New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-17
DUBOIS'C MISSING LINK"
DOES 1T REALLY STAND BETWEEN THE
HIGHER APES AND MAN?


Some curious discoveries made in Java in 1871
and 1892 by Or. Eugene Dubois have been the
subject Of discussion among Seo.gists ana an
,hropoIogists ever since. Part OF Skull, TWO
teeth and a thigh bone, found in bed OF
gravel at a depth Of about fifty feet, bore just
enough resemblance to those OF man and 10
those of monkey to give rise to some queer
conjcctures The exhumation of somewhat SINH
lar remains and Of primitive implements asso-
ciatcd with the bones Of certain now extinct
specics of animals in Western Europe thirty or
forty wears ago and the teachings OF Darwin
had led n few audacious scientists to predict that
some dav and somewhere tine missing INK
would ne discovered which would connect the
human race with lower tyres OF animals Ut
Dubois was disposed to believe that ne hau al
last fulfilled that prediction.
other experts, who might be considered dls'h-
tcrcstcd witnesses differed among themselves
in regard to the antiquity and significance OF the
specimens Sir William Turner. OF Edinburgh,
distinguished anatomist, and some othef bri'ish
authorities pronounced the Skull anu o'hc'
bones distinctly human. German Swans III
GLIDING VirChow. thought that the remains rep
resented monkey tribe. Such a disaGree'"e"'
was itself suggestive OF a possibility tha' the
truth might lie between the two extremes ana
that Dr Dubos was correct From certain
,ocuIiarities Of the thigh bore he inferred that
It's posscssor when living must have STOOD ana
u.ollxci in an erect position. This one trait
that would distinguish the mysterious creature
from the highest known form of apes Inc
larger brain which was indicated was another
important feature. TIE Uranium of an adult ape
OF the greatest size would no, have a capacity
exceeding abou; 800 cubic ccnimctres. Ihat
OF civilized man rcloses from l,1W to I'"
cubic ccniilnctrcs Of gray and white matter
The cavity N the Java skull was about twice as
Iarcc as an apes and only two-thirds as big as
a mans In general the skull found by DR.
Dutois looked more like that OF the chimpanzce
or the chhon than the gorilla, aud more IKE
any one Of th,sr three than human skull
Hence IN. discovercr suspected that the re-
mains belonged to some hitherto unknown genus
and species. He gave the name "Ithecanthro-
pus Ercctus" to the animal, which, III ms oIin-
ion one, made OF these bones.
Ir q. {. Marsh. of Yale University. a pHicon-
tolo.ist OF the highest reputation for experience
md saracity. wrote a. follows nearly thrce
years ago: 1T is only lstice t. Dr. Dubois ana
his admirable memoir to say here that ne has
proved to science the existence Of new pre-
historic anthropoid form not human. indeed but
In size brain power and erect posture much
nearer man than any animal hitherto discovered.
living or extinct. There can be no doubt
that the discovery itself Is an event equal in IN
tercst 10 that Of the Ncandcrthal skull. The man
OF the Neandor Valley remained without honor.
even in his own country PRUSSIA. for more than
O quarter OF "A century. and was still doubted and
revilcd when ms kinsmcn the men Of SPY I'cl-
giumD. came {" his defence. and new chapter
was added to ia. carly history Of tn human race.
The ape man Of Java comes to light at more
fortunate time. when Zcai for exploration is q"
great that the discovery Of additional remains
may be expected at no distant day That siil
other intermediate forms VIII eventually h.
brought t. leh; no ono familiar with ihc SUI joDt
can doubt"
II Is we'll in this connection 70 keep In mind he
two sources from which Indications o. man
earle, existence are found "a ;uror.. C.r'a.r
caves IA Belgium and France yici fose. re-
main which are conceded t. be- fhoeo o., il,r
who were couicmporaur"us "I'h tha' n"" ~
,inci srccics the cave bear IU; pa. only thucs
found IN the river eravels 80 Europe "h"t' gone
linen,.. is undisrut.d ar th~ stone turicn nis
nd chius of palealithic man That the Mean
cr,hal and Spy skulls also found in the dfIlt.
rrr.s.rt In, makers Of those implements and
chips j. gravey douhtcd by certain author'io~.
among whom may bc quoted Daniel g Hrnt"n.
recently president OF the American Association
Tor the Advancement Of Science.
Will" II is generally admitted that pa'"'.ihir
rau IA Europe dates back - 600 or 10000 year.
md PERHAPS further. II may hc observed that b."
looked uron "a an engrant from tn" i..I E'ti.
Sir John Evans who presided over the recent
netting Of the Brush Association ion th' Ad-
van,ofncnt Of Science. in Toronto. and whose
Special scientific study for forty years has been