The civilized races were found in Italy, Greece and a part of Spain. They were all Indo-Europeans and had a common origin. In fact, they all belonged to the White race. The American aborigines all belonged to the red race. Some were civilized and

some uncivilized.

The works of the Britons and of the Iroquois may be compared. The Gauls or Celts may be considered the Mound Builders, or what is better, perhaps, the Iberians. The German tribes may be compared to the Pueblos, and the Romans to the Mexicans. There was a great difference between the Cis- Alpine and Trans-Alpine races. Civilization prevailed at Rome, and much of it was borrowed from the far east. Barbarism prevailed north of the Alps, and the races came from another stock. So the civilization of Mexico and Central America may have been derived from across the water, in one direction or the other. The Aztec, Toltec, and the Chicrinec races may have come from a different stock from the uncivilized races, situated north of Mexico; the grades of society and the stages of architecture were very different, not so different as those which prevailed in Europe, yet different enough to be recognized now in the ruins and monu

ments.

We present a cut with this article which represents one of the palaces which were common in Central America.

Mr. H. H. Bancroft has, in his Native Races of the Pacific Coast, referred to a large number of just such structures. The ruins of Uxmal and Palenque are often described, but these are only types of many which were common. The elaborate carving on the façades of these palaces, the many and complicated halls and chambers which were within, the magnificent corridors and courts which were without, and the whole style of architecture peculiar to the region, show that the people had reached a high stage of development. There must have been a barbaric magnificence which was impressive and strange, and we do not wonder that the Spanish historians represented them in such glowing colors as they did.

Whether evidence will be presented, in the course of time, that this skill and culture were trained by those who had known something of the civilization (of other continents or not, we can

not deny that the architecture of this region shows a very different condition of life from that presented elsewhere. The soil and climate may have been favorable, and the increase of wealth and ease may have resulted in just such magnificence without any borrowed skill. But certainly there is a great contrast between these works of the civilized races, and the rude wigwams of the savages. All these different styles and grades of architecture may have had a common origin. Possibly the growth may be traced from the one to the other, but we can no more compare the Montezuma of Mexico to the Hiawatha of the Iroquois, than we can the Julius Cæsar of Rome to the Ariovistus of the Germans.

It is very fashionable to follow an idea, and to imagine that one system will explain them all; but the plain facts disprove all theories. Indian or not, modern or not, the works of Mexico and Central America show that the races there certainly reached a very different state of development from what prevailed north of this region. There is no wonderful mystery about it, and nothing improbable. The Seven Cities of Cibola, situated as they were in the deep inierior of this continent, struck the Spaniards with as much surprise as did the palaces of Mexico. The strange works of the Mound Builders have not yet ceased to excite our wonder and baffle our investigations. Only the familiar and rude ways and works of the Indians excite our contempt. But all of them are important, as showing what different states of society have existed on this continent, and how one dark-skinned, coppercolored race have developed into so many different stages of cul

We take the four or five classes of architectural works and trace in them four or five different modes of life and social conditions, and so have a picture of the pre-historic ages on this continent which cannot be excelled. The study of primitive architecture is really the main source of information in reference to this age.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY SINCE JULY, 1878.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

NINTH REGULAR ANNUAL MEETING,

Held at Madison, December 27, 28 and 29, 1878, in the Senate Chamber of the

Capitol.

FIRST SESSION.

THURSDAY, December 27, 1878.

Academy met at 7:30 P. M., Dr. P. R. Hoy, presiding. Reports from the secretary, treasurer and various committees were read and accepted. Pres. Hoy then delivered his retiring address. After thanking the members for their kindness manifested toward him during his term of office, Dr. Hoy proceeded to briefly relate some of the wonderful discoveries of the recent past, rather than give the usual review of the work of the academy. The labors of Edison, Prof. Draper and various travelers were, noticed. Dr. Hoy alluded to the rapid growth of the Academy, which started eight years ago with but eleven members. The address closed with a feeling tribute to deceased members, including the late Prof. Carpenter, whose recent death was severely felt at Madison.

"Did Bacon Write Shakspere?" a paper by Prof. Albert Hardy, of Milwaukee, followed.

The question of the authorship of Shakespere's plays was one of recent growth. Carefully collected facts were introduced to show the high regard which was accorded Shakespere by his contemporaries. The growth of the drama was depicted. A large number of passages taken from Shakespere and Bacon were cited to present the similarities and difference of the two writers. A strict analysis of the style reveals many intricacies of expression, which would escape a less careful scrutiny. From such an analysis the suthor of the paper was ready to ascribe to Shakespere the authorship of the plays which have immortalized his name.

"The Origin of the Township," a paper by Prof. Allen, of Madison, was read next. It consisted of a brief outline of the history of the organization of townships in France, Germany and England.

