Ripley County democrat., 1916-06-02
Smithsonian Institution Issues
Textbook on Ancient Indian
Hleroglyphs.
IS WELCOMED BY STUDENTS
Exp,a,ns How Writings Werc Made
How indians Reckoned Time and
How They Performed Their
Processes Of Mathematics

ran ethnology OF the Smithsonian In
stitution has recently issued text
book. an archaeological primer 30 70
sneak. for the study Of the ancient
writings OF the Maya Indians who have
inhabited the Atlantic coast plains OF
southorn Mexico and northern Centrum
America from time immemorial. the
book il entitled "An Introduction 10
the Study of the Maya Hieroglyphs'
and Ia a new form for the diffusion OF
knowledge In relation to ona branch
OF American archeoiogy' 49,.
The author OF this new book, Mr'
svlvanus Grlswold Morley Of the Car
negie Institution OF Washington, pe-
lieyes that his work will be welcomed
by students; the writings Of many
previous investigators. designed 10
meet the needs OF the specialist rather
than the beginner. are in the main TOO
advanced and technical for general
comprehension. Consequently MI.
| Morley begins his work at the begin
ming. explaining what Maya hero
elyphs are and how they are made.
how these people reckoned time per
formed their processes Of mathemet'
ics their method Of numeration and In
scription, and so on: all well Illus
trated with numerous plates ana hg-
ures which graphically show the read
a, many things.
A pwindting Race.
lr the first chapter Mr.. Morley
writes briefly on the habitat. history.
and manners and customs Of the Maya.
In order that the student may gain a
general idea OF the remarkable people
; whose slyphic and calendar systems
are presented fer study, There are
: now about 20 tribes speaking various
dialects Of the Maya language, perhaps
half o million people in all. living In
the general region their ancestors 90
cupied. Yucatan. Campeche. TaDasco
n. Chiapas, Guatemala, and Honduras
\ I were all inhabited by the forbears 0
"A this race, who were actually the val
OF civilization in the New World; ou
today there Ia only the remnant OF
dwindling race. their once remarkabi
y civilization being thing OF the pae'
Il their manners and customs PRACTICAL
= forgotten.
q Emerging from barbarity, probebi
D during the fret or second century 9
!. the Christian era with excellent scuil
. ture and q system Of elaborate and II
2. voiyed hieroglyphs. bespeaking bot
]. skill and high mentality which mu'
Y have taken at least two centuries
10 evolve. they began to develop. ~
D. ?; four hundred years they expanded ar
p grew until, IN the sixth century, q
= Golden Ago Of the Maya was reache
= But after that their civilization eith'
N collapsed, having run its natur
course, or they were driven from the
homes BY stronger people. Az al
IN event. no dates later than those
their Cycle 0, toward the end Of o
sixth century, have been found IN the
old southern cities
'E Customs Of the Mayae.
MY Morley mentions many Of q
an Maya customs which are OF intere
' They dis6gured and tattoed their fac
In accordance with their religious
d. liefs; sqnint-eye was striyen for. o
w. the youths had their faces scalded
prevent the growth Of boards. 7
si' men decorated their whole bodies VI
lite red paint, and the women all excs
their faces, for in that day mode'
decreed that the face should be ]
u unpainted The women were cna'
ry, and modest; when passing men on
road they stepped aside, turned IN
backs, and hid their faces Tn retiri
ioh manner On marriage the young b
band was Obliged to work for his boz
az the home OF his wifeH parents
:. !. ave or six years. but the motheriisl
'a cav to It that her daughter fed !
'oeu we'll The Maya were Of q Jealous
ture, and divorces we're frequent
easily effected. Polygamy was
known. Men suffered death for o.
WY terry, but the woman's infamy was 9
.ry. sidered sufficient punishment for
led widows or widowers might una
=. without other ceremony than per'
aug ing Of meal IN the house Of the
nily poueed. II was considered impro
I'VE for d Maya to marry his mother
:, law, sister.in-law. or aunt By marri'
: : although he could marry first cou
fie Their hospitality knew no bounds.
the the upper classes entertained one
h;s other regally. Drinking was 90
~ dulged In at their banQuets that
err wives Of the guests were often ooli
lnds TO come for their husbands and I
h;a them home. The military efIicienc
M the Maya was Of high degree,
lar- city had chosen soldlers. supportes
rim the community. who organised
,,s.s drilled all the ahle-bodied men II
OF war. During the eleventh
rial, twelfth centuries three q the en-
pot onic Maya nations are supposed
~ have formed . triple alliance. but
~ ther Capitalization Of soyernI
VIM failed. and the Spanish invaders .
|, SOL The country IN chaotic state VI
East numher Of independent petty 9
How 70 Read Mays.
n taking ~ tAe intrpeeofloe!