20 



untrustworthy evidence and his apparent distortion of the view of geol- 

 ogists is a simple enthusiast, A GULL rather than a VULTURE ; 

 but it is due to scientific truth to point out EVIDENTLY INTEN- 

 TIONAL DECEPTION on the title page. The imposing list of titles 

 which the author appends to his name conveys the impression that he is a 

 geologist rather than a theologian, which is misleading ; that he is a pro- 

 fessor of geology, (U) which is not true ; and that he is an "assistant on 

 the United States Geological Survey," which is SHEER MENDACITY 

 and THEFT OF REPUTATION. (V) The character of the book is indi- 

 cated by the many errors and misstatements; the character of the 

 author must be gathered from the inherent evidence of his incompe- 

 tence, the scores of misleading statements, and the apparently DELIB- 

 ERATE FALSIFICATION of facts on his title page. 



IV. 



The two treatises have much in common ; both represent the work of 

 the HARPIES by which the work-shops and market-places of science 

 are haunted, both are misleadingand pernicious, and both handicap 

 science and hinder the progress of knowledge. Yet there are differ- 

 ences between them: Doughty 's work is confessedly extra-scientific, 

 or infra scientific, and hence will receive little attention outside of the 

 few ill-trained collectors of fantastic objects into whose hands it may fall; 

 while Wright's work represents a stage of science, albeit a primitive 

 stage, and will thus find more frequent readers and work the greater 

 injury. Again, Doughty's pamphlet is privately printed and thus 

 bears the impress of Gilead, while Wright's book is issued by a reputa- 

 ble house as one of an international scientific series, whereby its malefi- 

 cence is multiplied. Furthermore, Doughty's conclusions are disproved 

 by their absurdity ; but some of Wright's conclusions are not a 

 priori absurd, and their falsity can only be shown by geologists and 

 anthropologists, whom it behooves to caution laymen and learners against 

 the man and the book. Doughty is a simple-hearted quack whose bread- 

 pills but tickle the fancy of weakling dupes; Wright is a BETINSELED 

 CHARLATAN whose POTIONS ARE POISON. Would that science 

 might be well rid of such HARPIES, especially the latter ! 



(Note U) Mr. McGee mislaid his glasses again. The title page reads: 

 "Professor in Oberlin Theological Seminary," not Geological Seminary. 



(Note V) Large words again. The preface is dated May 1, 1892. The 

 book was fully printed in June. Professor Wright's official connection 

 with the United States was ended by the following letter : 



"General Record United States Geological Survey, Office of the 

 Director, No. 1379, July 11, 1892. - 



