indiana
and other States are prolific in ruins and
Iumui and otker characteristics Of this
ancient race. Whether it was the induce
mcnts of a more genial cline, internal and
sectional strife, or the encroachments of
other Asiatic emigrsnts that induced them
to migrate Southwark We are unable to say,
but While they retained their knowledge of
the useful employment the Northern hordes
sank into abject, degradation and barbar-
ism. Who and what were they In study
ing the national and physiological charac-
ger Of the Attic and Toltic nations Of Amer
Fcs, strong resemblance is noticed between
thSm and the people OF India, China and
Japan, the wslled enclosures and innumera-
BILE mounds are counterparts of the great
walls of China, while the features of skin,
color and other striking characteristics are
condolences Of a similar nationality.
Has we time and space we would like to
give you general description of the diff
fereH< ruins as found IN this State, but we
viii only mention one, found on the Wa
bash river, in Posey county 1t is called
the bone bank, from the vast number of
skulls and bones that have been unearthed
by the washing of the river. Jugs, pots
and other curious designs of pottery have
been found, remarkable for the skilled man.
ner in which they have been constructed.
II is not in Europe alone, says Professor
Cox, that we find a well founded claim of
antiquity, for the art of making hard and
durable stone by mixture of clay, lime,
sand and mixture OF stone, for am sat
isfed, says he, that this art was possessed
by race of people who inhabited this con-
tinelt at a period so remote that neither
tradition nor history can furnish any ac-
count Of them Many are the conjectures
as 10 the origin and final dissolution of this
once innocent and harmless people, whose
ruins indicate race Of peaceful and con-
tented habits, never aggressive, but subject
10 the invasion of some inveterate foe. For
their implements of war, and arrangements
ior defense show that long and bitter was the
struggle that ensued before they relinquish-
ed their homes TO that invading and san
culinary foe who swept them from the face
of country that they had beautified and
loved. From evidences given before, it is
ing remnant went down beneath the iron
heel ef the Spaniards in Mexico, and that
north of this not vestige remains, as the
people found there by the Spanisrds are
now entirely extinct. Some Archaeolog-
,st attribute their extinction to some unu
sual epidemic or terrible pestilence. But
on this hypothesis, says an able author, We
could not account for the indiscriminate
and confused condition of their domestic
utensils, war implements, and means Of de-
fence, with their skeletons, and earthen-
ware, which are found all mingled together
showing that, as we said before, they went
down, defending their homes against an in
vsding enemy. And this foe in all proba-
bility was the Indian who succeeded them.
Their origin ever viii be wrapped in mys-
terry and ethnologists viii study in vain 70