76 General Notes. 
on evidence and less on theory. Our arrangement is based on the 
vocabulary — the roots of words. We have not depended upon the 
structure of their language. Structure means only different grades 
or degrees in development. A single language in its different dia- 
lects may exhibit at one and the .same time both the highest and 
the lowest grade of structure or development. This is true of the 
Shoshonian. The language of some of the Indian tribes had a 
higher order of structure and a better grammar than had the 
EngUsh. The grammar of a language is born in barbarism. 
" An attempt has been made in the present day, by a German, to 
construct a new language, and its inventor or maker has declared 
his purpose to take the good things of all languages and put them 
together for his new language. Suppose a zoologist should attempt 
to construct a new animal, or a new species, upon the same line, 
and. for instance, for the extremities of the body, he takes the hoofs 
of the horse, the wing of the bird, the fin of the fish, and the hand 
of man, and uses them all in the construction of his new ani- 
mal because they all served a good purpose in the old. The result 
would be the same as in the new language, Volapiik — the conglom- 
erate monster of modern language." 
We have seen the Linguistic Map of North America prepared by 
Major Powell and his assistants. It is a great work, worthy all 
commendation. The science had need for it, and it could scarcely 
ever have been done by private enterprise. It was fit and proper 
that it should be done under Government patronage, and all credit 
is due to the men who have made it. 
In giving it this commendation, we do not at all assent to Major 
Powell's criticisms of other means of classification, and his laudation 
of language as the only correct or valuable one. 
His may be, or may not be, the best system for the classification 
of the modern North American Indian tribes, but certainly is not 
for the real prehistoric races, whether of the Western or Eastern 
Plemispheres. However much we may theorize concerning their 
means of communicating ideas to each other, we are absolutely with- 
out knowledge as to the language they employed. But we make no 
dispute with Major Powell. This work done by him has enough of 
good in it to receive our approval, without wasting our strength in 
disputing over his criticism of other methods. The truth is, that 
all systems, all means, all methods, of determining the differences 
between the various Indian tribes, and, perhaps, between all races 
of men, are necessary and important in establishing the true classifi- 
cation. We may not pin our faith to one alone, but may use all, 
getting from each whatever of good it may furnish. The other 
method of classification will continue to be used, and Time, the 
great leveller, will set all things right. We can afford to wait. 
APPROPRIATIOlSrS BY CONGRESS FOR THE U. S. NATIONAL MU- 
SEUM. — "England has become thoroughly aroused to the necessity 
