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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1916)
THE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. AIDS STUDY OF MAYA WRITING Smithsonian Institution Issues Textbook on Ancient Indian Hieroglyphs. IS WELCOMED BY STUDENTS Explains How Writings Were Made, How Indians Reckoned Time nnd How They Performed Their Processes of Mathematics. Washington. Tho bureau of Ameri can ethnology of tho Smithsonian In stitution has rccontly Issued a text book, an nrchcologlcal prlmor bo to spoak, for tho study of the anclont writings of tho Maya Indiana who have inhabited the Atlantic coast plains of southern Mexico and northern Central Amorlca from tlrao Immemorial. Tho book Is entitled "An Introduction to tho Study of the Maya Hieroglyphs," and Is a now form for tho diffusion of knowlcdgo In rolatlon to ono branch of American archeology. Tho author of this now book, Mr. Bylvanus Qrlswold Morloy of tho Car ncglo Institution of Washington, bo llovcs that his work will bo welcomed by students; tho writings of many provlous Investigators, designed to meet tho needs of tho specialist rathor than tho boglnnor, aro In tho main too advanced and technical for general comprehension. Consequently Mr. Morloy boglns his work at tho begin ning, oxplulnlng what Maya hiero glyphs aro and how thoy aro made, how thoso pooplo rockoncd tlrao, per formed tholr processes of mathemat ics, tholr mothod of numeration and In scription, and so on; all well Illus trated with numorous plates and fig urcs which graphically show tho read er many things. A Dwlndllna Race. In tho first chapter Mr. Morloy writes brlofly on tho habitat, history, and manners and customs of tho Maya, in order that tho student may gain a goneral Idea of tho remarkablo pooplo whoso glyphlc and calondar syBtoms aro prcsontod for study, Thero aro now about 20 trlbos speaking various dialects of tho Maya language, porhaps half n million pooplo In nil, living in tho goneral region tholr ancestors oc cupied. Yucatan, Campocho, Tabasco, Chiapas, Guatemala, and Honduras wero all Inhabited by tho forbears of thiB raco, who wero actually tho van of civilization In the Now World; but today thero la only tho romnant of a dwindling raco, tljolr onco remarkablo civilization boing a thing of tho past, their manners and customs practically forgotten. " 1 Emerging from barbarity, probably during tho first or second century of tho Christian orn, with excellent sculp ture and a systom of elaborato and In volved hieroglyphs, bospqaklng both Bkill and high mentality which must havo taken at least two qonturlos to ovolvo, thoy bogan to dovolop. For four hundred yoarB they expanded and grow until, in tho sixth century, tho Goldon Ago of tho Maya wan roached. Dut aftor that tholr civilization oithor collapsed, having 'run Its natural courso, or they woro driven from tholr homos by a Btrongor pooplo. At any event, no dates later than those of thoir Cyclo 0, toward tho ond or our sixth century, havo boon found In tholr old southern cities. Customs of tho Mayas. Mr. Morloy mentions many of tho Maya customs which aro of lntorest. Thoy disfigured and tattood tholr faces In accordance with tholr rollglous bo llofs; squlnt-oyo was striven for, and tho youths had tholr faces scalded to provont tho growth of beards. Tho men decorated tholr whole bodies with red paint, and tho women all except tholr faces, for in that day modesty decreed that tho raco should bo loft unp&lntcd. Tho womon woro chaBto and modest; when passing men on tho road thoy stoppod aside, turned tholr backs, and hid tholr faces in a retiring manner. On marrlago tho young hus band was obliged to work for his board at tho homo of his wlfo's parents for flvo or six years, but tho raothor-ln-law saw to It that her daughter fed lm well. Tho Maya woro or n Jealous na ture and divorces woro froquont and easily effected. Polygamy was un known. Men BUfforod death for adul tery, but tho woman's Infamy was con sidered sufficient punlshmont for hor. WIdowB or