第61章
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点击下载App,搜索"Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White",免费读到尾

  ThemostinterestingfeatureofthisstayinMoscowwasmyintercoursewithTolstoi,andtothisIhavedevotedaseparatechapter。[14]

  [14]SeeChapterXXXVII。

  Onemoreexperiencemaybenoted。IncomingandgoingontheMoscowrailwayIfound,asinotherpartsofEurope,thatgovernmentalcontrolofrailwaysdoesnotatallmeanbetteraccommodationsorlowerfaresthanwhensuchworksareunderindividualcontrol。Thepricesfortravel,aswellasforsleeping—berths,weremuchhigherontheselines,ownedbythegovernment,thanonanyofourmaintrunk—linesinAmerica,whicharecontrolledbyprivatecorporations,andtheaccommodationswereneverofahighorder,andsometimesintolerable。

  DuringthisstayinRussiamysympathieswereenlistedforFinland;butonthissubjectIhavespokenfullyelsewhere。[15]

  [15]SeeChapterXXXIV。

  HavingresignedmypositionatSt。PetersburginOctoberof1894,thefirstuseImadeofmylibertywastogowithmyfamilytoItalyforthewinter;andseveralmonthswerepassedatFlorence,whereIrevisedandfinishedthebookwhichhadbeenpreparingduringtwentyyears。ThencamearapidruntoRomeandthroughsouthernItaly,myoldhauntsatCastellammare,Sorrento,andAmalfibeingrevisited,andsundrynewexcursionsmade。AmongtheselastwasonetoPalermo,whereIvisitedtheChurchofSt。

  Josaphat。ThisedificegreatlyinterestedmeasaChristianchurcherectedinhonorofaChristiansaintwhowasnoneotherthanBuddha。Themannerinwhichthefounderofthatgreatworld—religionwhichprecededourownwasconvertedintoaChristiansaintandsolemnlyproclaimedassuchbyalongseriesofpopes,fromSixtusVtoPiusIX,inclusive,byvirtueoftheirinfallibilityinallmattersrelatingtofaithandmorals,isoneofthemostcuriousandinstructivethingsinallhistory。[16]

  [16]AfullaccountofthisconversionofBuddha(Bodisat)intoSt。Josaphatisgiven,withauthorities,etc。inmy\"HistoryoftheWarfareofSciencewithTheology,\"Vol。II,pp。381etseq。

  AtfirstIhadsomedifficultyinfindingthischurch;but,finally,havingmadetheacquaintanceofaneminentscholar,theCommendatoreMarzo,canonoftheCappellaPalatinaanddirectoroftheNationalLibraryatPalermohekindlytookmetotheplace。Overtheentrancewerethewords,\"DivoJosaphat\";within,occupyingoneoftheplacesofhighesthonor,wasanaltartothesaint,andaboveitastatuerepresentinghimasayoungprincewearingacrownandholdingacrucifix。BypermissionoftheauthoritiesIwasallowedtosendaphotographer,whotookanegativeforme。AremarkoftheCommendatoreMarzouponthesubjectpleasedmemuch。When,oneday,aftershowingmethetreasuresofhisgreatlibrary,hewasdiningwithme,andI

  pressedhimforparticularsregardingSt。Josaphat,heanswered,\"HecannotbetheJehoshaphatoftheOldTestament,forheisrepresentedasaveryyoungman,andcontemplatingacrucifix:emoltomisterioso。\"Itwas,afterall,notsoverymysterious;forintheselaterdays,nowthatthe\"LifeofBarlaamandJosaphat,\"

  whichdatesfrommonksofthesixthorseventhcentury,hasbeencomparedwiththe\"LifeofBuddha,\"certainlywrittenbeforetheChristianera,theconstantcoincidenceindetails,andeveninphrases,putsitbeyondtheslightestdoubtthatSt。JosaphatandBuddhaareoneandthesameperson。

  VerysuggestivetothoughtwasavisittothewonderfulcathedralofMonreale,abovePalermo;forhere,atthissouthernextremeofEurope,IfoundaconceptionoftheAlmightyasanenlargedhumanbeing,subjecttohumanweakness,identicalwiththatshowninthesculpturesuponthecathedralofUpsala,attheextremenorthofEurope。ThewholeinteriorofMonrealeCathedraliscoveredwithavastsheetofmosaicsdatingfromaboutthetwelfthcentury,andinoneseriesofthese,representingthecreation,theAlmightyisshownasworking,dayafterday,likeanartisan,andfinally,ontheseventhday,as\"resting,\"——seatedinalmosttheexactattitudeofthe\"wearyMercury\"ofclassicsculpture,withamarkedexpressionoffatigueuponhiscountenanceandinthewholedispositionofhisbody。[17]

