1885.] Editors’ Table. Cor; 
tion that the Indians had a more familiar knowledge of copper 
than merely as a material, ready-wrought, which they could only 
procure through barter with far distant tribes. 
There is yet another feature which should be briefly dwelt 
upon. Among the fragments, so-called, of hammered copper, are 
several which have every appearance of being unfinished objects. 
One is, I think, intended for a finger ring, such as those from 
Ohio, described by Professor Putnam ; and another strongly sug- 
gests those curious large ear-rings of which that author found so 
many specimens in recent mound explorations. 
It would appear, then, from an examination of the copper 
objects found in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, that the weight 
of probability is strongly in favor of their home manufacture ; 
and the similarity of the forms to those taken from areas where 
mounds occur is another fact in favor of the rapidly growing im- 
pression that the builders of these earth-works and the Indians 
of the coast were essentially one people. 
——:0:—— 
EDITORS’ TABLE. 
EDITORS: A. S. PACKARD AND E. D. COPE. 
Just and courageous criticism is necessary to the main- 
tenance of excellence in all departments of human activity. An 
indisposition to submit to it on the one hand and a fear to exer- 
cise it on the other, are sure indications of the weakness or 
decay of an important element of character. Even unfair criti- 
cism, bad though it be, is better than none, as it gives indication 
of life, and is sure to be itself corrected in the end. The 
attempt to suppress criticism is an unwise proceeding, which will 
react on its authors. It is better to “ make a clean breast,” if 
need be; and if facts do not require it, this also can be made 
plain. The force of just criticism is not weakened by suppression, 
but is rather increased in energy; while the expression of it 
draws the fire and silences the gun of the critic. It is a great 
error to confound criticism on behalf of the truth with personal 
hostility, yet it is an error by no means rare. To occupy a per- 
fectly judicial attitude towards our own productions requires 
some moral elevation, which all men do not attain to. Unjust 
criticism, indeed, is ground for complaint against the critic. 