widowers might marry without othor coromony than partak ing of a meal in tho houso of tho es poused. It was considered Improper for a Maya to marry his mother-in-law, slBtor-in-laY, or aunt by marrlago, although ho could marry a first cousin. Tholr hospitality know no bounds, and tho uppor classes ontortalnod ono an other regally. Drinking wbb bo In dulged in at tholr banquots that tho wives of tho guests woro often obllgod to como for their husbands "and drag them homo. Tho military efllcloncy of tho Maya was of a high dogroo; each city had chosen soldlors, supported by tho community, who organlzod and drilled all tho able-bodied men In tlmo of war. During tho eleventh and twelfth couturles throo of tho ombrv- nnlo Maya nations nro supposed to havo formed a trlplo alllanco, but fur ther centralization of government failed, and tho Spanish Invaders found tho country in a chaotio etato with a number of indopondont potty chlor- tama. How to Read Maya. In taking up tho introduction for studying tho hieroglyphs tho author explains that In Maya inscriptions tho glyphs aro usually arranged in paral lel columns and read two columns at a tlmo from loft to right at tho top. Some inscriptions, however, occur in horizontal bands, In which cn.no thoy nro road from loft to right, taking two glyphs at a tlmo. Unlike tho Egyp tians, tho Maya, complicated their Writing by varying and augmenting tholr olemontat forms until a com plete symmetrical picture, filling tho whole allotted apace, was evolved. For thin reason thero appear to be many forms with tho same meaning, which have to bo analyzed for their essential characteristics. In some cases two en tirely different forms represent tho same thing, and again tho wrltor's In dividual peculiarities In stylo caused variations which aro puzzling to tho student. Careless drawing nnd even tho material employed also caused va riations and difficulties, which, togeth er with thoso mentioned, havo led tho author to uso another form of classi fication than by appearances alone. Ho advocates an arrangement Into two groups, tho first consisting of tho glyphs used In counting, and tho sec ond, thoso having an explanatory meaning. Most of tho glyplm whoso mcaulngB havo been determined fall within tho first group, though tho names of tho principal gods, the nlgnu of tho cardinal points and their asso ciated colors, and somo glyphs with astronomical significance aro included In tho second. Mr. Morloy says that tho theory most gonorally accoptcd Is that tho Maya glyphs aro chiefly Ideographic, each presenting somo complete thought, nlthough they aro sometimes phonetic also. This kind of writing lias been called lkonomatlc, but It is moro familiarly known to us as robtiB or puzzlo writing. Tho picture of an eye, for Instance, recalls not an eyo but tho sound of tho word, and means tho personal pronoun I, tho prlnclplo being that of homophonen, or words and characters which sound allko but havo different meanings, Buch as wero used also by tho Aztecs In their picture-writings. Maya Tlmo Reckoning. Tho wrltor devotes a chaptor to Mayn tlmo reckoning, another to arith metic; ho then entors Into a detailed study and translation of tho inscrip tions found on monuments, and finally takes up tho toxts drawn from tho co dices or hieroglyphic manuscripts. It was duo to Mr, Morloy's re searches that tho oldest dated anti quity In Amorlca was recently Identi fied and described by tho Smithsonian Institution: tho Tuxtla statuette dated 100 D. C. GENERAL 08REG0N AND BRIDE 1 Vf-' Gen. Alvaro Obregon and his hand Bomo brldo, Sonora Maria Tapis do Obregon, who woro marrlod rccontly. Goneral Obregon Is ono of the moat trusted acivisorB of Genoral Carranza, by whom ho was appointed secretary of war. Obregon lost his right arm In ono of his battles with Villa, "GASOLINE JAG" IS LATEST Topers In Dry Oklahoma Don't Drink Liquid But Inhale Fumes, Says Oil Man. Pittsburgh. Out In Oklahoma, whoro prohibition addB to tho natural aridity of tho rllmato, tho thirsty find solaco In "gasolluo jags," according