Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-01-23

lfnuadcipnia hecord.l
An animated discussion is going on con-
cerniug the genuineness of alleged Indian
markings on a stone in the pos session of
Henry ID. Paxson, OF Doylestown. The
matter is an important one for biologists,
since II the stone could be proved genuine
ft would settle in the affirmative the ones.
tion OF the existence of man and the man.
miths. This one, known "a the Lenaoe
Stone, is an Indian tablet about seven
inches long, aud belonged to some of the
tribe Of Delawares. There Is engraved
upon it-and IL IL this work tha' causes the
dispute he q cure OF an Indian shoo ing
n mammoth with an arrow, while the sun.
represented rs a face, sends forth its df.
vergens rays. A cluster of thundeTbolts.
arranged as the Greeks represented them.
darling from the hand OF Jove, completes
the picture. 1t Is the uniting OF the brute.
the human AMI the divine groups into one
picture that is regarded by geolozisss as a
remarkable achievement for primitive
man.
portion OF the stone which has become
the subject OF controversy was plowed up
ten years ayo by farmer, named Hensel.
near Doylesiown, and last fall the remain
ing piece was found, and the two parts
were placed together, completing an un-
1oubtel Ind relic No one disputes the
genuineness OF the stone itself, nor that it
had marks upon 1t when found. Mr.. Pax.
son purchased 1t Of the farmer for small
sum, and Professor II. Carville lewis. Of
this city, hearing through Mr.. J. s. Bailey
OF the stone and drawings upon il asxei to
be permitted 20 see it. Accordingly Mr..
PaKson loaned it to him. Oa examina ion
Professor Lewis pronounced the work up-
on the stone a forgery OF recent execution.
DR.. ID. q. Brinton, the eminent chino.
logist, aud other gentlemen distinguished
In scientific researches expressed the same
belief. Mr.. Paxson vigorously asserts the
antiquity Of the engraving on his tablet
and Indignantly resents the imputations OF
forgery. =
Several reasons are given by tbs scien-
lists cor this conclusion. Tbs most i'm
portant, perhaps, Is the fact that piece
Of ivory discovered some ten years
since in the cave OF La Maielaine,
in France, the commences OF which is not
questioned, had on it a skotch OF a man,
moth so like the mammoth OF the Paxson
tablet that the latter Is believed to be a
copy. The tusks are formed in the same
manner, the legs are In idcnticaIly the
same position; precisely the same number
Of hairs form the tail, and the same mum
Der of lines are drawn across the back.
Prof. Lewis says it Is inconceivable that
two aborigines so many thousands OF
years ago should have formed ex actIy tho
same figure In representing an animal
then existing.
Dana's mineralogy contains q picture of
the La Madelaine ivory, aud a copy could
be easily made. 1t is claimed further that
grouping was unknown to the aborigines,
and was beyond their powers of concep.
ton The lines on the stone are said to
bear evidence of having been made by a
sharp instrument and not by a flint, as
would necessarily be the case were the
tablet genuine.
The work on the stone is cieverly exc.
cuted. and IL q forgery IL Is bold at
tempt 10 impose upon the scientists what
would, IL accepted. be considered a most
important discovery. and which would
have become Of great pecuniary value.