The Prehistoric Race

The Commercial, iu commenting on Judge Harriman's address in Ypsilanti last week, says: The chief feature of the evening was Judge Harrimau's address upon the Prehistorie Races of Araerica. These he divided into three: the Indian, theMound B uilder and the Man of the Stone Age. The JuCge spoke at lenglh of the history and cbaractri8tici of each in order. His judgetnent of the Norlh American Indian is very different from tliat of the poet and sentimentalist. He regards the Indiau as the fag end of a deteriorating and disappeariug race, which hae liltle tocommeud it. Laziutss, stolidity.cruelty and animal passion are the chief characteristics of the race of the "Noble Red Man," whose languatres do not possess words to convey any seusi-of soul, of God or anythiug spirit ual. The Judge's estímate of the Indian is very different from the one that generally prevails, but we believe it is rnuch nearer thelrutb. The speaker uext dwelt quito at length upon the race of mound-buildera who preceded the Indians, and described many of their extensive worka whieh are found all over the Mississippi valley. Some of them ave evidently ioitifications and some may be the sites of cilies which have perished all but their foundations. They were an inland, peaceful and pastoral race, in civilizatiou far in advance of the mode'ii ludian. He theu spoke of a still older race, the "Men of the Stone Age," whoclipped the numerous flint arrow heads and stone axes and chisels that are fouud so plentifully from the Gulf to Isle Royal and from where "Cape Cod thrusts its Öandy sickle into the sea" to the Golden Gate. Aq interesting point made is that the flinty material out of which these weapons and tools weie formed is furnUhed alone by one county in Ohio. The Judge'g address was pronounced very interesting and instructive and many expressed a hope that he might faror us aain at no distant day. As a speaker liib manner is easy and as a writer hi style is clear, sharp, and decisive, whil rising at time to eloquence.