Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-15
STONE-CARVINGS.
The Mount Pisaah OBJECTS and the Interview
with Dr. Ran.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:

The Wilmington IN. C.) Star says:
The Washington Star tells of q fraud per-
petrated by one M. IS. Valentine. he ex,
hlblted collection OF supposed wonderiui
antiquities and ascribed TO tne anclens
Creeks and Cherokees." and SAID tney came
from the neehborhood of Mount Pisgah, N.
&. They were manufactured, and Professor
Baird has had q duplicate set made TOT tne
Smithsonian Institute. Great IL humoug'
This paragraph is based upon the re-
port of an interview with Doctor Rau,
Of the Smithsonian Institute, which APP
peared in. the Washington Star, and
does gross injustice to well-known
gentleman of this city. The NJ. 5.
Valentine alluded to is Mann 5. Valen-
tine, owner Of the Valentine arch@o-
logical collection, a gentleman who
is incapable Of perpetrating fraud in
any manner, shape, or form, and whose
collection has attracted vast deal of
attention among archeologists, ethnolo-
gists, and anthropologists both in this
country and abroad. DR.. Rau did not,
in his interview reported in the Wash
iugton Star, charge Mr.. Valentine with
perpetrating fraud. On the contrary,
he stated that some years ago Mr.. VAL
entine, IN good faith. exhibited speci-
mems Of the Mount Pigah stone
carvings at the Smithsonian Institute.
DR.. Rau does, however, state in the
Washington Star interview that in his
opinion the stone carvings possessed by
Mr.. Valentine are forgeries, and that
Mr.. Valentine has been imposed upon.
And thereby-that is, in connection
with DR.. Rau's opinion hangs a tale.
When Mr.. Valentine took case Of the
objects to the Smithsonian Institute at
the time mentioned by DR.. Rau, he
(Dr. Rau) gave it as his opinion
that they were of post-Columbian
origin, and advanced as his principal
reason for holding such opinion that
he had never seen anything like them
before. DR.. Rau was replied to through
the columns Of the New York World
and London Nature in manner calcu-
lated to draw out any man who was
certain of his ground, but he failed to
make a reioinder. Mr.. Valentine took
his case Of specimens-the same exhib-
tied at the Smithsonian-to Europe,
where they were carefully examined
and excited the deepest interest. The
writer has been cognizant Of the his
tory of the collection from the time
that the first objects were brought
from Mount Pisgah, and had the good
fortune to be present on various occa-
sions when the collection was exam
ined by gentlemen who were qualified
to express opinions on archaeological
questions. He is familiar with all the
theories advanced regarding them, haS
talked with intelligent men who were
posted upon the manners and customs
of the people Of that portion of NORTH
Carolina from which the objects came
and he has yet to hear from any o
them an intimatioh of fraud. The
consensus of opinion is that the collec
ton is unique. AS to Mr.. Valentine
he has never advanced any theory
as to who made them, but ha'
simply submitted the evidence con
cerning the conditions under which
they were found. Indeed he has siren
uously objected to having the collec
ton described in the newspapers, anC
has persistently refused to talk for pub
llcation for fear that false impression
might be made upon the public. Hi
object in submitting them to men whC
have made archaeology and cOgnat'
subjects matters of especial study is Il
have the problem solved. To that enc
he has invited scientists from all oyel
the country to visit him and subject The
carvings to the most rigid scrutiny.
The writer is justified in saying tha
if DR.. Rau can prove that the stone
carvings Of Mount PiSgah are forgerie'
be will dispose ofa knotty question tina
has caused more than one scientific mar
a great deal of worry.
The object of this communication not
however, to champion the genuinenes'
of the stone carvings, but to present
such facts as will prevent injustice
being done one of our best citizens. The
writer has no theory to advance at pre-
sent, but he would ask the public tt
remember that there are those who's
attainments fully entitle them to ranl
with DR.. Rau who disagree with tina
learned gentleman on more than on
| subject. u: w. j.