254 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 
hitherto described as animal figures or designs derived from animal figures 
are in fact conventionalized fish forms. 
The theory underlying the explanation is really that of art progression 
by degeneration, first promulgated in 1879 by Professor Putnam, who said: 
“In the course of time, as art attained increased power of expression, 
it progressed beyond mere realism and led to the representation of an object 
by certain conventional characters without that close adherence to nature 
which was at first necessary to a clear understanding of the idea intended to 
be conveyed. Thus conventionalism began. Side by side with this con- 
ventional representation of objects are found realistic forms; conservatism 
which is such a strong characteristic of primitive peoples leading to both 
methods of expression at the same time.” 
Mr. Mead is the first to make the application of the theory to the evolu- 
tion of mummy cloth designs; and he makes his point very clear. He has 
had unusual opportunity for study in the Museum. He has held under 
his charge for many years the Peruvian mummy cloths, which, if we except 
those of Berlin, form the world’s largest collection. The collection is not 
wholly known, in fact, because many mummy bundles have never been 
opened, but still hold secret their fabrics of softened color and symbolic 
design. 
AN INDIAN WHO HELPED THE MUSEUM 
By Clark Wissler 
OT so very long ago there came to us the simple message that one of 
our Indian friends had set out from his tipi expecting to take a 
brief journey and had taken the long one that ended in the Beyond, 
the Sand Hills of his people. But a few days before there had arrived at 
the Museum marked as a gift to the writer a package containing a few 
specimens and carefully wrapped to themselves a few ordinary trinkets. 
The contrast between this token and those usually received, for there had 
been many, might have warned us had not our senses been deadened to the 
signs of his people. So his last message remains unanswered. It seems 
fitting, however, that some formal acknowledgment of his services to this 
Museum should be made. It was chiefly through him that the important 
medicine bundles in the Plains Indian collections were received, objects 
no white man should handle, much less own, and certainly not expose to 
public view. This collection, then, in so far as it represents the Blackfoot 
Indians is a memorial to him. 
He was a priest, a medicine man of the old type, almost the last his 
race holds. He was born some eighty years ago into the Piegan division 
