240 The Book of Woodcraft 



"S" was a serpent hissing. It is but little changed to- 

 day. 



We may also record our Sign Language in picture-writing, 

 as was the custom of many Indian tribes, and we shall find 

 it worth while for several reasons: It is the Indian special 

 writing; it is picturesque and useful for decoration; and it 

 can be read by any Indian no matter what language he 



SOMB. lN0\f\N3cQVT PlCT0OKAPH5 



^^ ,..^-..^ ^^, ^ ^ 



SunrJie cn< J(/n ordaj sTnTTTu Moon orTnchH. fj,^^ 



speaks. Indeed, I think it probable that a pictograph 

 inscription dug up 10,000 years from now would be read, 

 whether our language was understood or not. When the 

 French Government set up the ObeHsk of Luxor in Paris and 

 wished to inscribe it for all time, they made the record, not 

 in French or Latin, but in pictographs. 



tuma 



^ <^ ;^ f A 



Tnootv 



u3 





knitKer iecVfr 

 (Nt.w'ioTK) 



■(}■ ■<^ -fy <?■ t^-0 



(vndtr /i«»e« - 



T"'clkY I \J^h.r g-*darl y^roi vvt wifh / Jna<(e 1 to tait | ^ fAXi/- 



•Kt-raiil 



/- 7. *■*««, v. 



It is, moreover, part of my method to take the boy through 

 the stages of our race development, just as the young bird 

 must run for a send-off, before it flies, so pictography being 

 its earliest form is the natural first step to writing. 