to W. M. Dougherty, an oil man from tho flolds of that stato, whtlo visiting Pittsburgh frlond8. "Gasoline gives a very satisfactory Jag, 1 understand," Mr. Daughorty re marked, during a conversation with frionds In tho North sldo pollco sta tton. "Thoy don't drink It, you know. Thoy lnhah tho vapor. "Tho effect is about tho samo as that of whUky, A habit Is acquired If Us uso Is kopt up very long and persons who havo Inhaled much of It got Just llko dopo fiends It finally results In death, tho blood apparently breaking down." Seventy-Second Wedding Anniversary. Mitchell, S. D. Mr. and Mrs. E. It, Johnson observed tholr sovonty-socond wedding anniversary with n dlnnor, which tho ninety-year-old brldo helped to proparo. Tho Johnsons woro mar ried at Wilmington, N, V on April 14, 1&54. Thoy havo threo children llv lng, ono of whom, a Civil war vot orau, makes his home with uIb parents, CONFLICT OVER FOSSIL REMAINS Unusual Case Tried Over' Bones of Mastodon in Tennessee Court. BOYS MAKE THE DISCOVERY Courts Are Asked to Decide Whether the Remains Belong to Discov erer or the Owner of tho Farm. Halls, Tcnn. An unusual caso haa Just been tried ovor tho bonoa of a mastodon by tho Laudcrdalo county circuit court at Illploy, Tenn. A few wooks ago two llttlo boys, David Dar nell and Chcrroll Doono, wero setting traps on tho farm of N. D. Salisbury, fivo mlloB northwest of here. Ono of tho boya hurt his foot on what thoy thought to bo tho ond of a largo horn. Tholr crrloslty was aroused by tho unusual bIzo of tho object, and tho Boono boy went for his fathor to assist them In digging It out. Tusk Weighs 98 Pounds. Tho fathor, Ellia Doono, carao with Implements and dug out a tusk wolghlng 98 pounds and 5 feet 8 Inches long. Anothor tusk was found, but was broken In prying It out of tho ground. A Jawbono with four teeth waB unearthed. Tho teeth, whon removed from tho bono, weighed flvo nnd a rourth pounds each nnd woro In perfect condition. Soveral othor bones woro found. Thero was also found tho Jawbono ol aomo other animal, with tho teeth in It. Tho back tcoth of this animal are an inch long nnd worn, denoting that it was very aged when It died. Salisbury contended that aB tho bones woro found on his farm thoy woro hie. Ho had them roplevlned from Doono. Boono contended that by right of discovery thoy should bo his. Goes to Supreme Court. Tho hearing was boforo Esquires Klnloy nnd DunnvanU Ono thousand pcoplo woro present. A decision was rendered In favor of Salisbury. Boone thon appealed to tho circuit court and that court decided In Boone's favor. Now Salisbury appeals to tho supremo court of tho stato and that high body will pqss on tho caso. Local authorities aro of tho opinion that thero Is no law, ancient or mod em, to Just fit tho caso, and that tho final decision will govorn all such cases In tho future. Salisbury was represented in tho trial by T. C. Gor don of Dyorsburg nnd W. C. Patten of Halls. Boono was represented by W. N. Beasloy of Halls. Tho mastodon Itself Is "said to havo boon tho only party within a con- Bldorablo dlstanco who didn't maul fest somo IntoroBt in tho caso. FIND 20 INDIAN SKELETONS Supposition That They Were Burled Near Where Thoy Fell In Battle. Oregon City, Ore While excavating" for a basement near tho river bank mon omployod by Frank Bunch havo, uncovered 20 BkoletoiiB of Indians In ono holo. Tho bodlc aro supposed to bo tho remains of Indians killed In battle for In ono or two cases arrow heads havo boon found caught between tho bones. Tho first trace of tho bones was found oarly In tho week whon tho workmen uncovered a skull. It was buried by itself and Mr. Bus"ch, who has Btudlcd tho find carefully, bollovos that It holongcd to a chief or loador. To provont disturbing tho bones tho workmon bogan excavating in another place and thoy found a holo with a radius of about six foot which Mr. Busch OBtlmatcs contains tho bonos of at least twenty Indians Tho skele tons nro lying llko tho spokes of a whool with tho skulls In tho contor. Ovor tho top of tho gravo