The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-15

do about it? 1t is IN interesting ques-
ton for moralists and sociologists, and
with the light furnished them BY the
census figures it is time to open the
ball.
Let the School Children Preserve the
Mound.
The effort being made by the Execu-
tive Board of the West Virginia Histori-
cal and Antiquarian Society to save
from destruction tho mammoth pre-his-
toric mound at Moundsville deserves
the encouragement Of the public. 1t is
the desire OF the board to purchase this
wonderful relic Of an unknown age, and
to preserve 1t to the world. With this
laudable object in view the work Of So
Letting funds has begun. We arc not
advised as to how much success the
board has met with so far, but trust
that enough appreciative people will be
found to insure thu. the mound will
never again be threatened with demoli-
ton, as 1t now is.
Among the plans that have been de-
viscd to save this great monument of
antiquity is to ask the school children
of the state to aid in the work. 1t is
proposed that on Friday, October 8, the
day of the celebration OF the anniver-
sary of the battle of Point Pleasant, a
collection be taken in all the public
schools, tho proceeds to be given to the
Historical Society to aid in the pnr-
chase. II each pupilin the schools will
contribute a few pennies on this occa-
sion enough money will be realized to
make the purchase, and it is to lie hoped
that the teachers throughout West yir-
ginia will take IN enthusiastic interest
in the matter. 1t rests with them to
make the undertaking a success, for by
bringing to the attention OF their pu-
pills the importance OF the project they
can awaken an interest in it that will
insure its success.
1t would be regrettable were the
people Of the State to allow the mound
to be destroyed without an effort to
save it. 1t is one of tho greatest pre-
historic monuments in America and to
permit it to be leveled to the ground
would be to the lasting shame Of the
State. Let the school children take up
the work and by their own efforts save
to future generations what is ono Of the
most wonderful objects Of interest on
the continent. The importance of the
matter is fully set forth in the circular
which has been sent to the teachers Of
the State and from which we extract
the following paragraph:
The mammoth mound at Moundsville,
West Virginia is in danger of destruc-
ton. 1t is one of the grandest pre-his-
toric monuments on this continent and
is the pride OF every West Virginian.
Wonderful structure! 1t stands alone,
silent witness OF that mysterious peo-
pie which disappeared from the earth,
leaving not line Of recorded history
behind them. Who were they? We
shall never know. Contemporary his
tory furnishes us no aid, for they were
isolated from all the world beside.
When was it reared2 None can answer,
for it may have been oid,when the pyra-
mids OF Egypt were being built, orwhen
Cleopatra's Needle was being fashioned.
1t stands grandly among the most Won
derful monuments OF antiquity. Shall
it be spared to be studied by future
scientists tsome OF whom may be among
your pupils and admired by generations
yet unborn? The answer must come
from you and your pupils, to whom we
appeal for aid in saving it from destruc-
ton.
The TxrELLtsEvcER feels certain that
the State pride of the public school
children of The State will prompt them
to take hold Of this work enlhusiastical-
ly, and show an appreciation of the i'm
portance of matter which has been to
some extent ignored by the public.