  [17]Ihavegivenamorefulldiscussionofthissubjectinmy\"HistoryoftheWarfareofSciencewithTheology,\"Vol。I,p。3。

  Duringthisjourney,havingrevisitedOrvieto,Perugia,andAssisi,IreturnedtoFlorence,andagainenjoyedthesocietyofmyoldfriends,ProfessorWillardFiske,ProfessorVillari,withhisaccomplishedwife,andJudgeStallo,formerministeroftheUnitedStatesinRome。

  Thegreateventofthisstaywasanearthquake。SeatedonapleasantAprileveninginmyroomsatthehousebuiltbyAdolphusTrollope,nearthePiazzadell’Independenza,Iheardwhatseemedatfirsttherisingofastorm;thentherushingofamightywind;then,asitgrewstronger,apparentlythegallopofacorpsofcavalryintheneighboringavenue;but,almostinstantly,itseemedtochangeintotheonrushofacorpsofartillery,and,amomentlater,tostrikethehouse,liftingitsfoundationsasifbysomemightyhand,andswayingittoandfro,everythingcreaking,groaning,rattling,andseeminglikelytofallinuponus。Thismovementtoandfro,withcrashingandscreaminginsideandoutsidethehouse,continued,asitseemedtome,abouttwentyminutes——asamatteroffact,itlastedhardlysevenseconds;butcertainlyitwasthelongestsevensecondsIhaveeverknown。AtthefirstupliftoftheseismicwavemywifeandI

  rosefromourseats,Isaying,\"Standperfectlystill。\"

  Thenceforward,notawordwasutteredbyeitherofusuntilallwasover;butmanythoughtscame,——thedominantfeelingbeingasenseofourhelplessnessinthepresenceofthegreatpowersofnature。Neitherofushadanyhopeofescapingalive;butwecalmlyacceptedtheinevitable,thinkingeachmomentwouldbe,thelast。AsIlookback,ourresignationandperfectquietstillsurpriseme。Thatroom,atthecorneroftheVillinoTrollope,whichanill—foundedlegendmakestheplacewhereGeorgeEliotwrote\"Romola,\"istomesacred,astheplacewherewetwopassed\"fromdeathuntolife。\"

  Nearlyallthatnightweremainednearthedoorsofthehouse,readytoescapeanynewshocks;butonlyoneortwocame,andthoseverylight。Crowdsofthepopulationremainedoutofdoors,manydwellersinhotelstakingrefugeincarriagesandcabs,andstayinginthemthroughthenight。

  NextmorningIwalkedforthtofindwhathadhappened,——firsttothecathedral,toseeifanythingwasleftofGiotto’stowerandBrunelleschi’sdome,and,tomygreatjoy,foundthemstanding;

  but,asIenteredthevastbuilding,Isawoneoftheenormousironbarswhichtakethethrustofthewidearchesofthenavepulledapartandbrokenasifithadbeenpack—thread;therewerealsoafewcracksinoneofthepierssupportingthedome,butallelsewasasbefore。

  AtthePalazzoStrozziacrowdofpeoplewereexaminingsundrycreviceswhichhadbeenmadeinitsmightywalls:andatvariousvillasintheneighborhood,especiallythoseontheroadtoSanMiniato,Ifoundthatthedamagehadbeenmuchworse。Apartofthetowerofonevilla,occupiedbyanEnglishladyofliterarydistinction,hadbeenthrowndown,crashingdirectlythroughoneoftheupperrooms,butcausingnolossoflife;thevillaofJudgeStallo,atthePortaRomana,wassowreckedthathewasobligedtoleaveit;andinthehouseofanotherfriendaheavyGermanstoveontheupperfloor,havingbeenthrownover,hadcomedownthroughtheceilingofthemainparlor,crashingthroughthegrandpiano,andthenceintothecellar,withoutinjurytoanyperson。OneoftheprofessorswhomIafterwardmettoldmethathewasgivingadinner—partywhen,suddenly,thehousewasliftedandshakentoandfro,thechandeliersswinging,brokenglasscrashing,andtheladiesscreaming,and,inamoment,aportionoftheouterwallgaveway,butfortunatelyfelloutward,sothattheguestsscrambledforthovertheruins,andpassedthenightinthegarden。PerhapstheworstdamagewaswroughtattheConventoftheCertosa,wheresomeofthebeautifuloldworkwasirreparablyinjured。

