Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-07
THE CHARNAY FIND.
The LOrillard Collection Of Mexican
and Central American Antiquities at
the National Museum-SOme Account
Of the Charnay Expedition and its
Results

good deal has been written, counting space,
about the ''Lorill ard collection" of archaeology
cal specimens lately opened In the National
Museum In Washington, but beyond relating
the facts as to how the collection was made and
how it got here, scarcely anything has been
told. The truth is that the collection, though
doubtless capable of revealing much that is
valuable, is, as yet, a sealed book to even
savants and scholars. The mysterious signs
and figures with which the objects are covered,
would, If transcribed, doubtless open up a chap
ter full Of Information in regard to the ancient
history Of this continent. and the customs, re-
ligion and civilization Of the people who lived
In America long before Columbus imagined
there was such a land. But the key to these
signs ana glyphs Is as yet hidden to the most
industrious students Of archaeology.
THE HISTORY OF THE COLLECTION.
Several years ago Mr.. Pierre Lorillard, of
New York, became interested In the antiquities
of Mexico. Having abundant means and be-
lieving the exploration would be beneficial to
science, he united with the French government
in fitting out an expedition for the purpose Of
making thorough examination of Mexican
antiquities. The expedition, when formed was
placed in charge Of Mr.. Charnay, an eminent
French archaeolOgist. He was authorized to
visit the country named and to spare no ex-
ruined cities and other ancient features. For
two years the Charnay expedition was main
tanned in the field. During his researches the
progress made by the expedition was reported
regularly through the columns of the North
American Review" In these articles the char
acter OF the discoveries events Of the expedi-
ton and other features Of interest to the public
were given. The exploration was character
lied by industry and managed with ability.
Hence, many important and valuable discoY-
cries were made, but under the laws Of Mexico
the expectation of antiquities is strictly pro-
hibited, and these laws are now
| rigidly enforced. Therefore Mr.. Charnay could
not take with him out of the country the mys-
ferrous and cabalistic images engravings,
sculptures, etc, he had dug up or found in out
Of-the-way hooks. He made many valuable
and interesting discoveries particularly in the
line OF statuary. carvings and Inscriptions; but
under the memorable laws Of the land all the
originals. so much priced by him, had to be left
In Mexico. However, in order not to be de-
prived of the benefits Of his labor and to give
those who had employed him the fruits of his
| toll, he obtained permission to make casts and
mOulds of such of the articles he had found "a
he desired All Of his discoveries were deposited
In the National Museum Of Mexico, and there
with every facility at his command, NJ Charnay
made copies. He also improved the opportunity
to include, among his copies, casts of many
other interesting relics found byother explorers
and. as in his case, under the law placed In the
Mexican Museum. He took all his material to
France, together with all the casts and mOulds
ne had made, andthere made two complete sets
| OF his specimens, one for the French govern
ment, and one for Mr.. LOrillard When the
specimens, so made as to be in every case an
exact fac simile of the original. were ready. Mr.
Lorlllard was notified that they were subject to
his command. After fully weighing all the con-
sIderatlons involved in choosing resting place
1Or the much-sOught treasures, lie finally deter
mined to donate his set to the government, and
have 1t placed in the National Museum at Wash
ingtOn, with the understanding that the coec-
ton should always be exposed to public view.
and Kept permanently In that institution under
SUCH conditions as will afford students of Ame-
rcan antiquities the fullest opportunity for
studying these products of indigenous art. and
these hitherto indecipherable inscriptions.
The casts were taken by means of the pro-
cess Loten de Laval, and are accurate to the
mlnutest detail. They represent many Of the
most notable inscriptions and bas-reliefs that
nave been found in the ruined cities of Central
America as well as of Mexico. The duplicate set
belonging to the French government is on per-
manent exhibition at the TrOcaderO in Paris in
building erected and appropriated exclusively
to their accommodation.
THE WASHINGTON COLLECTION
Several weeks ago the set belonging to Mr..
Lorillard, dby him donated to the people. ar
rived at the National Museum. The collection.
which filled eleven large cases, has been given
place IN the museum worthy its interest and i'm
pOrtance. 1t has been assigned space or
range" In the southwestern portion of the build
Ing, separated from everything else. The cases
were opened and the specimens set up by Mr.
Barber, French artist who assisted Mr. Char
nay In making the casts.
The collection is displayed to the best advan-
vantage, and offers most interesting study to
arch8ologists and those who have a taste for
decipherng grotesQue signs and symbols. The
casts average about an inch In thickness, and
n hot 70 h4 vo1A n
with mixture Of tow to hold the masses
securely together. These slabs, as they may be
termed, are in different shapes, some of them
being perhaps eight feet by six in SIZE They
are arranged upon sort Of shelving with, of
course, the side bearing the Inscriptions and
figures exposed to view. In some cases several
OF the slabs are fitted together to represent the
entire original structure. To the casual OBJ
server the collection has the appearance Of very
dirty stones, well carved with images. having q
very aboriginal look, and thickly interspersed
with signs that, to one not versed i'm the
"heathen Chnee," might we'll be mistaken fol-
the characters which the almond-eyed washer
man employs in making out his bill for doing up
shirts
SOME OF THE OBJECTS.
Some Of the most interesting and valuable of
the collection represent discoveries in the ruined
city Of Palenque. That city has long attracted
large share Of attention from explorers, and
much has been written about it; yet the ac-
counts of explorers differ widely in some re-
spects, and owing to the failure Of all students
to solve the mysterious alphabet or discover
the key to the signs employed by the people
who once Inhabited the city in expressing their
thoughts, much Of its history remains still hid
den. The ruins lie in the Mexican state of Chi
apas. once province Of Guatemala. Even the
aboriginal name Of the ruined city is unknown,
and 1t is called after the village of Santo Do
mingo del Palenque, about eight miles distant.
This fact will convey to the mind how
little is really known Of the history of
the ruins themselves. It is be-
lieved that the crumblng and half buried ruins
were there, just as discovered many years later,
early in the 18th century and as to when. what
was once a magnificent city. was last inhabited
Is simply matter Of speculation. Among the
ruins the remains of two grand and costly
temples. supposed to have been the public places
of worship have been discovered. One is called
by explorers the 'Temple Of the Sum-" the other
the Temple Of the Cross"
In 1S42 MIR. Charles Russell, o. s. consul at
Laguna. Mexico, sent to Washington some frae-
ments OF stone, which when put together, formed
large rectangular slab covered with glyphic
designs in bas-relef These fragments had been
obtained at Palenque and the slab has been
identified as forming part OF group belong
ing to the 'Temple of the Cross" This
fpmnlp was called hocauSo II cont I'm I'd <bror