The Washington times., 1918-03-10
The Lost Atlantis
-. By GARRETT P. SERvISs s."
Science Gives Grounds for Belief
that the Tabled Romance May
Have Been a Reality
By GARRETT P. SERVISS

several other Islands, and some parts
OF the continent (Europe). Finally,
the narrative continues. they under
took by a single blow to subjugAts
all the peoples living east of the
Pillars OF HerculeL
Athens alone successfully stood
against them and saved Europa
from the conquerors. who: as the
nations under the lead OF Athens
rose against them, were drSr.en
back TO Atlantis. After tina: Ashs
danger was forever removed "a the
awful, work o. nature, during "ons
single day and one fatal night"
in which brief time Atlantis. by =
terrible outbreak of earthquakes
and inundAtionA, was swallowed up.
This, in~brief, 70 tho story that has
haunted the human mind during
many ages like q nightmare dFeum.
giving birth 70 many subsidiary leg
ends and myths. and which will not
down" In spite OF all the scientific
skepticism with which. in later
times. II has been received. But, as
NJ. Termisr'B defense shows the
guns OF science have not always or
everyw here been turned against the
famous legend. Geological and
archaeological arguments have been
found TO support It.
Modern deep sea explorations
have proved that the bottom OF the
Atlantic sround the alleged site Of
Atlantis 10 variegated with eleva-
lions and depressions, valleys and
mountains. which the Imagination
can readily transform into the face
OF a drowned continent. The Azores.
the CsTarieS. and other isolated
groups OF Islands, crowned with
volcanic peaks. and rising steeply
out OF the water. have been looked
upon as possibly projections from
sea-Suried Atlantis
The vast extent OF the irreEulari-
ties on the floor OF the Atl1ntIe
leads ". Termier to conjecture that
the submersioa OF former great
continent. in some places connect
Ing the Old and New Worlds, was a
slow process, which went or for
ages, the land called Atlantis being
its final remnant, the destruction Of
which was as sudden as 1t was un-
expected. Into the geological Hrgu-
ments on the other side, I have no
space to enter.
But there is another line OF ar
gument adopted by the supporters rf
the legend, which Is equally inteS-
estiug. Plato resumed the story Of
Atlantis in another Of his dialogues.
the "Cristfas," in which he described
the people. the government. the cit-
les and the wealth Of Atlantis. Rnu
concerning this NJ. Termier says:
The geographic description Of the
island IL not OF the sort which one
jokes about and forgets. It tsllies
well with what we would imagine
to-day or a great land submerged
in the region Of tao Azores. and en-
joying the eternal Springtims which
is the endowment OF these Islands"
As to the Inhabitants OF Atlantis.
the question has, been raised
whether some OF the peculiar pso-
pies % western Europe, and Its
bordering islands, peoples who, like
the BAsques. or the Guanches, have
customs and peculiaritiss % their
own, or speak languages poSsesI-
ing no root relationship with other
tongues, may not be descended from
remnants OF the population Of tina
vanished continent. whose imposing
power and splendor have left -
undYin& soho IN tie worlA