A Pre-Columbian Dinner 157 



we have an inkling of Indian history. The 

 soil, as we dig a little deeper, is almost black 

 with charcoal-dust, and it is evident that 

 centuries ago the Indians were content to 

 dwell here, and well they might be. Even 

 in colonial days the place had merit, and es- 

 caped not the eager eyes of Penn's grasping 

 followers. It was meadow then, and not 

 fitted for his house, but the white man built 

 his barn above the ruins of his dusky prede- 

 cessor's home. All trace of human habita- 

 tion is now gone, but the words of the ge- 

 ologist kept ringing in my ears, and of late 

 I have been digging. It is a little strange 

 that so few traces of the white man are found 

 as compared with relics of the Indian. From 

 the barn that once stood here and was long 

 ago destroyed by a flood one might expeft to 

 find at least a rusty nail. 



The ground held nothing telling of a re- 

 cent past, but was eloquent of the long ago. 

 Dull indeed must be the imagination that 

 cannot recall what has been here brought 

 to light by the aid of such an implement 

 as the spade. Not only were the bow and 

 spear proved to be the common weapons 

 of the time, but there were in even greater 

 '4 



