Ohio History Journal

Editorialana.                       105

 

the people as one might suppose it to have been in the days of the tenth

century. The author carries the credulity of his reader to the very limit.

For instance, he fully describes the girls' and boys' schools at Lekin,

the name which he gives to the present site of Newark, in the vicinity

of which there still stand to-day vast and complete earth-works of those

long lost tribes. These people, as General Beatty pictures them with a

graphic pen, reached a stage of considerable civilization, one far beyond

that of their successors the Indians. They had a written language, a

commerce that extended to foreign nations in South America, and en-

gaged in many of the amusements prevalent among our smartest set.

They indulged freely, and often too frequently, in palatable wines, and

appear to have been especially fond of gambling. Indeed the indulgence

in this pastime got the hero Ivarr into very serious trouble from which

he had most thrilling escapes. Ivarr takes a long journey from the

country of the Acolhuans to Central America, and Mexico the country

of the Taltecs, who, the author states, were the kinsfolk and contem-

poraries of the Acolhuans of the Ohio valley. There is of course a love-

thread running through the story. One lady Gunhild, a princess among

the Acolhuans, is the beloved of Ivarr, and with her he subsequently re-

turns to Norway, where they live, in their later life enjoying the mem-

ories of their experiences among the Mound Builders of Ohio. General

Beatty has woven into this interesting story very much that the Archaeo-

logists claim in behalf of these prehistoric people. The "Acolhuans" is

not only an excellently imagined story itself, with many thrilling scenes

and graphic descriptions, but is, moreover, well calculated to attract our

attention to and interest us in the days and life of the Mound Builders,

as we see them in our mind's eye. The book is embellished with several

illustrations of the rehabilitated cities and localities of the Mound Build-

ers, the special one of which is that reproducing Fort Ancient as it was

in the day of its habitation. Fort Ancient the author describes as the

city of refuge and the capital of the province. This is in accordance

with a much accredited belief that Fort Ancient was the great central

capital of these people in the Ohio valley. General Beatty very fittingly

dedicates his volume to Colonel E. L. Taylor, a life member of the Ohio

State Archaeological and Historical Society, and one than whom there

are few, if any, so well versed in the life and character of the Mound

Builders and their followers the American Indian. General Beatty's book

is published by McClelland & Co. of Columbus, Ohio.

 

 

THE GREATEST MAN -AN OHIOAN.

A most attractive and interesting little pamphlet has just been

published by Mr. S. F. Harriman, Columbus, O., under the pretentious title

"The Greatest Living Man." The author is Col. William Jackson Arm-

strong, the distinguished writer, and who, under Grant's Administration,

*8 Vol. XII.

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106        Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.   was inspector of foreign consulates. Colonel Armstrong is a most forceful and accomplished writer. His style is more that of the early English essayists than of the modern facile but less elegant wielders of the pen. Colonel Armstrong, in this little monograph, displays a wonderful range of reading, marvelous insight into human nature, and most exact powers of analysis and comparison. He touches upon the leading characteristics of all the great living men, authors, poets, generals, artists, philosophers, scholars, actors, scientists, engineers, inventors, and great captains of industry both foreign as well as American. His essay is a remarkable condensation of vast intellectual sweep and study. He comes to the rather startling conclusion that the greatest living man is none other than Thomas Edison, the inventor, and a native Buckeye, having been born at the little town of Milan, near Norwalk. It is possible that all the world will not agree with Colonel Armstrong's deduction, but, in any event, considering the care and range which he has given to his subject, the Colonel is entitled to very great consideration.

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