was a thick, hard crust of baked clay that was hardened llko stono. CHILDREN IN SOCIETY All of Washington's social gayetlcs aro not confined to grownups. Tills photograph showB Miss Lucy Fos.or Portor, daughter of Congressman r.nd Mrs. S. G. Porter of Pennsylvania, with hor dog which abo entered in (lie rocont dog show, Both alio and tho dog received many nttentlotiB. Finding the Bride Dy REV. L. W. GOSNELL Superintendent ol Men, Moodr Blbla Institute of Chicago TRXT-nut thou nhalt ko unto my country, and to my kindred, nntl tittso a wifo unto my son Iaaac den. 24:4. Tho twenty-fourth chaptor of Gone bIb contains tho account of tho serv ant of Abraham seeking a brldo for his son Isaac. Tho chaptor is a long one, contain ing 67 verses, and this fact has led many Blblo Btu dents to feel that tho Booking of Isaac's brldo is typical of Bomo spiritual truth. Such Blblo stu dents agrco that tho chapter well Illustrates tho work of tho Holy Spirit, who is sent forth by God tho father to call out tho church, which is tho brldo of him, typi fied by Isaac, oven Jesus Christ our Lord. Sinco tho Holy Spirit uses men In this sacred work, tho chapter under consideration furnishes many points of instruction for tho soul winner. First of all, wo noto that Abraham's servant was anxious for tho glory of hlB master. Ho prays, "Show kindness unto my master Abraham." This mo tlvo will affect many things in our Christian service. On ono occasion, after a sermon, remarkablo from tho literary standpoint as well as in other ways, ono of tho hearers remarked, "What beautiful languago tho preacher used." Truo sorvantB of Christ aro troubled if his face is veiled, oven by beautiful languago. Thoy would rath or glory In infirmity if tho power of Christ might rest upon them. Wo havo heard of a church upon tho back of whoso pulpit was carved this text, "Sirs, wo would oco Jesus." Every minister who sat behind this pulpit faced this appeal, and ovcry worker who has tho spirit of Abraham's serv ant will seek to heed this appeal. Notice again, that tho servant of Abraham received guidance. Ho was led to tho well whoro Robekah watered hor flocks and alio was pointed out to him as tho brldo for his master. As tho servant expressed It, "I being in tho way, tho Lord led mo." Tho wrlt or has a friend who was a pastor in a southern town. Ho longed for tho Balvatlon of a man who lived out In tho country, but although ho visited his houso, ho seemed never to find an op portunity to speak with him privately concerning his soul. On ono occasion, this minister was impressed that ho should pay a special visit in the hope of reaching tho man in question. As tho impression persisted, ho took tho train and finally reached. tho houso. It looked as if no ono woro at homo and ho began to chldo hlmaolf for his foolish trip. Nevertheless, ho rapped at tho door, which was opened by tho man ho wished to seo and who wel comed him heartily, saying, "I am all alono today and was Just wishing that you would como hero and toll mo how to becomo a Christian." Undoubtedly God still IcadB his sorvants. Again tho servant gavo gifts to. Ro bekah, Jowols of silver, Jewels of gold and raiment. How happy it is that Christian workors, though poor, as Paul was, may mako many rich. Un happy tho Christian workor who has nothing better to glvo than bread and soup and clothes. Abraham's servant gavo to Robekah an earnest of tho riches which should bo hors when sho camo into Isaac's tent. So should Christian workers bo flllod with an oarncst of. tho coming glory and scat ter Its light and blessing to all thoso to whom them mlnlBtor. Wo may say a word, also, about tho bride It will bo noted that tho sorv ant found hor by tho well of 'water. Theso words may fall under tho eyo of Bomeono who Is sighing to becomo a inombor of tho brldo of Christ. May not tho Incident undor consideration suggest to him that ho should bo found by tho well of water, which may hint at tho moans of graco. When Charles Spurgcon was Booking to know tho lovo of Chrlat, ho wont from church