Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-25
THE OHIO MOUNDS.
Prof. Putnam Resumes His Researches
The Intrusion on His Ground.

builders in Ohio. conducted by Prof.
Putnam, of the Peabody Museum, at
Cambridge, has been handsomely
recognized by the Council of the
American Association for the advance
ment Of Science, which, at the Cleve-'
land meeting Just closed, has made a
grant to him of the income Of the
small research fund of the Association
for the past year, amounting to $500,
in aid of the Investigations about the
Serpent Mound. This grant was made
at the request Of the anthropological
section of the Association after Prof.
Putnam had read a paper on the Ser
pent Mound and its surroundings; a
practical testimonial to the apprecia-
ton of the value of the work. The
research fund is derived from the life
memberships of the association. Prof.
Putnam has left Cleveland for the
Serpent Mound, and expects to resume
his explorations there at once, remain
ing until the middle of October Mrs.
Putnam will be with him, and probably
DR.. G. G.. Abbott, the arch@ologis6
who discovered the important evil
dences of the human occupation of
the Delaware Valley, at Trenton, n.
j., before the close of the glacial
period. Several other arch8ologists
propose visiting Prof. Putnam's camp
during the next month.
The Serpent Mound Park, which is
owned by the Peabody Museum, is be-
ing put into beautiful condition, and
is place worthy visit by tourists.
The people of Ohio are taking much
interest in Professor Putnam's work,
and it is hoped that the example set by
the Peabody Museum, in saving the
Serpent Mound will so arouse their
State pride during this Centennial
year, as to induce some action by the
Legislature for the preservation of the
other grand relics of prehistoric times
that give Ohio series of ancient ruins
sufficient to confer the rank Of veneer
able antiquity upon her. 1t is felt
that the preservation of these monu-
ments of a vanished people would be
the most fitting memorial which the
State could devise in honor of her Cen
tennial year.
The region which Prof. Putnam had
mapped out as the field for his explora-
lions in Ohio comprises the territory
between Cincinnati and Portsmouth,
on the Ohio river, forming a tract
bounded on the west by the Little Mi
ami and on the east by the Sciota
Rivers, and including the valleys of
Paint Greek and Brush Greek. On the
Little Miami, not far northerly from
Cincinnati, is the Turner group of
ruins, in the valley of Brush Creek and
its tributaries are the Serpent Mound
and Fort Hill, and in the Scioto Valley
| are the Liberty group and the ''High
Bank" ruins. Prof. Putnam sexplora-
tions are conducted in most methodi-
cal and exact manner, and for other
| parties to rummage over the ground is
! likely to interfere seriously with his
results. As the rest of the State is just
as important and just as rich, it is felt
that there is plenty of room for all eX-
| plorations, which it would be easy to
conduct SO as to make their results
mutually helpful. Therefore the in
trusion Of the party of Prof. Cyrus T.
Thomas of the q. S. Bureau of Eth
nology upon this ground has aroused
much indignation among scientists.
Prof. Thomas men are now at work in
| the Scioto Valley. Unless the scientific
rights Of Prof. Putnam are respected,
it is proposed to call the attention of
Congress to the fact and seek action
which shall prevent the use of public
money appropriated for scientific in
designations in Interference with other
scientific enterprises. Ithas been sug
gested that an archaeological confer
ence, at which the various parties and
interests engaged in American eXplo-
rations should meet, might be of great
service in avoiding such difficulties as
the present by agreeing upon general
plan of work, mapping out and appor-
tioning the territory so that there
should be no interference and all
should be mutually cooperative in
working toward the common end of
throwing the desired light upon the
past of mankind in the Western world.
= Boston Herald.
Kiss AIcOtt and Her Book.
My acquaintance with the late Miss
Louisa Alcott was begun in so novel a
fashion that feel impelled to tell about
it for the amusement of your readers.
| had come from a pretty Vermont
town to Boston, just as Little Wom-
en-" was published, and having its first
SuSICSS. L W. III Ol0 VI
Boston's largest circulating libraries.
beginning to earn my own bread and
butter. The Juror for the new book
was entirely unprecedented, and we
had over 200 copies of it, not one of
which was ever in. The order book
was filled with calls for it, and as fast
as copy came in it was sent out again.
One day, when I had been about
week in the library, lady came in,
whose face I liked very much, and
asked me for something delightful,
funny and NICE" to read. By the
merest chance l had in my hand copy
of Little Women" that had been re
turned to the library, and which was
about to do up and send out again.
With a sudden impulse l handed it to
the lady SAYING: Il am sure this will
please YOU"
She took it. looked at it moment
inside and out, then threw it aside.
was astonished to see the cherished
book treated with disdain, but man
aged to ask: Have you read it?n
1--we seen it, was the curt reply.
Don't you like it?n [ again ven
tured.
Its ridiculous thing" was the an
swer.
This was too much for me, and /
proceeded then and there to give a
most eloquent defense of the book;
mingled with little satire at the taste