  Itwasverydifficultnextmorningtogetanyrealinformationfromthenewspapers。Theyclaimedthatbutthreepersonslosttheirlivesinthecity:itwasclearlythoughtbesttominimizethedamagedone,lestthestreamoftravelmightbescaredaway。

  IremarkedatthetimethatweshouldneverknowfullywhathadoccurreduntilwereceivedtheAmericanpapers;and,curiouslyenough,severalweeksafterwardaCalifornianshowedmeaveryfullandminuteaccountofthewholecalamity,withcarefuldetails,giveninthetelegraphicreportsofaSanFrancisconewspaperontheverymorningaftertheearthquake。

  OnthewaytoAmericaIpassedashorttime,duringthemonthofJune,inLondon,meetingvariousinterestingpeople,amostpleasantoccasiontomebeingadinnergivenbyMr。Bayard,theAmericanminister,atwhichImetmyclassmateWayneMacVeagh,formerlyattorney—generaloftheUnitedStates,ministertoConstantinopleandambassadortoRome,full,asusual,ofinterestingreminiscenceandwittysuggestion。VeryinterestingalsotomewasatalkwithMr。HolmanHunt,theeminentpre—Raphaeliteartist。HetoldmemuchofTennysondwellinguponhismorbidfearthatpeoplewouldstareathim。HealsogaveanaccountofhismeetingwithRuskinatVenice,whenRuskintookHunttotaskfornothavingcometoseehimmorefrequentlyinLondon;towhichHuntrepliedthat,foronereason,hewasverybusy,andthat,foranother,hedidnotwishtobeclassedwiththetoadieswhoswarmedaboutRuskin。WhereuponRuskinsaidthatHuntwasrightregardingthecharacterofmostofthepeopleabouthim。Huntalsospokeoftheilltreatmentofhisbeautifulpicture,\"TheLightoftheWorld。\"Fromhim,orfromanothersourceaboutthattime,IlearnedthatformerlytheKebleCollegepeoplehadmademuchofit;butthat,someonehavinginterpretedtherayspassingthroughthedifferentopeningsofthelanterninChrist’shandastypifyingtruthshiningthroughdifferentreligiousconceptions,theownersofthepicturedistrustedit,andhadrecentlyrefusedtoallowitsexhibitioninLondon。

  ItsurprisedmetofindHolmanHuntsoabsorbedinhisownartthatheapparentlyknewnexttonothingaboutthatofotherEuropeanmasters,——nothingofPuvisdeChavannesatParis;

  nothingofMenzel,Knaus,andWerneratBerlin。

  HavingreturnedtoAmerica,IwassoonsettledinmyoldhomesteadatCornell,——asIsupposedfortherestofmylife。

  VerydelightfultomeduringthisaswellasothersojournsatCornellaftermypresidencyweresundryvisitstoAmericanuniversitiesatwhichIwasaskedtoreadpapersormakeaddresses。OftheseImaymentionHarvard,Yale,andtheStateuniversitiesofMichigan,Wisconsin,andMinnesota,ateachofwhichIaddressedbodiesofstudentsonsubjectswhichseemedtomeimportant,amongthese\"TheDiplomaticServiceoftheUnitedStates,\"\"DemocracyandEducation,\"\"Evolutionvs。RevolutioninPolitics,\"and\"TheProblemofHighCrimeintheUnitedStates。\"

  Tome,asanAmericancitizenearnestlydesiringanoblefutureformycountry,itwasoneofthegreatestofpleasurestolookintothefacesofthoselargeaudiencesofvigorousyoungmenandwomen,and,aboveall,attheStateuniversitiesoftheWest,whicharetoactsopowerfullythroughsomanychannelsofinfluenceinthisnewcentury。Thelastofthesubjectsabove—namedinterestedmepainfully,andIwasaskedtopresentittolargegeneralaudiences,andnotinfrequentlytothecongregationsofchurches。IhadbecomeconvincedthatloosenessintheadministrationofourcriminallawisoneofthemoreseriousdangerstoAmericansociety,andmyearlierstudiesinthisfieldwerestrengthenedbymyobservationsinthecommunitiesIhadvisitedduringthelongjourneythroughourSouthernandPacificStates,towhichIhavejustreferred。OfthisIshallspeaklater。