to church throughout London, trusting that tho word of soma minister might bring to him tho blessing ho sought. Ho at last found pcaco hi a Prlmltlvo Methodist chapol, whoro ho had taken shelter from a snowstorm ono Sunday morning. And what a lesson Is convoyed by tho fact that as soon as Robekah had tho ring and bracelet upon her hand, sho ran and told thorn of hor moth or'a houso all that Abraham's servant had said. As ono has put it, wo must oithor glvo our rollglon away or elao glvo It up. Would that all or us wero as busy In sproadlng tho good tidings as was Undo John Vassar. Dr. A. J. Gordon tolls of once driving along a country road with this good man. A gontloman stopped them to inqulro tho way to Dedham. Aftor tho directions woro glvon, Undo John VasBar turned to tho man and said, "Friend, I too am a Btrangor and pilgrim in tho earth, but I am Booking a better coun try, ovon a hoavonly. Allow mo to ask if you know tho way to that coun try and aro Journeying thither?" It was dono so naturally and sincerely that tho man stood as if Bpollbound undor this gracious appeal. msnwcaoN cur House at Last Puts the Final K on Rlerrimack tjtr ASHINGTON. John Jacob Rogers, who represents a highly cultured and fV orthographically correct constituency In Massachusetts, aroso In his wrath in tho houso ono afternoon during tho debato on tho rivers and harbors bill and bemoaned tho fact that his favorite ! .i ZPrrr-, SPELLIHG A v- 'imm nit official ruling that tho river should ho spelled with a final k. I want to be known as tho man who sunk tho k in Merrimack." "I, object to anything being added to this bill unless it bo in the measure of preparedness," solemnly announced Representative SlmB of Tennessee. "Would not a river bo harder to take If it had an extra letter?" asked. Representative Mann, tho Republican leader. "Truo," remarked Representative Sims. Thoroupon I ho houso solemnly voted on tho Rogors suggestion, "All thoso In favor say 'aye,' " said tho chairman of tho committee of tho whole, and thero was a chorus of "ayes." "Thoso opposed." Thereupon Nick Longworth bawled "No I" at the top of hlB voice, because he believed schedule K was in danger. "Division," callod out Representative Rogers. Tho houso then stood up to bo voted, and there wero 65 members on their feet In favor of putting tho O. K. on a final "k." Representative Longworth voted In the afllrmatlvo, laughing all tho tlmo as if ho would novor stop. Thoreforo In tho houso it is now "Merrimack." Uncle Sam Now Selling SO MANY skins of predatory wild animals have been turned in by Its official hunters that tho department of agriculture has instituted a Plan of sclllne tho pdts not required for scientific purposes at public auction. As a result, a fur business which nets tidy sums for tho federal treasury has been devel oped as a sldo lino. In tho last four months 1,399 pelts useful for manu facture Into furs, muffs, or rugs have boon sold In four sales for ?2,552, tho last sale, late in March, yielding $1,155.55. Tho skins disposed of include tho following: Coyoto, bobcat, skunk, bad ger, bposaum, lynx, gray fox, kit fox, raccoon, civet cat and ring-tailed cat. All ot theso animals havo been killed by employees of tho biological survey In its various compalgns to rid different sections of tho country of animals which aro hurtful to live stock, cultivated, crops or tlmbor. Ab each of tho official hunters Is trained carefully in handling; and preserving the sklna of animals, the pelts reach tho department In excel lent shape Tho bulk of tho skins sold have been coyote, or pralrlo wolf, polts resulting from tho actlvo campaigns of extermination against this animal in tho cattlo ralslng districts of tho West. Thoso in charge of the sales roport that the coyoto pelt Is growing in popularity as a fur, and as a result the prices offered for there skins at tho auctions havo steadily boen increasing. With tho increase of tho campaign of extermination against tho coyoto a largo numbor of coyoto skins and other furs aro being racolvcd by tho