Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-17

talents Impressed by the beauty of some
of the South American birds In the smith
sonian Institute the young man stopped
to make a sketch of a group of vireos,
when Henry Elliott, now of Cleveland, one
of the attaches of the institution, stopped TO
admire his work He was told that one OF
the professors needed such an artist. and
the result was that within an hour Mr..
Holmes had met Professor Beck, and was
employed and his career as a scientist be-
gan
Artist to the Hayden Survey.
In the spring following his visit to Wash
ington, Mr.. Holmes was appointed as artist
on the Hayden geological survey of the ter
ritories. In this capacity he served for two
years in the Yellowstone country During
these two years the young artist devoted
every spare moment to the study of geol-
ogy. He showed such a fitness Tor the
work that from 1873 to 1875, he was in
charge of a division in southwest Colorado
and the adjoining territories. Wnlle en-
gagged in this work his attention was at
tracted TO the strange ruins in that region.
In 1876, acting under orders from his
chief Mr.. Holmes began detailed study
Of the cliff dwellings and other ancient re-
mains. His report of this interesting work
appeared in 1871 and established his rep
utation as an artist, observer and a
scientist. with an admirable literary style.
In 1878 Mr.. Holmes was again sent to the
Yellowstone country, ana MS detailed re-
port the geology of that marvellous re-
gion was among the most valuable in the
survey report for that year. In 1878 the
Hayden survey was merged into the con-
solidated United States geological survey,
and the affairs Of the former were placed
In Mr.. Holmes charge, to be closed out.
The year 1879 Mr. Holmes spent in Eu-
rope, in study and travel. On his return
10 America, In 1880, he was appointed
sstant to Capt. Sutton in the survey of the
Grand Canon of the Colorado. During the
many years spent in this western work Mr..
Holmes became more and more Interested
in archaeological and chronological research.
In 1892 he decided to devote himself ex-
clusvely to those branches. systematic
study of the arts of the aboriginal Amer
lean people was planned by the late Major
Powell director OF the geological survey
and bureau Of ethnology. The archaeology
cal work was assumed by Mr.. Holmes. He
began his Investigations in the shell and
the ceramic and textile arts. He turned
his attention especially TO the subject of
decoration and to the beginnings of es-
thetic development admirably illustrated
In the native American culture.
Among the papers issued by Mr. Holmes
while pursuing this fascinating study, are
the following: Art In Shell of the Ancient
Americans" prehistoric Textile Fabrics of
the United States Ancient Pottery Of the
Mississippi Valley" Origin and Develop
ment of Form and Ornament In the Ceramic
Art. Textile Art in Prehistoric Archaeol-
ogy," "A Study of the Textile Art in its
Relations to the Development of the Form
and Ornament 'On the Evolution of Orna-
ment." AN American Lesson" and "Evolu-
ton of the Aesthetic"
Bureau of Ethnology.
In 1899 and for the five following years
Mr.. Holmes was In charge of the United
States bureau OF ethnology. During this
time he gave much attention to the antiqul-
ties of the Atlantic states. and more espe-
cially to the ancient quarrying and mining
Industries of the native peoples, among
whom the manufacturing of stone imple-
ments seems to have been a most importan;
industry. An important result of this work
was more complete knowledge of the
rarge of art in stone and an insight into the
slgr!iicance of the countless rudely faxed
stNNss. usually attributed, on account of
the.r strange character and undetermined
fuHc' ions. to a very ancient paleolithic race.
Having clearly demonstrated that these
pu Ziing objects were merely the chips or
ref Sc of manufacture and without function
OF Intrinsic value, Mr.. Holmes proceeded to
show that the theory of a paleolithic and
glacial man in America, based largely upon
these unfinished or rejected forms. is I'm
teuable. This conclusion has led to re-
vision of the evidence. and a reopening of
the whole question of an American occu-
patton. corresponding to the glacial, paleo-
lithtc occupation of Europe. Among the i'm
portant papers on this subject. published by
Mr.. Holmes. the following are particularly
notable: Are there Traces of Man in the
Trenton Graveis?" "Vestiges of Earl, Nan
In Minnesota" Traces of Glacial Man in
2 Ohio" Natural History OF Flaked Stone
Implements" Order of Development of the
Primeval Shaping Arts" and Archaeology
of the Potomac-Chesapeake Tidewater
Country
In 1898 Mr. Holmes became associa ted
with the geological department of the Chi
cage University, where he gave one course
OF lectures on "Anthropic Geology" and an
other Oh rGraphic Methods Applied to Geo
ha.
ed curatoT of anthropology in the Field CO.
lumbar Museum. Chicago where he served
three and half years, classifying INSTALL
Eng and describing the rich collection of
that institution. The winter of 1894 was
spent In Mexico studying its ancient mon
5umentss His report on this work has been
published in two parts-'I Monuments of
@Yucatan," and III. Monuments Of Chiapas
Oaxaca and the Valley of Mexico" In
July. 1897. Prof. Holmes was again called
20 Washington. where on October he took
fhe position of head curator of ar,thropology
IN the United States National Museum.
= 1t Will be seen that Prof Holmes life has