The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-20
III.

Dsm= 4ins tie argument from probability.
Sir DAME! Wilson, conclusion is that IL ever
traces of tho lost Atlantis are 10 b" recovered
in the New World. it must he by some unmis-
,ukal 10 memorial in the shavo of inscribed
stones. Old as the legend may lie. it is certain
that graphic memorials -Assyrian. Phun:-
elm. Khi'a. Ecyi t!un. and Grcck-still remain
to tell II, OF cpochs far beyond the time of
Solan. Tho antiGuar;cs Of New In gland lave
sought in vain tor runic memorials of the
Northmen of tho tenth century; and the
diligence o. loss trustworthy explorers Tor
traces OF ancient records has been stiEu-
latod to excess. but with results little
crcditablo to their judgment, through
out the North American continent. The
author OF this essay considers II or tho
whole improbable that within the area north
OF tho Gulf of Mexico evidences OF the presence
OF phpnician. Greek or other ancient historic
races will now be found. 1t is certain that
whatever transient visits may have bccn paid
to North America by individual representa-
tivcs o. Old World progress. no long -maturcd
civilization. whether of native or foreign
origin. has existed here. Tho nations OF the
MAYA stock appear to have made the :rsatcst
advance. They dwclt in cities adorned with
costly structures. dedicated to the purposes OF
religion and State: and they had a political
government and forms OF social organization
which were TO all appearance the slow growth
of many generations. They had also q we'll
maturei system OF chronology. and have loft
! behind them craven and " ritten records annlo-
gOus tn those of ancient Egypt which still
await dcci,hcrmcn.. Whether this culture
was l.,lrely Of native growth. or had rs origin
from the .erms of an Old World civilization
| can only 10 determined when its secrets have
been fully mastered. The region is even now
I
American othnology and archaeology are only
awakening TO an adequate sense OF its i'm
| portance. But there appear to have been in
| Yucatan and Guatemala the centres OF pa
| tive American civilization. whence light was
| slowly radiating on either hand before tho
vandals OF tho Spanish conquest Guenched it
| in blood. The civilization of Mexico WAS but
! u reflex of that Of Central America. and its
| picture writing is n very rude imitation OF tho
biography of the Maya hierogyphics.
| The lost Atlantis. then. licS still in tho fu-
| ture We must await Intelligent explora-
| ton before any certain conclusion can be ar
rived at rclativet to the story Of the Now World s
| unknown past. On the sculptured tablets OF
| Palenuue. Quiriqua. Chichenitza. and Cxmal.
| and on the colossal statues at Copan and other
| ancient sites. are numerous inscriptions at
| tending the decipherment of the future Young.
whole re gion was once occupied by q lettered
race. having tho same written characters and
| n common civilization. ltthey owed to some
! apostle from the Mediterranean the great in
! yention OF letters. which, as Bacon says. las
shipa. pass through the vast seas OF time. and
make ages so distant to participate Of the wis
| dom, iluminations. and Inventions tho one OF
tho other" then We may confidently look
| forward to the recovery OF some graphic
| mono rial OF the messenger. confirming tho oft
recurring tradition Of bearded white mon who
came from beyond the sea. introduced tho arts
of civilization. and were reverenced rs divine
benefactors. 1t can scarcely be that Egyptian
Assyrian. Hittits. PhGnician. and other most
ancient races arc still perpetuated by so many
traces OF their wanderings in the Old World
and yet that not single trace OF Mediterra'
mean wanderers to tho lost Atlantis survives
Improbable as he deems such an event. Sill
Daniel Wilson declares that 1t would not In
the least surprise him to loarn OF u discovery
Of u genuine phpnican inscription In Central
Amcrica, or NJ some hoard OF Assyrian CRY.