x PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. 



a treatise on the whole subject of the Glacial period ; for, 

 with the vast field open for investigation on this continent 

 and the amount of attention recently given to its explo- 

 ration, North America is now by far the most favorable 

 place from which to approach the study of ice-action and 

 ice periods. 



The last chapters of the volume treat of man's relation 

 to the Ice age on this continent ; and I need not disguise 

 the fact that the bearing of the discoveries upon this ques- 

 tion has all along given zest to my investigations. The 

 facts with regard to this subject also are now so far in 

 hand that they can be properly discussed in a treatise de- 

 signed in part for the general public. 



While presenting as fully as is necessary the evidence of 

 man's occupancy of the continent during the great Ice age, 

 and while accepting this as necessitating a considerable 

 extension of man's antiquity as usually estimated, I have 

 not felt called upon in the present discussion to say any- 

 thing about the method of reconciling this fact with the 

 chronology of the human race supposed to be given in the 

 sacred Scriptures ; for I have elsewhere (in my " Studies 

 in Science and Keligion," W. F. Draper, Andover, 1882, 

 and " Divine Authority of the Bible," Congregational Pub- 

 lication Society, Boston, 1884) said all that it seems at 

 present necessary for me to say upon this point. I will 

 only remark here that I see no reason why these views 

 should seriously disturb the religious faith of any believer 

 in the inspiration of the Bible. At all events, it is incum- 

 bent on us to welcome the truth, from whatever source it 

 may come. 



G. Frederick Wright. 



Oberlin, Ohio, April 15, 1889. 