depart ment and will bo open for purchnso at auction within a short time. Moreover, tho department reports, tho needs of museums and other scientific institutlona for specimens havo largely been satisfied, so that practically all skins received at tho department aro now put on aalo. Notices of these fur Bales aro sent out about ten days prior to each sale. Elk From the Yellowstone in National Museum FAMILY group of American oik or park has boon put on exhibition In the United States National musoum. Tho animals in this exhibit wero espe cially collected for tho Smithsonian no wind, and lies heavily on tho pine boughs and branches. American elk or wapiti, scientiflcally termed Cervua canadensis, which onco had a wide distribution in North America, are now conflncd chiefly to tho states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho and tho provinces of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. Tho largest herds occur in tho Yollowstono region, numbering between 50,000 and 55,000, dis tributed in two main herds. Congress recently has appropriated $50,000 for the purchase of an elk rcfugo whoro sufficient hay can bo raised each year for feeding the horda dur ing tho wlntor. This refugo, comprising about 2,000 acres, la located in Jack Bon Holo, two miles north of tho town of Jackaon, Wyo. Elk aro polygamous and breed readily in captivity. The wild herds in Montana and Wyoming bring In largo returns to theso states, in tho form ot hunting Hconsoa, guideB' feeB and money spent by tourists and sportsmen. During tho pant fow years experiments havo boon made in transferring small herds of elk from tho Yellowstone park and Jackson Holo to other localities for tho purposo of restocking government and stato reservations. About 1,300 oik have boon so transferred to 13 different states. It Is estimated that thero are about 2,200 elk In captivity in about 125 different places in tho United States, the total number, wild and in captivity. In this country being estimated at between 80,000 and 100,000. Ghildren Boautifying Capital by Garden Work MORE than 15,000 schoolchildren of Washington aro occupied In beautifying Washington as a wholo through tho interest they evince In tholr own home gardens, according to a statement mado by ono in chargo of tho work of direct ing tho efforts ot tho youthful garden ers, it was explained that the con sumption of 170,000 packages ot seeds by tho youngsters has attracted largo numbors of now recruits this year. And ovcry effort will bo strained, it Is said, to hold tho lntorest of all at present engaged in tho work of making tho most of tho great possibilities of Wash ington as a "garden city." Tho work is undor tho general dl roctlon of Miss Susan B. Sipo. This work Is encouraged and supported by tho People's Gardens association of tho District, of which Mius Sipo is secre tary. This organization, working on tho theory that much can be accomplished toward boautifying Washington bv inatllllng a deairo for this ond in tho rising generation, haa latoly concerned Itself principally with promoting this iutoreat unong children. river's name was spoiled wrong In the bill. It is "Merrimack," and John Ja cob called attention to tho fact that tho bill has it "Mcrrimac." "I havo boon struggling over since I camo to congress to havo tho Merri mack river spelled correctly," ho said. "Tho government printing ofllco has. an aversion to spelling it tho original and Indian way. Tho geographic board was asked for tho correct spell ing of tills river and thoy handed down His Superfluous Pelts wapiti from tho Yellowstone National the west wing of tho now building for through the courtesy of tho interior department, from ono of tho herds ot oik under government protection. The group was prepared originally for tho Panama-Pacific exposition at San Francisco and was exhibited there in tho Palaco of Agriculture. This group showa a family of elk in tho Yellowstone National park at tho first sign of winter. Snow haa fallen during tho night whllo there was- SKINS OP j Sri
