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。