208 youmal of American Folk-Lore.
of the present century at least, the accounts of the fall of stones from the sky have been treated by modern civilized peoples. They have generally refused to believe that stones could fall from the sky, and have echoed the remark of President Jefferson when told that Professors Silliman and Kingsley, of Yale, had described a shower of stones as having taken place at Weston, Conn. " They may be right," he said, " but it is easier for me to believe that two Yankee professors would lie than to believe that stones would fall from heaven."
The true mental attitude is undoubtedly to be found between the two extremes thus indicated. While the intelligent man no longer regards the stone as a god, he is convinced that it is a messenger from space, a patient and even reverential study of which will dis- close to him not a few of the secrets of the universe.
Oliver C. Farrington.
Field Columbian Museum, Chicago, III.
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