Ohio History Journal

Minutes of the Annual Meeting          567

 

of the earth, my people urged me to make four requests,-First,

that the flame of their fireplace may not sway to and fro (sick-

ness). Second, that their weapon may be sharpened on both

sides (Success in war. Legends say that there was once a race

that had a sharp, bony structure growing out on both sides of their

forearms for use in war). Third, that the number of days I left

behind me may be proportionately divided among my relatives.

Fourth, that nuts and fruits and all growing things may abound

in plenty on the face of the earth."

Then she will place before you a wooden dish, containing

some wild beans. Partake only a taste of the dish and shove it

back to her. Then she will say, 'My Great Grandchild, you have

a wise head on young shoulders. That dish represents the vege-

tables, nuts, fruits and all growing things on earth. Inasmuch as

you have taken so little and left so much in the dish, so much will

abound on the face of the earth. As for all your other requests,

they are granted'."

Civilizations change. Some lie deep buried in the earth. But

the longing for immortality is common to them all. In our inner-

most longings for the continuity and solidarity of life, we are part

and parcel of our prehistoric brethren.

The audience then proceeded to the corridor south

of the Rotunda of the Museum and Library Building to

witness the unveiling of the

STATUE OF THE PREHISTORIC BASKET WEAVER

President Johnson: I will ask Director Shetrone to

explain the significance of this sculpture.

Mr. Shetrone: Ladies and Gentlemen: You are all

more or less familiar with the male figure of the Mound

Builder, The Prehistoric Sculptor, which stands in the

rotunda. The creation of that figure was the outcome of

the sentiment developed as a result of twenty-five years,

or more, exploration of Indian Mounds and the conse-

quent accumulation of data and material which caused

us to think that we might well attempt to show some-

thing of the physical aspect of our first Ohioans. So,

taking a typical skeleton from one of the Ohio mounds,

568     Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

and employing science to furnish the flesh and shape,

we created the Sculptor, which was presented to the

Museum by General Edward Orton, Jr.

As time passed on there seemed to be a sort of un-

easiness pervading the atmosphere around the Prehis-

toric Sculptor. For quite a while we could not figure

out what it was; there seemed to be an air of loneliness,

and finally the thought occurred to us that he might be

lonely. Then our President, Mr. Johnson, interpreting

that psychic evidence, and recalling the old scriptural in-

junction that it is not good for men to live alone, de-

cided that he should have a mate. The outcome you

have here, and I am certain that they will be very happy

together. In the natural course of events there will be

an increase in this family, so we have something to look

forward to and anticipate. We look forward to the time

when a little boy will climb upon her knee-a very good

friend of the Society, who is reticent about having his

name mentioned, has undertaken to provide for that. In

the course of time you will see this little family of our

first Ohioans increasing in number, but even then we

will not have finished, because we aspire to something

more. I am certain that, if you give it your close atten-

tion, you will see that human beings resent being in glass

cases. Here is our vision-in the balcony of one of our

exploration rooms, which will be suitable so far as at-

mosphere is concerned, and artificially lighted, with a

realistic background-a real habitat, so that when you

view this happy family you will not see them in cases

or cages. You will see them out in the open, living the

life they lived before the white man came. An addi-

tional outlay will be required to provide for that setting.