Evening star., 1915-12-31
ASKS NATIONS TO HELP
ARCHIVES Of THE INDIES
Roscoe r. Hill Tells Americanists'
Congress Of Need Of Interna-
tional Cooperation.

International cooperation in the eH-
ploitation of the archives of the Indies
was advocated at today's session of the
nineteenth Congress Of Americanists,
meeting in the National Museum jointly
with section / of the pan-American
conference, by Roscoe r. Hill OF the
University OF New Mexico.
The archives of the Indies. founded
at the close of the eighteenth century"
he said, "is one of the richest collec-
tions of materials for colonial history
in existence. Successive and proposed
additions from Madrid and Simancas
will make the collection cover com
pletely the colonial history OF the for-
mer oversee dominion of Spain
DR.. w. H; Holmes. head curator; ae-
partment of anthropology, Cnitea states
National Museum, discussed the part
taken by archaeology in revealing MIS-
tory. He said, in part;
"It is even called on to pick up the
lost lines of the earlier written rec
ords, as in the shadowy beginnings of
glyphic and phonetic writing, and re-
store them to history. 1t must recover
the secrets of the commemorative
monuments-tombs.t temples and sculp-
lures intended to immortalize the now
IIong-forgotten great. 1t must follow
back the obscure trails of tradition and
substantiate or discredit the lore OF the
fathers. 1t must interpret in Its way,
SO far as Interpretation Is possible, the
pictorial records described by the an
clients on rock faces and cavern walls,
these being among the most lasting and
purposeful records. All that archaeology
retrieves from the wide field Is restored
to human Knowledge and added to the
volume of written history. Archaeology
| is thus the great retriever of history.
THE line of advance of the Mexicans
| in the course of their early migra-
! hA t1.0
followed by white men in modern
times, and railway penetration have
| all been determined by pre-existing
natural routes. Settlement has taken
place mainly on the plateau and above
the 4.O00-foot contour. This region
constitutes the only favorable human
ha bitat within present Mexican terri
tory, hence is explained the excess of
population and of the existence Of the
larger cities on the plateau. Physical
conditions within this tableland have
| affected the social status Of the inhab-
itants at all times
| With reception by DR.. Charles D.
Walcott, president of the Washington
Society of the Archaeological Institute
| of America, and secretary of the Smith
sonian Institution. in the main hall of
the Smithsonian Institution this even
ing from 5 to Z o'clock. the present
congress will come to close. The
closing business meeting of the con-
gress will be held in the auditorium of
the New National Museum at 4 o'clock.
| The congress has been meeting joint
ly with section l of the Pan-American
Scientific Congress. The latter section
will continue it's sessions at the Ma
tional Museum next week.
Reception to Americanists.
A reception to the members of the
Congress of Americanists. their wives
and families. as well as to the mem
bers and women of the affiliated So
cieties, will be held at the Smithsonian
Institution this afternoon. from un-
til 7 o'clock. The president of the
Washington Society of the Archeo-
Charles D. Walcott, who is also sec
retary of the Smithsonian Institution
and Mrs. Walcott will receive.
Receiving with the Secretary and
Mrs. Walcott will be Mrs. Hennen Jen-
nngs. Miss Heseman, Mrs. Charles
Henry Butler. Mrs. Arnold Hague, Mrs.
Charles S. Spalding, Mrs. Robert Chap
man. Mrs. William II. Goddard and
Mrs. Paul Bartlett
main hall of the institution. An ex-
hibition of the graphic arts is on view
there. The decorations will be oriental
rugs and pottery belonging to the in
stitution, and flowers, including roses
the gift Of Mrs. John Wyeth.
| Light refreshments are to be served
| About 900 are expected to be present
Will Meet in Brazil Next.
| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. today was Sc
! lected as the place for the meeting Of
| the Twentieth International Congress
! of Americanists. 1t will be held in
June, 1913, and the permanent council
! was authorized to transmit the author
! ity to the congress to hold the meet
ing.
! The following officers were elected at
| the meeting of the American Anthro-
! biological Association. which has been
/ meeting Jointly with the congress of
! Americanists: President. F. w Hodge,
| bureau of ethnology, this city: vice
president. DR.. A. NJ Tozzer of Harvard
! University: secretary DR.. George Grant
| MacCurdy. Yale University: treasurer,
Neil NJ. Judd of the United States Ma
tional Museum. and editor. DIR. Pliny
F. Goddard. American Museum of Nat