Elephant pipes and inscribed tablets in the Museum of the Academy of natural sciences, Daveport, Iowa / by Charles E. Putnam.

  • Charles Edwin Putnam
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elephant pipes and inscribed tablets in the Museum of the Academy of natural sciences, Daveport, Iowa / by Charles E. Putnam. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    This was not the spirit manifested by the late Joseph Henry, when in charge of that Institution. In the Smithsonian Report for 1875, Prof. Henry thus states his views: “It has been, from the first, the policy of this Institution to encourage the estab- lishment of such societies, on account of the great advantage they are to their mem- bers in the way of intellectual and moral improvement, as well as in the way of pos- itive contributions to science.”* It cannot be denied that these small organizations, scattered through the land, are doing excellent service in the cause of science. Being located in their midst, they are thus brought close to the heart and thought of the people. Their stated meetings attract ])ersons of sci- entific tastes and scholarly acquirements. The wonders of the past and the worth of science are thus revealed. They inspire enthusiasm in archaeological research and an unllagging zeal in its prosecution. They thus become powerful auxiliaries to scientific education. Their growing museums will first attract young eyes to admire, and then retain them to study. Mere relic-hunting soon becomes serious arch- i>eological research. Out of these practical schools of the people will come <the great scientific students of the future. The work in these small societies is all the more valuable that it is entirely disinterested. 'Truth is its ins]:>iration and reward. Watched by so many curious eyes, frauds are well-nigh impossible. We have thus presented im- ])ortant services rendered to science by these “local societies” which no gigantic institution, located at the political capital of our country, and managed by salaried officers, could, by any possibility, have so well performed. We think we may claim, without unseemly arrogance, that the history of the Davenport Academy itself reveals some contri- butions to science which will justify its existence.t Scholars will ever fiiiGl an absorbing interest in archaeological re- search. There is in the mind of man an innate craving to recover the secrets of the ])ast, and brooding in the thought of the ex[)lorer is the confident expectation that in these ancient relics will yet be found * Smithsonian Report for 1S75, pp. 217-219. f The conclusions stated in the text are amply justified the facts. The Davenport Acad- emy is not only assailed by name, but it is i)lainly expressed that its discoveries are under lian, and that its exploration of ancient mounds should be discontinued, inasmuch as each fresh dis- covery •will be received with ever-increasing suspicion Had our critic been kindly disposed, his censure might have been more gently administered. He might have admitted the possibility of our being deceived and not deceivers. He could have easily attributed our slrort-comings to our benighted location on the far banks of the .Mississippi, so distant from the Bureau of liith- nology! Our critic, however, is pitiless. He has studied the Indian character until he seems to have imbibed his nature! U^e are pelted with red-hot epithets! Js'othing will satisfy his “de- structive ” apjretite, unless our Mr. Gass jnits aside his spade! ✓