  ReturningtoWashingtoninFebruaryof1897,IjoinedtheVenezuelaCommissioninpresentingitsreporttothePresidentandSecretaryofState,andsoendedmydutiesundertheadministrationofMr。Cleveland。Ofmyconnectionwiththepoliticalcampaignof1896Ihavespokenelsewhere。InMayof1897,havingbeenappointedbyPresidentMcKinleyambassadortoBerlin,IsailedforEurope,andmyjourneyssincethattimehaveconsistedmainlyofexcursionstointerestinghistoricallocalitiesinGermany,withseveralshortvacationsintheprincipaltownsofnorthernItaly,upontheRiviera,andinAmerica。

  PARTVII

  MISCELLANEOUSRECOLLECTIONS

  CHAPTERLVI

  THECARDIFFGIANT:ACHAPTERINTHEHISTORYOFHUMAN

  FOLLY——1869—1870

  ThetravelerfromNewYorktoNiagarabythenorthernrouteisgenerallydisappointedinthesecondhalfofhisjourney。Duringtheearlierhoursoftheday,movingrapidlyupthevalleys,firstoftheHudsonandnextoftheMohawk,hepassesthroughasuccessionoflandscapesstrikingorpleasing,andofplacesinterestingfromtheirrelationstotheFrenchandRevolutionarywars。But,arrivingatthemiddlepointofhisjourney,——theheadwatersoftheMohawk,——adisenchantmentbegins。Thenceforwardhepassesthroughacountrytame,monotonous,andwithcitiesandvillagesasuninterestingintheirappearanceasintheirnames;

  thelatterbeingtaken,apparentlywithoutrhymeorreason,fromtheclassicaldictionaryortheschoolgeography。

  Andyet,duringallthatsecondhalfofhisexcursion,heispassingalmostwithinmusket—shotofoneofthemostbeautifulregionsoftheNorthernStates,——thelakecountryofcentralandwesternNewYork。

  Itismadeupofasuccessionofvalleysrunningfromsouthtonorth,andlyinggenerallysidebyside,eachwithabeautyofitsown。Some,liketheOneidaandtheGenesee,arebroadexpansesunderthoroughcultivation;others,liketheCayugaandSeneca,showsheetsofwaterlongandwide,theirshoressometimesindentedwithglensandgorges,andsometimesrisingwithpleasantslopestothewoodedhills;inothersstill,astheCazenovia,Skaneateles,Owasco,Keuka,andCanandaigua,smallerlakesareset,likegems,amongvineyardsandgroves;andinothersshimmeringstreamsgowindingthroughcorn—fieldsandorchardsfringedbytheforest。

  OfthislastsortistheOnondagavalley。ItliesjustatthecenteroftheState,and,althoughithasatitsnorthernentrancethemostthrivingcitybetweenNewYorkandBuffalo,itpreservesaremarkablecharacterofpeacefulbeauty。

  Itisalsointerestinghistorically。Herewastheseat——the\"longhouse\"——oftheOnondagas,thecentraltribeoftheIroquois;

  here,fromtimeimmemorial,wereheldthecouncilswhichdecidedonawarlikeorpeacefulpolicyfortheirgreatconfederation;

  hither,intheseventeenthcentury,cametheJesuits,andamongthemsomewhostandhighontherollofmartyrs;hither,towardtheendoftheeighteenthcentury,cameChateaubriand,whohasgiveninhismemoirshismelancholymusingsontheshoresofOnondagaLake,andhisconversationwiththechiefsachemoftheOnondagatribe;hither,intheearlyyearsofthiscentury,camethecompanionofAlexisdeTocqueville,GustavedeBeaumont,whohasgiveninhislettersthethoughtsarousedwithinhiminthisregion,madesacredtohimbythesorrowsofrefugeesfromtheFrenchRevolution。

  Itisalandofpeace。TheremnantoftheIndianslivequietlyupontheirreservation,Christiansandpagansunitingharmoniously,onbroad—churchprinciples,inthecelebrationofChristmasandinthesacrificeofthewhitedogtotheGreatSpirit。

