Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-03-18
SKILL OF THE ANCiEN,fsf
IN THE MECHANIC ARTS.

The pyramids of Egypt were SO strong that no
earthquake has rent them, and the earth itself
would probably part asunder ere these piles
could De removed. BY what combination of the
m, arts We're those pyramids erected p
The lever and the pulley must fold their arms in
suspense Where, then, the machinery that
raised these immense piles?
Ventilation, with US, is of exceedingly modern
invention but the ancients knew and applied
he principles of ventilation. On the tops of
The large ton1bs in the East, small holes or aper-
lures were noticed by travellers, but without
Knowing their use. Impressed with an idea
that these apertures might possibly connect with
the interior OF the tombs, and to test the fact, a
cat and kittens were procured the cat was
placed upon the top, and her kittens within the
tomb, and lett there. In the morning they were
Notwithstanding concusively the existence OF
ventllatlng aperture through the tombs, but OF
such zig-zag nature that storms or change of
weather could not affect the interior
The properties OF Steam, and its application
10 the purpose OF navigation we have reason to
belleye, were not unknown to the ancient ship
builders. 10 them, also were the advantages
OF canals known; and in the valley of Goshen,
where the Jews dwelt in Egypt, an extensive
canal was made, with locks, &c, and used for
mercantile and mail-ships 1t was broad e.
nough to admit two ships of war TO pass through
abreast. 1t reached over many miles of country,
and appears, from the accounts of travellers. TO
have been supplied with locks or gates that
would open and shut as do those in canals of our
own day.
Railroads were known among the ancients,
tome, Athens, and many of the largest cities OF
ancient date, were built back several miles from
the sea-coast. This was to secure tho inhabi.
tantsstrom plumber, as their women, their chill
dren, and their furniture would otherwise have
been carried oft by pirates and slave-dealers.-
10 gain access to these railroads were adopted
hese roads we are informed, were laid with
squares OF granite, in which were grooves filed
with iron. The Pyramids of Egypt exhausted
many quaries in their erection and this i'm
mense quantity OF stone was transl orte} from the
quarrles to the Pyramids by railroads construct
ed Tor the purpose. Stephens in his "Travels.u
records the discovery of ancient railroads in
Mexico, similarly constructed, on granite blocks,
but without the aid OF iron. Animal magnet
Ism, we have reason to infer from their hierogy-
phlcs, was known and practiced among the
ancients
The delicacy of ancient workmanship is re-
markable. Their clothes, and the texture of the
dresses worn by ladies', are spoken Of in terlnS
OF surprise. So fine are some of their fabrics,
That the women are described as arrayed on
certain occasions, in dresses of woven wintsn
A princess was brought before her father for be-
ing indecently covered, when she informed him
that shs had on seven garments. Their muslins
were extremely DELEGATE. In Hindos,an, when
tirsi visited by the English, the natives were in
the habit OF manufacturing their finest fabrics
under ground SO that no connection might be
given to the air, and it would blow their man
ufactures, and impede the progress of the female
operators. Our finest Lowell manufactures have
100 threads of warp to the square inch, and 14o
OF hlilng: theirs have $40 threads of warp, and
an equal proportion of filling to the inch.