The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-03-27

lie pyramids OF LgypL were SO sIOng tnat
no earthquake has rent them, and the earth it
self would probably part asundcr ere those piles
could be moved. By what combination of the
mechanic arts were those pyramids erected?
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
the principles Of ventlation On the tops ofthe
large tombs in the East, small holes or apertures
were noticed by travellers, but without knowing
their use. Impressed with idea that these
apertures might possibly connect with the inte-
rior of the tombs, and to test the fact, 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 together
showing conclusvcly the existence ola ven
tllating aperture through the tombs, but of such
zg-zag nature that storms or change of weather
could not affect the interior.
The properties of Steam, and its application to
the purposes of navi CATION, we have reason to
believe, were not unknown to the ancient ship
builders. To 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 mai-shps. 1t was broad e.
nough to admit two ships of war to pass through
abreast. ltreached over many miles Of country,
and appears, from the accounts of travellers, to
have been supplied with locks gates that
would open and shut as do those in canals of our
own day.
Railroads were known among the ancients,
Rome, Athens, and many of the largest cities of
ancient date, were built several mics from the
sea-coast. This was to secure the inhabitants
from plumber, as their women, their children,
and their furniture would othcrwise5Ihave been
carried off by pirates and slave-dealcrs. To
gain access to these, railroads were adopted.
These roads we Informed, were laid with
squares of granite, in which were grooves filled
with iron. The Pyramids of Egypt exhausted
many quarries in their erection, and this i'm
mense quantity Of stone was transported from the
quares to the Pyramids by railroads constructed
for the purpose. Stephens in his ssTravels, -
records the discovery of ancient railroads in
Mexico, similarly constructed, on granite blocks,
but without the aid of iron. Animal ma gnetsm,
we have reason to infer from their hierogly-
phcs, 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 terms
of surprise. So fine are some of their fabrics
that the women are described as arrayed, on
certain occasions, in ''dresses Of woven winds. y
A princess was brought before her father for be
ing indecently covered, when she informed hin,
that she had on seven garments. Their muslins
were extremely delicate. In Hindostan, when
first visited by the English, the natives were in
the habit of manufacturing their fine st frbries
under ground, So that no commoton might be
given to their air, and it would blow their man.
ufactures, and impede the PROCESS of the female
operators. Our finest Lowell manufactures have
100 threads of wrap to the square inch, and lao
Of filling theirs have $40 threads of wrap, and
an equal proportion Of filling to the inch.
Mrs Darlington, while visiting the Museum
the other day, on looking among the old revolu-
tionary swords and Scottish claymours, asked
the superintendent if he had among his famous
cutlery the 'sazc OF the Apostles.
"What censorious liar exclaimed old Mrs,
Darlington, as she read in certain paper an ac-
count of new counterfeit which was said te
csntan three women and bust of Washn gton
on each each end-"What'' said she, "Gen.
Washington on bust; is not So, and the old
lady lifted up her spesks and declared she had
known the old gentleman far tina last thirty
years, and she never heard of his being on bust
much less with three acomen