  Thesurroundingfarmersdevotethemselvesinpeacetotheirvocation。Anotedacademy,whichhassentoutmanyoftheirchildrentotakehighplacesintheirownandotherStates,standsintheheartofthevalley,andlittleredschool—housesaresuitablyscattered。ClingingtothehillsoneithersidearehamletslikeOnondaga,Pompey,andOtisco,whichinsummerremindoneofthevillagesuponthelesserslopesoftheApennines。ItwouldbehardtofindamoretypicalAmericanpopulationofthebestsort——thesortwhichmadeThomasJeffersonbelieveindemocracy。ItislargelyofNewEnglandancestry,withafreeadmixtureofthebettersortofmorerecentimmigrants。Itwasmygoodfortune,duringseveralyears,toknowmanyofthesedwellersinthevalley,andperhapsIamprejudicedintheirfavorbythefactthatinmyearlydaystheylistenedverylenientlytomypoliticalandliteraryaddresses,andtwicesentmetotheSenateoftheStatewithalargemajority。

  Buttruth,evenmorethanfriendship,compelsthistributetotheirmerits。Goodinfluenceshavelongbeenatworkamongthem:

  inthelittlecemeterynearthevalleychurchisthegraveofoneoftheirearlypastors,——aquietscholar,——theRev。CalebAlexander,whoeditedthefirsteditionoftheGreekTestamenteverpublishedintheUnitedStates。

  Ihaveknownoneofthesefarmers,weekafterweekduringthestormsofahardwinter,drivefourmilestoborrowavolumeofScott’snovels,and,whatisbetter,drivefourmileseachweektoreturnit。Theyareapeoplewhoreadandthink,andwhocanbereliedon,inthelongrun,totakethesensibleviewofanyquestion。

  Theyhavedonemorethanreadandthink。TheytookaleadingpartinraisingregimentsandbatteriesfortheCivilWar,andtheirstalwartsonswentvaliantlyforthasvolunteers。TheOnondagaregimentsdistinguishedthemselvesonmanyahard—foughtfield;

  theylearnedwhatwarwaslikeatBullRun,andusedtheirknowledgetogoodpurposeatLookoutMountain,FiveForks,andGettysburg。Typicalisthefactthatoneoftheseregimentswasledbyavalleyschoolmaster,——amanwho,havingbeenshotthroughthebody,reporteddead,andhonoredwithapubliccommemorationatwhicheulogiesweredeliveredbyvariouspersons,includingmyself,livedtocommandabrigade,totakepartinthe\"BattleoftheClouds,\"wherehereceivedasecondwound,andtoreceiveathirdwoundduringthemarchwithShermantothesea。

  Bestofall,afterthewarthesurvivingsoldiersreturned,wentonwiththeiraccustomedvocations,andallwasquietasbefore。

  Butintheautumn[18]of1869thispeacefulregionwasincommotionfromoneendtotheother。Strangereportsechoedfromfarmtofarm。ItwasnoisedabroadthatagreatstonestatueorpetrifiedgianthadbeendugupnearthelittlehamletofCardiff,almostatthesouthernextremityofthevalley;andsoon,despitethefactthatthecropswerenotyetgatheredin,andtheelectionsnotyetover,menandwomenandchildrenwerehurryingfromSyracuseandfromthefarm—housesalongthevalleytothesceneofthegreatdiscovery。

  [18]October16。

  IhadbeenabsentinadistantStateforsomeweeks,and,onmyreturntoSyracuse,meetingoneofthemostsubstantialcitizens,ahighlyrespecteddeaconinthePresbyterianChurch,formerlyacountyjudge,Iaskedhim,inajocoseway,aboutthenewobjectofinterest,fullyexpectingthathewouldjoinmeinalaughoverthewholematter;but,tomysurprise,hebecameatonceverysolemn。Hesaid,\"Iassureyouthatthisisnolaughingmatter;itisaveryseriousthing,indeed;thereisnoquestionthatanamazingdiscoveryhasbeenmade,andIadviseyoutogodownandseewhatyouthinkofit。\"

  Nextmorning,mybrotherandmyselfwerespeeding,afterafasttrotterinalightbuggy,throughthevalleytothesceneofthediscovery;andaswewentwesawmoreandmore,oneveryside,evidencesofenormouspopularinterest。Theroadswerecrowdedwithbuggies,carriages,andevenomnibusesfromthecity,andwithlumber—wagonsfromthefarms——allladenwithpassengers。InabouttwohourswearrivedattheNewellfarm,andfoundagatheringwhichatfirstsightseemedlikeacountyfair。Inthemidstwasatent,andacrowdwaspressingforadmission。

