New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-29
mLA SoCIETE DES AMERICANISTES."
A NEW FRENCH ORGANIZATION AND ITS AMER
ICAN ENTHUS1ASMS


The presence of Ii Hung Chang in this country
may be relied upon to revive here and there among
geographical diettanu the old fantastic theory of
a Chinese discovery OF America anteda.inG the
landing Of Columbus by 700 years. Accord
ing TO this picturesque tradition. which has peeh
fostered by some savants and more amateurs
there was a certain audacious Chinaman VINO
sailed away about 500 years before the CHRISTIAN
era across the azure sea" of the Oriental maps
Twenty thousand IL to the westward he sailed
and at last moored beside the 'kngdom' of Fon-
sang; in other words a land OF remarkable Vegeta-
ton and still more remarkable peoples, 10 Wh'ch
some modern research has been fain TO apply the
name Of this continent. Flatterers OF Ill hung
Chang may we'll pour into his cars their beiei III Il
notion In which he is himself probably most WILING
10 acquiesce. But it would be interesting to know
n this eminent statesman and parsonage from
highly literary" nation knows the true value OF
such hypothesis.
The point in question is most effectively handled
BY NJ Henri Cordior in the first number OF a perl
odical Of ethnographica and geographical research
lately founded in Paris. In this journal dc Ia
Societ6 des Am6ricanistes de Paris" there is a
paper entitled ''Etat Actuel de Ia Question du Fou-
sang" wherein NJ. Cordier successfully appeals 10
eminent European authorities to prove that II :
impossible to identify Fou-sang with America That
the Chinese may at some remote time have reached
these shores he freely admits but their Fou-sang
geographer and scientist. All the documents in the
case such az they are belong among the most
obscure and confusing Of Oriental literature, but
in so far as their Iacts are comprehensive they
point Enthusiastically to the existence OF some land
other than our own in the Tou-sarg CT tradition
NJ. Coricr cites the latest importont contribution
on the subject tina, Of DR. Gustave Schlegel Of
Leydcn and the invesSa lions Of the latter plainly
confirm his position. The value OF this essay OF NJ
Cordiers would be appreciated anywhere but II IL
especially gratifying to find 1t in journal which
has been established with scholarly enthusiasm
for the study of purely American themes. The aim
of La Societe dcs Americanstes de Paris is the
scientific and historical study of America and its
inhabitants from the earliest oras to the present
day The Due de Loubat has interested himself in
the society which has made him honorary presi-
dent NM Maspero and Oppert are honorary vice
presidents. and many distinguished savants are as
ISOLATED with them. Dr. IIamy, of the institute IS
president and the three regular viceprcsdents are
Prince Roland Bonaparte. General Meredith Read
and the Marquis de Peralta. The secretary is NJ
Henri Cordier. the treasurer is the Marquis de
Passano and The six members OF the council
Nm Gabriel Marcel. Charles Mdunoir. the Marquis
de Nadailac Desire Pector Felix Regamey and
Count Louis dc Turenne d'Aynac These gentle
men have gone ardontly TO work I'm establishing
their society for the initial number Of their Jour
mar is as viVacious and enthusiastic as II Is cru
dite The twoscorc pages are shared by NJ. Cordler
and DR. Hamy. the latter contributing a minute
survey of the American ~elics and models as
sembled az Genoa during the celebration OF the
Anth anniversary Of the discovery of America In
this handsomely printed and scrupulously we'll
edited journal" the constitution and bylaws of
the society are briefly forth. and from these 1t
is evident that the meetings will be characterized
by the reading Of papers useful as those already
printed and by authoritative discussion. The whole
enterprise is 10 be cordially received Il Is in the
hands Of who know their ground ana VINO
are much in earnest resolving TO make the Societe
a positive factor in the development OF knowledge
concerning American things.