The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-16
ORIGIN OF WEAPONS.
Row Man Came to Use Them and
What They Signihed.

from the DeiuSche Revue.
The question has frequently arisen How
did man engage in the struggle for exist
ence before the invention of weaponsl Some
authorities OF the modern school ascribe q
gorilla-like strength to primitive men, and
suppose that with tooth aud nail and the
blow Of his powerful fist he was fully
equipped for the struggle. They assume
that the brute force degenerated as mental
lty developed and replaced the need for It.
| The Greeks, on the other hand, at
tributed TO primitive man IA perfect
mental development, heroic nature
and an artistic or scientific skill in
the use of his fists, which we're at
once weapons of attack, of defense and OF
feint. Probably neither view is correct.
The most ancient combats certainly did not
resemble IA modern prize fight, and, al
though primitive man may have far eX-
celled us moderns IN the sharpness of his
senses, aud perhaps have developed "a IA
cthtY in the use OF tooth and nail surpass-
ing anything known among modern ter
magents, there is no reason TO suppose
that he was endowed with gigantic
strength. 1t Is far more reasonable TO
suppose that his "Reminiscences guided to
the invention OF weapons and tools, the
basis of our whole civilization. Weapons
and tools have primarily tue same siguiica-
ton. They are essentially human charac-
teristics. No other animal makes tools or
uses any bat natural appliances. The use
of tools, like articulate speech, Is confined
to humanity.
Man was guided to the invention Of tools
by his capacity for self-observatiou. Weap-
ons we're originally, as Kapp has happily
expressed Il, 'orgRn projections" The
mans arms were lengthened, strengthened
or sharpened by the utilization of some
stick or stone, which he found ready at his
hand. and for models the three great King
doms of nature afforded abundant types.
One easily traces the evolution from the
simple stick TO the perfect lance or club,
from the stone to the ces, the ar
row-head, lance-point, the long sword, the
javeln and the battle-ax-all constructed
on the sdme type. Primitive man soon
recognized that superiority of brute force
could be equalized by weapons and
ventured to assail the most powerful
beasts, confident in the powers of his own
inventions He laid them aside unwilliugly.
for they were part OF himself. They were
his insignia of victory in herd-won battles
with his fellow man, and of his right Of
property In the spolls OF conquest. Plutaroh
tells of Archidamos that, when he was
asked how for the Spartan country ex-
tended, be replied, 80 far as Spartan
lances reach" In German lands the throw
ilk vi Nhb uhtliiIlbA uAkulll5u Allh ubLSl lAluh-
ton of boundaries. They consecrated COB
let, bride and goods-that is, they took pos
session of them by the hammer.
and thenceforwsrd all fresh acquisi-
tons are knocked down. TO them.
but q piece of land which the posses
sor can no longer hold is to this day de-
clared SUD hdSfd, /. O., under spear-right-
the spear being the immediate symbol OF
war. From war proceeds victory, and
vic dominion. HANOI IN
vests authority with sword and spear, and
as the gift of a sword invested the recipient
with power OF life and death, this weapon,
by extension OF its orr inal use, became the
emblem of Justice. Among the ancient
Germanic peoples the boy was member Of
the family, but from the moment the
sword was placed in his hand he beoamea
member Of the community.
The high estimation in which arms we're
held led to persons being named after them
as a mark Of personal distinction. The
name Hammer is still widespread the Ro-
man "Marcu5,n too, appears to signify
hammer. and so, too, the Jewish word
"Msccabee." Martellus, too, was the name
conferred upon the great Charles who smote
tho Saracens between Tours and Poitiers
Ouiriuus means lance or javelin thrower;
and lsen and Ger aud Ecke and Brand and
Grim and Helm and Sar and Brun, which
furnish the root Of SO many German names,
are all derived from weapons of offense or
defense. Tribes, like individuals came to be
named after their weapons. as the Quirites
or spearmen, the Saxons are short sword
men, the LonRobards from their long bat
tic axes (barte), Pioards, pikemen, 6cythi-
aus, bowmen, etc. Primarily a mans skill
in arms was the measure OF his worth. To
hear arms was the exclusive right of free
men or mobiles. Handsome, proved weapons
were mans proudest possessions. They
were his trophies. The highest proof OF re-
spect and friendship was an exchange OF
weapons; warriors dedicated their blades to
deity during life, and ended by taking
them with them to the grave in death. To
this day the sword Is laid or represented on
the tomb.