  Entering,wesawalargepitorgrave,and,atthebottomofit,perhapsfivefeetbelowthesurface,anenormousfigure,apparentlyofOnondagagraylimestone。Itwasastonegiant,withmassivefeatures,thewholebodynude,thelimbscontractedasifinagony。Ithadacolorasifithadlainlongintheearth,andoveritssurfacewereminutepunctures,likepores。Anespecialappearanceofgreatagewasgivenitbydeepgroovesandchannelsinitsunderside,apparentlywornbythewaterwhichflowedinstreamsthroughtheearthandalongtherockonwhichthefigurerested。Lyinginitsgrave,withthesubduedlightfromtheroofofthetentfallinguponit,andwiththelimbscontortedasifinadeathstruggle,itproducedamostweirdeffect。Anairofgreatsolemnitypervadedtheplace。Visitorshardlyspokeaboveawhisper。

  Comingout,Iaskedsomequestions,andwastoldthatthefarmerwholivedtherehaddiscoveredthefigurewhendiggingawell。

  Beingaskedmyopinion,myanswerwasthatthewholematterwasundoubtedlyahoax;thattherewasnoreasonwhythefarmershoulddigawellinthespotwherethefigurewasfound;thatitwasconvenientneithertothehousenortothebarn;thattherewasalreadyagoodspringandastreamofwaterrunningconvenientlytoboth;that,astothefigureitself,itcertainlycouldnothavebeencarvedbyanyprehistoricrace,sincenopartofitshowedthecharacteristicsofanysuchearlywork;that,rudeasitwas,itbetrayedthequalitiesofamodernperformanceofaloworder。

  Norcoulditbeafossilizedhumanbeing;inthisallscientificobserversofanynoteagreed。Therewasampleevidence,toonewhohadseenmuchsculpture,thatitwascarved,andthatthemanwhocarvedit,thoughbynomeanspossessedofgeniusortalent,hadseencasts,engravings,orphotographsofnotedsculptures。

  Thefigure,insize,inmassiveness,inthedrawingupofthelimbs,andinitsroughenedsurface,vaguelyremindedoneofMichelangelo’s\"NightandMorning。\"Ofcourse,thedifferencebetweenthiscrudefigureandthosegreatMediceanstatueswasinfinite;andyetitseemedtomethatthemanwhohadcarvedthisfiguremusthavereceivedahintfromthose。

  Itwasalsoclearthatthefigurewasneitherintendedtobeconsideredasanidolnorasamonumentalstatue。Therewasnopedestalofanysortonwhichitcouldstand,andthedispositionofthelimbsandtheircontortionswerenotsuchasanysculptorwoulddreamofinafiguretobesetupforadoration。Thatitwasintendedtobetakenasafossilizedgiantwasindicatedbythefactthatitwasmadeasnearlylikeahumanbeingasthelimitedpowersofthestone—carverpermitted,andthatitwascoveredwithminuteimitationsofpores。

  Thereforeitwasthat,inspiteofallscientificreasonstothecontrary,theworkwasverygenerallyacceptedasapetrifiedhumanbeingofcolossalsize,andbecameknownas\"theCardiffGiant。\"

  Onethingseemedtoarguestronglyinfavorofitsantiquity,andIfeltboundtoconfess,tothosewhoaskedmyopinion,thatitpuzzledme。Thiswasthefactthatthesurfacewaterflowingbeneathitinitsgraveseemedtohavedeeplygroovedandchanneleditontheunderside。NowtheOnondagagraylimestoneishardandsubstantial,andonthatveryaccountusedinthelocksuponthecanals:fortherunningofsurfacewatertowearsuchchannelsinitwouldrequirecenturies。

  Againsttheopinionthatthefigurewasahoaxvariousargumentswereused。Itwasinsisted,first,thatthefarmerhadnottheabilitytodevisesuchafraud;secondly,thathehadnotthemeanstoexecuteit;third,thathisfamilyhadlivedtheresteadilyformanyyears,andwerereadytodeclareunderoaththattheyhadneverseenit,andhadknownnothingofituntilitwasaccidentallydiscovered;fourth,thattheneighborshadneverseenorheardofit;fifth,thatitwaspreposteroustosupposethatsuchamassofstonecouldhavebeenbroughtandburiedintheplacewithoutsomeonefindingitout;sixth,thatthegroovesandchannelsworninitbythesurfacewaterproveditsvastantiquity。

  Totheseconsiderationsothersweresoonadded。Especiallyinterestingwasittoobservetheevolutionofmythandlegend。

