THE CARDIFF GIANT- 1869-1870 469 



the surface, an enormous figure, apparently of Onon- 

 daga gray limestone. It was a stone giant, with massive 

 features, the whole body nude, the limbs contracted as 

 if in agony. It had a color as if it had lain long in the 

 earth, and over its surface were minute punctures, like 

 pores. An especial appearance of great age was given 

 it by deep grooves and channels in its under side, ap 

 parently worn by the water which flowed in streams 

 through the earth and along the rock on which the figure 

 rested. Lying in its grave, with the subdued light from 

 the roof of the tent falling upon it, and with the limbs 

 contorted as if in a death struggle, it produced a most 

 weird effect. An air of great solemnity pervaded the 

 place. Visitors hardly spoke above a whisper. 



Coming out, I asked some questions, and was told that 

 the farmer who lived there had discovered the figure 

 when digging a well. Being asked my opinion, my an 

 swer was that the whole matter was undoubtedly a hoax ; 

 that there was no reason why the farmer should dig a 

 well in the spot where the figure was found ; that it was 

 convenient neither to the house nor to the barn; that 

 there was already a good spring and a stream of water 

 running conveniently to both ; that, as to the figure itself, 

 it certainly could not have been carved by any prehistoric 

 race, since no part of it showed the characteristics of any 

 such early work; that, rude as it was, it betrayed the 

 qualities of a modern performance of a low order. 



Nor could it be a fossilized human being; in this all 

 scientific observers of any note agreed. There was ample 

 evidence, to one who had seen much sculpture, that it 

 was carved, and that the man who carved it, though by 

 no means possessed of genius or talent, had seen casts, 

 engravings, or photographs of noted sculptures. The 

 figure, in size, in massiveness, in the drawing up of the 

 limbs, and in its roughened surface, vaguely reminded 

 one of Michelangelo s Night and Morning. Of course, 

 the difference between this crude figure and those great 

 Medicean statues was infinite; and yet it seemed to me 



