NONSENSE ABOUT SKULLS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 16, 6 May 1925, Page 19

NONSENSE ABOUT SKULLS.

To the Editor.

'& Sir,—Under the above heading in your . issue of .March 11, you make reference to the | ? Rhodesian skull, about which Sir Arthur :# Keith recently lectured. If Sir Arthur believes this skull to be between 100,000 and *| 200,000 years old what is there to prevent -diim? We live in a free Empire! What he ..' is reported to have said previously that the Moustejian skull was the oldest in ,existence : :4 —namely, 350,000 years —proves nothing on ".. your-,part. You are, apparently, not versed in these matters. What is a mere difference • of 150,000. years in dealing with immensity ? . Nothing L'V ; The; mistake only shows that a 'course |S|tHe fourth standard would benefit Sir Arthur. Then why worry? Now, listen, .please, while I reveal to you my wonderful discovery, my very own. Recently while ; delving in my garden (an unusual practice on my part), I unearthed a skull. I believe it to be of an age consistent with the "Goril-liamus-Humbugiuspre-Adamite period." I .estimate it, by certain methods known only vtp the initiated, to be at least 1,000,000 years old. Thus. I go further back in years than the finder of. any other skull produced to date. Imagination pales before the wonders .and romance I could build up round and "about the edifice of my "find." In the meantime I forbear, for which thoughtfulness on my part be you truly thankful: this will •■_, Come later on when I bring the matter officially under the notice of my brother scien']tists. ; At present I am taking no risks: I iy\ do not intend, for instance, to show it to the local butcher. This gentleman does not, as far :; as I know, think imperially, nor does he golin for "plain living" and high thinking, and there is just a chance of his calling -Jmy "find" a,sheep's head. He having, also, < ■ I no knowledge of "high research," much canv | not bc?expected from him. Others might call lit a piece of stone shaped curiously. But lif there are such envious people about let . | them go and find a skull for themselves, and /■'; beat lftin'e if they can. With regard to the s' I remarks of Dean Inge that "religion must :, fall into step with science," do not take us I (scientists) too seriously. We are odd fish. .. Though we love to pose as "learned and clever," many of us do not know the differ- "• i'ence between Neo and a wheelbarrow, nor of the newly discovered electron from a wire- '■. less receiving set. In the meantime I must j conclude and hurry to my research work. If '':. I find the "missing link" or the "lost chord" •. I will advise you in due course.—l am, etc., ; I <n ' —"Goeilliamus." 1 Port Chalmers, 2/4/25. ■ : ■ . . . , ■ i,