  Withinaweekafterthediscovery,full—blownstatementsappearedtotheeffectthattheneighboringIndianshadabundanttraditionsofgiantswhoformerlyroamedoverthehillsofOnondaga;and,finally,thecircumstantialstorywasevolvedthatanOnondagasquawhaddeclared,\"inanimpressivemanner,\"thatthestatue\"isundoubtedlythepetrifiedbodyofagiganticIndianprophetwhoflourishedmanycenturiesagoandforetoldthecomingofthepalefaces,andwho,justbeforehisowndeath,saidtothoseabouthimthattheirdescendantswouldseehimagain。\"[19]Tothiswereaddedthereflectionsofmanygoodpeoplewhofounditanedifyingconfirmationofthebiblicaltext,\"Thereweregiantsinthosedays。\"Therewas,indeed,anundercurrentofskepticismamongtheharderheadsinthevalley,buttheprevailingopinionintheregionatlargewasmoreandmoreinfavoroftheideathattheobjectwasafossilizedhumanbeing——agiantof\"thosedays。\"Suchwastherushtoseethefigurethattheadmissionreceiptswereverylarge;itwasevenstatedthattheyamountedtofivepercent。uponthreemillionsofdollars,andsooncameactivemenfromtheneighboringregionwhoproposedtopurchasethefigureandexhibititthroughthecountry。Aleadingspiritinthis\"syndicate\"deservesmention。

  Hewasahorse—dealerinalargewayandbankerinasmallwayfromavillageinthenextcounty,——amankeenandshrewd,butmercifulandkindly,whohadfoughthiswayupfromabjectpoverty,andwhosefundamentalprinciple,asheassertedit,was\"Dountoothersastheywouldliketodountoyou,and——DOIT

  FUST。\"[20]Ajoint—stockconcernwasformedwithaconsiderablecapital,andaneminentshowman,\"Colonel\"Wood,employedtoexploitthewonder。

  [19]See\"TheCardiffGiantHumbug,\"FortDodge,Iowa,1870,p。

  13。

  [20]Forapicture,bothamusingandpathetic,ofthedoingsofthisman,andalsooflifeinthecentralNewYorkvillages,see\"DavidHarum,\"anovelbyE。N。Westcott,NewYork,1898。

  AweekaftermyfirstvisitIagainwenttotheplace,byinvitation。Inthecrowdonthatdayweremanymenoflightandleadingfromneighboringtowns,——amongthemsomewhomadepretensionstoscientificknowledge。Thefigure,lyinginitsgrave,deeplyimpressedall;andasapartyofuscameaway,averyexcellentdoctorofdivinity,pastorofoneofthelargestchurchesinSyracuse,saidveryimpressively,\"Isitnotstrangethatanyhumanbeing,afterseeingthiswonderfullypreservedfigure,candenytheevidenceofhissenses,andrefusetobelieve,whatissoevidentlythefact,thatwehavehereafossilizedhumanbeing,perhapsoneofthegiantsmentionedinScripture?\"

  Anothervisitor,abright—lookinglady,washeardtodeclare,\"Nothingintheworldcanevermakemebelievethathewasnotoncealivingbeing。Why,youcanseetheveinsinhislegs。\"[21]

  [21]SeeLetterofHon。GalushaParsonsintheFortDodgePamphlet。

  Anotherprominentclergymandeclaredwithexcathedraemphasis:

  \"Thisisnotathingcontrivedofman,butisthefaceofonewholivedontheearth,theveryimageandchildofGod。\"[22]Andawriterinoneofthemostimportantdailypapersoftheregiondweltonthe\"majesticsimplicityandgrandeurofthefigure,\"

  andadded,\"Itisnotunsafetoaffirmthatninety—nineoutofeveryhundredpersonswhohaveseenthiswonderhavebecomeimmediatelyandinstantlyimpressedwiththeideathattheywereinthepresenceofanobjectnotmadebymortalhands……Nopieceofsculptureeverproducedtheaweinspiredbythisblackenedform……Iventuretoaffirmthatnolivingsculptorcanbeproducedwhowillsaythatthefigurewasconceivedandexecutedbyanyhumanbeing。\"[23]

  [22]SeeMr。Stockbridge’sarticleinthe\"PopularScienceMonthly,\"June,1878。

  [23]See\"TheAmericanGoliath,\"Syracuse,1869,p。16。

  Thecurrentofbeliefranmoreandmorestrongly,andsoonembracedalargenumberofreallythoughtfulpeople。AweekortwoaftermyfirstvisitcameadeputationofregentsoftheStateUniversityfromAlbany,includingespeciallyDr。Woolworth,thesecretary,amanoflargeeducationalexperience,andnolessapersonageinthescientificworldthanDr。JamesHall,theStategeologist,perhapsthemosteminentAmericanpaleontologistofthatperiod。

