Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1892-12-15
WITH PEN AND INK.
BIT L. II. W

up rich vein OF the true metal OF know
ledge. A large part of bis book is given
up to enthusiastic descriptions of the
natural wonders crowded into New
Mexico and Arizona, the cliff-and cave
dwellings of an era before our own, the
stupendous natural bridge out of which,
as he proudly explains, sixty bridges the
size of the natural bridge in Virginia
might be carved, the Arabian night
glories Of the petrifed forest of Arizona
where every chip hewn by ''Time's pat
lent ak" is gorgeous moss-agate or
topaz or amethyst. A new interest is
lent to much that is old by the fervid in
terest OF the man who tells whereof he
knows and testifies whereof he under
stands, and the narrative has that vivid
ness vouchsafed to even poor style by
fullness Of knowledge and fresh impress
ions. But the chief value OF the book is
neither due to the archaeological research
nor even to the new facts resulting from
Lummis' courageous exploration of a
desert land, but to the insight which he
gives of the Indians themselves, their
inner life, habits and superstitions, an
intimate information that could only be
the result, as it has been, of close COM
panionship and tireless, intelligent study.
One OF the most interesting chapters is
"The Rattlesnake Dance" and another
upon "The Magicians" is of almost equal
interest.
The faults Of the book are SO frankly
palpable that it seems almost unmagnan-
imous to call attention to deformities OF
style that no observant reader could help
seeing for himself. That Lummis, living
for many years upon the frontier life of
hardship and incessant activity, should
have fallen into the errors of language
and taste which are SO plentiful, is not
strange but it is strange that his pub
fishers should have let the book go
through the press without emendation.
Perhaps the most annoying trait OF the
writer is the tone of complacent patron
age with which he addresses his readers.
1t reminds one OF nothing SO forcibly as
the style Of the science primers written
twenty-five years ago for mentally sick
persons and young children. The reader,
even if unpardonably ignorant of New
Mexico and Arizona, does not like to be
treated as il he were an idiot. He feels
as the indignant lunatic did toward the
visiting clergyman who preached a
puerilely simple sermon at
the asylum where he vas stop
ping. "Sir," said the lunatic who was
spokesman for the congregation, "you
appear to think that we are idiots, /
would have you understand that this is
a Lunatic Asylum"
When Lummis becomes more inter-
ested he loses the elementary explana-
tory and lifts himself into a droll manner
OF high-keyed exposition so absurdly like
that Of the Snowman at freak museum
that one-half expects the "most mar
velous skeleton-lady on the globe" to be
trotted out for inspection. This effect is
produced by the lavish use OF superla-
tives and truculent determination to
force his readers into a reveren.ially
frame of mind. So in love is Lummis
with his New World wonders that he
seems to be daring the old world to bring
on their marvels and peers across the
ocean with angry defiant eyes. This at
titude is both childish and absurd, if
Americans prefer to visit the castles Of
the Rhine of whose beauty they have
heard from childhood, to visiting the
castle OF Montezuma it is, after all, only
a question Of taste and not case for
epithet-hurling. 1t is even conceivable
that an American may yet be born with
a heart large enough to love the beauties
of both worlds.
There are many minor faults OF inele-
CANT and inaccurate English, Handsome"
valleys, "tousled" ruins, and the like !;
but these are easily forgiven to man Of
brain and will and nerve who has had
the hardihood to dare and the lndepen-
dendence to carry through the study of
people whose hitherto unknown and un-
chronicled lives are yielding record of
rich interest to brave ard indefatigable
enthusiast.
Published by Century Co.. N Union
Squary, New York City.]