ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. XXXI 
solving into idle tales, led to the origin of a new philosophic 
method. The men of that day supposed that the truth is in the 
word, and that a verbal explanation could be constructed ; that the 
philosophy of the universe could be based on language; and to 
them verbal statement was explanation, final and absolute, and be- 
ing was but ideal. 
But metaphysic philosophy was displaced by the increase of 
knowledge—the development of scientific philosophy. In this sys- 
tem the phenomena of co-existence and sequence are objectively 
discerned and classified. 
This bare statement of the three methods can be made more lucid 
by an illustration. Unsupported bodies above the earth fall, and 
such phenomena are seen so often as to challenge every man’s atten- 
tion. Early man, whose mind was controlled by mythic opinions, 
subjectively knew that if he wished to move a body he must push 
or pull it, and to him there was no other method of originating 
motion. 
Some years ago I was with a small body of Wintun Indians on 
Pitt River, the chief tributary of the Sacramento, engaged in the 
study of mythology. I had gone among the rocks for the purpose 
of awakening echoes, that I might elicit from my dusky philosophers 
an explanation thereof. Unexpectedly I fell upon an explanation 
of gravity. We had climbed a high crag, and I sat at the summit 
of the cliff with my feet overhanging the brink. An Indian near 
me, who could speak but imperfect English, seemed solicitous for 
my safety, and said: “ You better get out; hollow pull you down.” 
I had previously been intent on watching the operations of his mind 
for the purpose above mentioned, and this expression seemed to me 
strange; and it started a line of investigation which I eagerly pur- 
sued. I soon discovered that he interpreted the fall of bodies by 
purely subjective analogies. He who stands on a rock but slightly 
elevated above the earth feels no fear, but if standing a thousand 
feet above the base of the cliff, he attempts to look over, fear curdles 
his blood, and he seems to be pulled over. As he climbs a lofty 
pine, at every increase of altitude there is an increase of fear, and 
he seems to be pulled down by a stronger force. When he rests 
upon the solid earth he feels no “ pull,” but when elevated above it 
he interprets. his subjective feelings as an objective pull. Vacuity 
is personified and believed to be an actor. 
In the early winter of 1882 I was with a party of Indians in the 