  OntheirarrivalatSyracuseintheevening,Imetthemattheirhotelanddiscussedwiththemthesubjectwhichsointerestedusall,urgingthemespeciallytobecautious,andstatingthatamistakemightproveveryinjurioustothereputationoftheregents,andtotheproperstandingofscientificmenandmethodsintheState;thatifthemattershouldturnouttobeafraud,andsucheminentauthoritiesshouldbefoundtohavecommittedthemselvestoit,therewouldbeaguffawfromoneendofthecountrytotheotherattheexpenseofthemenintrustedbytheStatewithitsscientificandeducationalinterests。Tothisthegentlemenassented,andnextdaytheywenttoCardiff。Theycame;

  theysaw;andtheynarrowlyescapedbeingconquered。Luckilytheydidnotgivetheirsanctiontotheideathatthestatuewasapetrifaction,butProfessorHallwasinducedtosay:\"Toallappearance,thestatuelayuponthegravelwhenthedepositionofthefinesiltorsoilbegan,uponthesurfaceofwhichtheforestshavegrownforsucceedinggenerations。Altogetheritisthemostremarkableobjectbroughttolightinthiscountry,and,althoughnotdatingbacktothestoneage,is,nevertheless,deservingoftheattentionofarchaeologists。\"[24]

  [24]SeehisletterofOctober23,1869,intheSyracusepapers。

  AtnoperiodofmylifehaveIeverbeenmorediscouragedasregardsthepossibilityofmakingrightreasonprevailamongmen。

  AsarefraintoeveryargumentthereseemedtogojeeringandsneeringthroughmybrainSchiller’sfamousline:

  \"Againststupiditythegodsthemselvesfightinvain。\"[25]

  [25]\"MitderDummheitkampfenGotterselbstvergebens。\"JungfrauvonOrleans,ActIII,scene6。

  ThereseemednopossibilityevenofSUSPENDINGthejudgmentofthegreatmajoritywhosawthestatue。Asarule,theyinsistedonbelievingita\"petrifiedgiant,\"andthosewhodidnotdweltonitsperfectionsasanancientstatue。Theysawinitawholecatalogueoffinequalities;andonewriterwentintosuchextremeecstaticsthathesuddenlyrealizedthefact,andendedbysaying,\"butthisisrathertoohigh—flown,soIhadbetterconclude。\"Asamatteroffact,theworkwaswretchedlydefectiveinproportionandfeatures;ineverycharacteristicofsculptureitshoweditselftheworksimplyofaninferiorstone—carver。

  Dr。Boynton,alocallectureronscientificsubjects,gaveitthehighestpraiseasaworkofart,andattributedittoearlyJesuitmissionarieswhohadcomeintothatregionabouttwohundredyearsbefore。Anothergentleman,whounitedthecharacterofadeservedlybelovedpastorandaninspiringpopularlectureronvariousscientifictopics,developedthisBoyntontheory。Heattributedthestatueto\"atrainedsculptor……whohadnobleoriginalpowers;fornonebutsuchcouldhaveformedandwroughtouttheconceptionofthatstatelyhead,withitscalmsmilesofullofmingledsweetnessandstrength。\"Thiswriterthenventuredthequery,\"Wasitnot,asDr。Boyntonsuggests,someonefromthatFrenchcolony,……someonewitharighteoussoulsighingoverthelostcivilizationofEurope,wearyofswampandforestandfort,who,findingthisblockbythesideofthestream,solacedthewearydaysofexilewithpouringouthisthoughtuponthestone?\"[26]AlthoughthemosteminentsculptorintheStatehadutterlyrefusedtopronouncethefigureanythingbeyondapoorpieceofcarving,thesestrainsofadmirationandadorationcontinued。

  [26]SeetheSyracusedailypapersasabove。

  Therewasevidentlya\"joyinbelieving\"inthemarvel,andthiswasincreasedbythepeculiarlyAmericansuperstitionthatthecorrectnessofabeliefisdecidedbythenumberofpeoplewhocanbeinducedtoadoptit——thattruthisamatterofmajorities。

  Thecurrentofcredulityseemedirresistible。

  ShortlyafterwardthestatuewasraisedfromitsgravetakentoSyracuseandtovariousothercities,especiallytothecityofNewYork,andineachplaceexhibitedasashow。

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