The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-07-07
From tie Scientific Amaerica's.
Old CiViliZatiOn---Layard'
Ninoych.

NkHOFSAe
Many shallow philosophers entertain
the notion that man commenced his exis-
tence as a wild savage of the woods, and
that his progress has been step by step
to his present elevated position in modern
civilization. No man entertaining such
/ opinions can retain them after reading
Layard' S Nineveh and Babylon, work
recently published in excellent style by
the great American house of Haper 4
Bros. Of this city. At time far anterior
to that of historical record, excepting
what we have in the Sacred Scriptures,
there were races living and dwelling in
Asia, who were highly civilized, and who
were acquainted with sculpture, architec-
ture, music, and civil policy; race who
built splendid palaces and adorned them
with some of the choicest works of art, of
kind which have been thought by many
to be but recently discovered. The saw,
the shovel, and the axe, instruments in
general use among all nations now, were
also used by the serfs of Nineveh and
Babylon; the speaking trumpet was even
known in those days. In the illustra-
tions of this book there is representa-
ton of the mode by which the ancient
Assyrians moved heavy bodies. A col
lossal winged bull is represented to have
been placed on sledge having rollers,
and drawn by great bodies of men pulling
ropes. Another body of men are repre-
sented as assisting with levers, and Mr..
Layard remarks that this was the plan
he employed himself to remove the same
piece of sculpture (Which is now in the
British Museum The old Ass yrians were
acquainted with making twisted rope, an
art of which their descendants are utterly
ignorant. The builders of the Assyrian
palaces employed large slabs of alabaster
on which are representations of captives
drawing these huge slabs, many of which
are believed to be the forefathers of the
present race of Jews. But however skill
full they may have been in moving large
stones, it would no doubt have done them
good had they been permitted to see how
US Yankees make frame houses travel
through our streets.
The inscriptions on alabaster slabs and
blocks, discovered by Layard, have been
translated by Col. Rawlinson and DR.,
Hincks, and corroborate the correct
ness of the bible, and what is very re-
markable, the translations of the stone
writing, agree exactly with the sacred text
in stating the amount of gold go talents)
taken by Senacherib, from Hezekiah,
King of Judea. \ chapter of intense
interest to men of science in this work,
describes the discovery of archcd drains,
vases, and kettles of copper; bronze bells,
bronze cups; ivory and mother-of-pearl
studs, fit for the shirt bosom of modern
beau; a bronze strainer, &C., in short, the
Assyrains appear to have been better ac-
quainted with the making of bronze YES
sells and figures than the moderns. Glass
bowls were also discovered, but what is
more interesting, is some picks and saws
made Of iron. This metal was long sup
posed to be unknown to the ancient Ash
atics. Among the glass articles discov-
cred was rock crystal lens, with opposite
convex and plane faces. 1t is the most
ancient specimen Of magnifying and
burning glass known.
We have long entertained the opinion
that savage races are blasted limbs torn
from the trunk of higher civilization, and
this book deepens our conviction respect
ing the correctness Of this theory, opposed
as it is to the jargon of a shallow, unphi
losophical, but declaiming sect of the
present day, but agreeing with every de-
duction that can be drawn from the re-
mains of ancient cities, roads, &C., found
in every part Of the world.