Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-01
A WOMAN EXPLORER.
A BRIDE OF 10 PENETRATES THE
FORESTS OF YUCATAN,

A BRIDE OF 10 PENETRATES THE
FORESTS OF YUCATAN.
Wonderful Story Of an Ancient Civiliza-
ton Is Related by Mime. Alice L.
PlonEeon-"Atlantis" Not = FabIe-Re-
variable Discoveries.
A wonderful career has been that Of Nine
Alice lie Plongeon. who. as bride of 10.
went from her home in England to share the
dangers Of life in the forests of Central
America with her husband. Dr.. Augustus LIE
Plongeon. the savant and explorer Full Of
enthusiasm, she came to New York and
called away to the little known country Of
Yucatan, where her husband bad been pre-
vious TO his Journey to London and his dis
covery OF her exploring the ruins of U xmal
She went there for a few months stay, and
remained for fourteen years. In those years.
separated from home and friends and from
the society OF white people, Nine Le
Piongeon studied constantly, learned to
speak the Spanish and the old Maya Ian
guages, and pondered the ruins Of cities,
temples and statues until she became q
deeply learned woman. Prehistoric life was
her theme. and she commenced her study
with she mystic beginnings of Isis and Osiris
and the kingIy career of Cav the FIRST ruler
OF the Mayas, whose reign, many. many
years ago, over Mayas ancient Yucatan) il
ehronicied in sculpture. hieroglyphics and
bas retiefs innumerabla
mo one can imagine" said Nine Plon-
geon. speaking of her life in Yucatan, 1.-The
dangers that appalled, us as We threaded our
way through jungies and forests almost i'm
penetraoie, hungry and cold, and never COM
Portable"
Nina Le Plongeon picked up series Of
OF bas relief, which she said
were taken from building unearthed at
U xmai. which had TO rooms, arranged In
pairs, each pair communicating with one
another by a doorway. She described the
as having been erected on artificial
composed Of stones laid on the top
Of each other one of them being similar in
style to the famous Hanging gardens" Of
Babylon
Il think the most interesting thing to tell
you is OF the proof we found that Free Ma
sonry existed in prehistoric times" and she
gathered up from q largo collection Of pho
tographs a lumber that represented the same
symbols as are now In use. They
The order today.
"Wm you tell what you purpose doing
With these treasures you have collectedr
Certainly: we are back from Central
America to interest Americans tn their own
country and to invite them to examine tho
proofs we bring that the oldest civilization
% earth existed in that part of the cont.
nent. Ny husband Is writing book which,
when published, win give . succinct and
complete account Of the result Of our four
.een years stay in Yucaean and the great
value of the discoveries made by him. We
IA We fac siniles Of the ancient palaces of the
Mayas as you see here. with their peculiar
architecture, their bas reliefs and curious
sculpture representing tho portraits Of their
great men, priests and warriors, their inter
sting mural paintings and mysterious in
'cTiptions The old stones, buried these
many centuries In the depths Of forests only
i've or six days distance from New York,
nave q wondrous story to tell to the world
W nenever the people of the United States
ire ready for the information which can be
had the dark veil that covers the dawn Of hu-
nan civilization will be drawn aside and the
world will bless this country for unraveIing
he mystery Of the beginnings Of the race on
his planet"
Nth much feeling HOLDING up a large view
II great marble building. she said: ''Look
4 the carving on that temple. Is it not
,Iorious' All the monuments Of Yucatan,"
be continued, were made by powerful
acss. hlgniy civilized. s,ncs they made use
4 written language and Alphabetical
characters that have preceded Us Thousands
Il Year, Not only Is their own hittory in
cribed on che faces Of their public buildings,
,ut also their cosmogooicai traditions OF
ourse I, is With q shock that people hear u
~ that we bear with N proofs teal America
vas the cradle OF the human race. and that
he countries forming Central America ~ers
be scene Of the events described - having
AIKEN place tn the Garden Of iCden Pro
essor Agassiz. you know, founded his belief
has America was the old world and not the
.ew, upon tie geological formation ot this
ourinent'
Then yea give credence 70 the theory
bat there was such . casAsercphs - the sank-
q Of A:laurssT
Certainly. That continent existed beewesa
AMERICA and the western coast Of Africa
nd Europa In . Maya mansscrips seiA IA
x1sssncs there Is an accours of that awfsl
ataciysn, and thess interesting monumsnrs,
nth thsir Inscriptions - fun O. hiseorioA
evela.iona> With the Key d their decsph9.
,ens known, are able 20 give q tie su<zrs
issory Of the insAliecsnai dsvelopDens Of
he suuaan family Wha. makes Il moro do
xhtfui. too, IL shss this history h free from
b myths aid fa5aA creations u ursrtoFed |
nd crsdulous irnaginaasons o. WORT of crafty |
witch ~ fnd IA the saered |
ooks at the Asis1ie countries We have |
ahsri:ed myths bequeashed 10 - - rsvels- |
lnus from on high, and tas origin f which |
~ did not know uuti they ssood rsvea,sd n |
b szeavssed cixses Of Yucasan and shs /
ruzuhsed walls a tAe sEpses Of xAy1'
'-Shal you ev~ 70 back. nAdazna, % pros
cute fursh9 ezplrsaocsr
That depends 1ns1rely uIn1 your peopea I
2 theTs = "a tnHu&s IN de vosk ~ VA .
le6b carly = % during ownfe@A We /.