After the reading of this paper, a committee was appointed to report on the death of Prof. Carpenter.

Adjourned.

SECOND SESSION.

December 28th, 9 A. M After the election of several new members, Dr. Birge, of the State University, read a paper on "The Theories of Hæckel and Nægeli on Variation.' Nægeli refers variation to internal forces; Hæckel to external forces exclusively. Neither theory is a complete explanation of the facts. Nægeli offers a teleological explanation as causal, and Hæckel calls in the grotesque conception of the "atom soul" to aid his mechanical forces.

Gov. Smith was introduced to the Academy by Pres. Hoy. Gov. Smith pleasantly responded.

“The Corals of Delafield" was the title of a paper read by I. M. Buel, of Beloit. [See page 185.]

An interesting paper, entitled "Some Observations on the Recent Glacial Deposits of Wisconsin and those of Switzerland," was read by Prof. T. C. Chamberlin, state geologist. The writer correlated the glacial deposits of Wisconsin with those of Switzerland. Stereoscopic views of the glaciers in Switzerland were left at the disposal of the audience.

The meeting adjourned at 12 o'clock.

THIRD SESSION.

December 28, 2 P. M.

The afternoon session was opened by a paper relating to "Some Points in the Geology of the Region about Beloit," by Mr. G. D. Swezey, of Belott College.

The paper following this was entitled "The Penokee Fault," by Prof. R. D. Irving, of the State University.

The description of the "fault" was illustrated by a map showing that the magnetic belt or iron ridge had upon one side of "Bad river" slipped 800 feet below the corresponding ridge on the opposite side. Many interesting facts were noted in connection with this displacement and the various guesses as to the manner in which it had been produced were mentioned,

Prof. Chamberlin next gave a careful and graphic description of the tornado which occurred May 23, 1878, in Western Wisconsin. Prof. Chamberlin was at Mineral Point with a party of explorers, and was able to watch the phases of the storm and study the character of the cyclone. His remarks were verbal, and prefaced the more elaborate description of the same storm in a paper entitled "The Retardation of Wind in Tornadoes," by Prof. Daniells, of the University.

The history of the storm in Wisconsin was only a fraction of its historyits terrestrial career. The signal service had traced its origin to the Pacifie coast. Tornado clouds were noticed in Texas, and various meteorological disturbances observed in many regions remote from where the cyclone struck the earth. Along the line of the storm-65 miles - people who noticed it saw wind clouds moving from various quarters and coming together before spending their fury on the earth, thus giving rise to the idea that it was here

that the storm originated. But Prof. Daniells is quite convinced that it was here that it first struck the earth. The storm passed over 128 miles of space in 4 hours time. The velocity was registered at various points along the route and the retardation calculated. The distribution of the debris was noted.

The paper was discussed by Prof. Chamberlin, who took issue with Prof. Daniells' theory of the non-local origin of the cyclone.

The Academy adjourned at 4 o'clock to visit Science Hall, on invitation of Pres. Bascom of the University. This building is admirably adapted for the scientific work for which it has been erected.

FOURTH SESSION.

December 28, 7:30 P. M.

The evening session was opened by the election of officers. Dr. Chapin, of Beloit, was elected president. A resolution was adopted providing for the immediate election of three vice presidents of the depart ments of Science, Arts and Letters, respectively, and for the postponement of the election of the remaining department officers until the next meeting. The following officers were then elected:

Vice President Department of Sciences - Prof. R. D. Irving, Madison. Vice President Department of Arts — Hon. G. H. Paul, Milwaukee. Vice President Department of Letters - Dr. G. M. Steele, Appleton. General Secretary Dr. J. E. Davies, Madison.

Treasurer — Hon. S. D. Hastings, Madison.

Curator of Cabinet - Prof. G. W. Peckham, Milwaukee.

Librarian Dr. E. A. Birge, Madison.

A memorial of Dr. J. B. Feuling, written by Dr. S. H. Carpenter, was read by Prof. Allen. This was followed by a paper by Mrs. A. W. Bate of Milwaukee on the "Regime of the Nursery," which indicated the proper regulations for the nursery in order to secure the most beneficial results to young children. The subject was considered under the heads of physical, ethical aud intellectual culture. Physical culture is the basis of all; hygienic regulations should be carefully enforced. Ethical culture should be taught by parental example. Responsibility should be gradually given to the child. The very young child should never be crammed with book knowledge. Make home a home.

The following amendment to the constitution was proposed by Prof. Allen and laid over until the next meeting, under the rules:

Resolved, That section 3 of the constitution be amended so as to reduce the number of departments to three, viz.:

Department of Sciences.

Department of Arts.

Department of Letters.

And that the existing amendment to section 3 be repealed.

Adjourned.