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.

    60/100 (page 58)
    -58- against specimens belonging to your museum meet with my most hearty approval and sympathy. The assertions, in my opinion, were unjust, uncalled-for, and unscientific; they were such as to cast stigma upon all students who carry on field work. As one who has carried on field work in archaeology for over ten years, I feel most sensitive over the remarks made, because it insinuates — in fact, directly states — that specimens found by outsiders which are different from any in the Smithsonian Institution are not to have any faith as to their gen- uineness placed in them. Now, I have found many unique relics, and it is rather hard on me if they are to be looked upon with suspicion because I myself am the only one who can assert positively that they are genuine; and yet, according to the article, my word is to go for nothing. We should expect, from an institution like the Smithsonian, that science would be encouraged, but they have taken rather strange steps in this direction. There is, however, one satisfaction, and that is the proof which the pamphlet plainly gives of the genuineness of the elephant pipes, showing, as it does, Mr. Henshaw’s absolute ignorance of the subject on which he was writing. I thank you for sending me your pamphlet, and trust that it may have the effect of in future making critics a little more cautious, and not attempt to insinuate against the genuineness of relics without good foundation for doing so. Fro?n A. E. Blair, Esq. Castle Creek, N. Y., Sei)tember 30, 1885. Mr. Henshaw’s position reminded me of some students who, when they have mastered the alphabet of a new language, feel as if they understood the whole thing. His attack iqion the Academy was, to say the least, unprovoked and ungentlemanly. Surely, if no “find” or discovery were to be accredited except when made under the eyes of an inspector, some of our most valuable relics must be laid aside as unreliable. It is extremely unfortunate that the wSmithsonian Institution should stamp its approval upon an article so full of errors as Mr. Henshaw’s pajier was, since to many of its readers only that one side will be presented. From W. A. Chapman, Esq., Assayer. Okolona, Ark., September 6, 1885. I am much jdeased with the course pursued by the Academy in this controversy, and regard the authenticity of the pijies and tablets as settled beyond dis])ute. My pleasure can be better defined when I state that I have been an independent investigator, doing much of the labor with my own hands, and often laboring alone. Had I been so unfortunate as to have made the invaluable discoveries of Mr. Gass, I should have been obliged to face the Smithsonian batteries without his able defenders, and must have suffered complete annihila- tion. 'The defense of Mr. Gass is the defense of all [irivate investi- gators.