The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-05-20
THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Article on This Subject by General
i. Gordon in 1882.
The British Soldiers Belief Was That
Mans Original Abode Was
Probably ON the Island
of Praslin.

There has been almost, if not quite,
as much diversity of opinion as to the
site of the Garden of Eden as there
has been in regard to the birthday of
the world. AS to the latter, April II,
July 10 and October 26 seem to be the
dates resting upon the best authorities,
with preference, perhaps, for April
SIS at least the birth month-all this,
of course, upon the Scriptural account
of the creation. Science places that
event so far in the past that no con-
lecture even has been hazarded as to
when it occurred.
In regard to- the site of the Garden
of Eden, that is a matter about which
the modern scientists do not dispute.
1t is only those who hold to the Biblical
account of the creation of man who
have seriously attempted to locate the
site of the Paradise in which he was
placed. Among these there has been
a wide diversity of opinion. some plac-
ing it near the upper sources of the
Tigris and Euphrates; some, like Mil
ton in Paradise Lost" identifying Cey-
Ion as the lost Paradise of man; others
locating it in America, and, others still
in Abyssinia.
New interest is added to this question
by an article in the Strand Magazine
entitled: 'The Site of the Garden of
Eden," by Gen. Gordon. A note by the
editor states that the article was writ
ten by Gen. Gordon in 1882 and now
sees the light for the first time. The
editor further suggests that Gen. Cor
don was probably the most capable per-
son in the world to deal with this fas-
cinating subject, as he combined deep
religious feeling and extensive research
on all matters pertaining to Biblical
and oriental history.
Gen. Gordon gives his reasons in this
brief article for believing that the
Garden of Eden is at or near the Sey-
chelles. He says: RI could even put
1t at Praslin, a small isle 20 miles north
OF Mahe." The Seychelles are a group
of Islands in the Indian ocean 6C0 miles
northeast of Madagascar, Maize, the
larger, being only II miles long by Z
broad, while Prasin is the next in size.
Gen. Gordon says: "Eden is a district,
the garden is spot chosen in that dis
trict, the trees were actual trees, i'm
bued' for a time with spiritual quail.
ties"
He goes further. He not only gives
reasons for believing the Garden of
Eden was located on Praslin, but he
also attempts, fancifully enough to
most readers, perhaps, to distinguish
the tree of knowledge and the tree OF
life. Of these he says.
well, I thought there were two trees
actual trees-which had been sacramental
near Seychelles, and only there in the
whole world, is a magnificent tree, curious
beyond description, called the prince Of the
vegetable kingdom; it is unique in its
species and on earth. The Laodicean
Seychellarium, or Coco di Mir This, be-
neve, was the tree of knowledge. I then
thought if the one tree is to be found so is
the other, and this think is the Artccarpus
tncisa, or bread fruit; it is a humble tree
OF no great distinction, yet to an observer
1t Is as unique in it's kind and among trees
as the other. This last tree is only founc
in the Indian ocean. 1t is a DEMONSTRATING
tree. and, like the other, it is full Of Scrip.
tural types
Curiously enough, Gen. Gordon seems
to have started on his search for these
two trees first, and having found then
IN Praslin, he next proceeds to show
how this island in it's location CORE
spends to the Eden described in Gene
sis. In doing this he adopts the transla
ton of Genesis, 2-10, that the four riv
ers flowed into Eden instead of out of it
Thence he takes the Euphrates anc
the Tigris, which meet and flow int
the Persian gulf, and from the two
other rivers he takes Pison to be tn,
Nile and Gihon as the brook on tn,
southern side of Jerusalem, which
meets the Kedron and flows into tn.
Dead sea.
OF course, there are difficulties abou
Gen. Gordon's supposition, difficultie!
not only in the meaning of the verse
to which he gives different signif
canoe to the usual one, but geographi
cal difficulties, especially as regards tn,
brook Gihon, which certainly is an in
significant stream to be mentioned will
the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates. Blu
all the attempts to locate the lost Para
disc of the human race have their diff
fculties, and Gen. Gordon's theory i
at least ingenious and probably as nea
the truth as any. The article is NOR
valuable as showing the deeply reE
gious character of Gen. Gordon's min,
than as contribution to subject con
corning which it is impossible to d.
more than supply an ingenious conjec
ture.-Chicago Tribune.
An Embryonic Scheme. ..~
II have an idea,' said the dentist
patient, as he put on his coat after max
ing an appointment for two hours o
anguish on the following Tuesday
I have plan for filing teeth. Itneed
a little work in the arrangement of de
tails, but think it is a great scheme"