Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-13

an art now lost. They could reduce gold TO
powder, one Of the most difficult expc riments
in chemistry. They could gild with great
perfection. Glass was extensively used, so
was porcelain. Specimens Of both are to be
seen in the British Museum. They could
initiate the amethyst and other gems in
glass. In the temple OF Jupiter Ammon,
there was an obelisk sixty feet high, of eme-
raid, according to Pliny; in reality Of glass,
stained in imitation of emerald.
From facts like these made known to us,
not in the obscure intimations Of facts, but
revealed by their own monuments, now
yielding to modern research, treasures Of
knowledge, which for thousands Of years had
bee n buried in silence aud forgetfulness, we
learn that Egypt was not only acquainted
with pure science and mechanics, but had
arrived at high degree of refinement.
Many Of the arts Of social and refined life
that we think peculiar to ourselves, were not
only known to them, but sometimes cultivat-
ed with skill that We cannot surpass.
That great progress should be made in the
handicraft trades, both by Egypt and India,
is not surprising, when we remember the
peculiar institutions of these countries which
assigned, not merely particular employments
to the different castles, but made certain trades
and professions hereditary in particular fami-
lies. The whole attention and experience Of
each one had especial reference to that depart
ment which was exclusively his, and which
he was to transmit to his offspring. I'm
provement and skill must necessarily be the
result of this In dyeing, in he production
of the needle and loom. as well as in the art
of working metals, they attained great per.
fection. But when we have mentioned this,
we have mentioned nearly all the good effects
that could flow from such a system. The
division into castes might secure skill in
execution, but would damp enterprise, crush
the efforts of individual genius, keep their
institutions permanent, and hinder inter-
course with foreign nations. 1t would ever
be an obstacle to great national refinement,
and we may safely say, that it was forever
impossible for any nation, when the blight
ing influence of such an institution prevailed
to attain the position Of a great free, and
enlightened people. 1t was probably owing
to this, as much as any other cause, that
Egypt, early and advanced as her civiliza-
ton was, exerted o much less permanent
influence on other nations than many smaller
countries After the time of Sesostris, until
COO B. c., she had but little intercourse with
foreign nations. Had she remained in ex-
istence still, uninvaded by foreign conquer
ors, and observing The same policy, she would
have made as little advance, as in the same
time, has been made by India, China, or
Japan.
Such were the earliest centres of civiliza-
tion, India and Egypt. Such praise as We
have given them, is their due. Barbarism
now covers most Of their early enlighten-
mcnt. Their ancient glory is gone. 1t was
confined, aud Of necessity must have been
so. A new race more vigorous and enter
prising-in which the noble elements of
humanity are more eveloped-succeeds and
takes the lead in social and scientific refine
ment. We regard them with interest with
veueration, for they were people, highly
gifted, refined and who felt the varied i'm
pulses of life, acted and were renowned when
the history of other great nations was lost
in the dim twilight of remote obscurity.
But if we regard them with interest, it is not
without certain feeling of awe. Tous they
are cold and gloomy-too exclusive and ar
tical in their arrangement for our sym
pathy-too far removed from us in time, in
disposition in habits of life for our affections.
We turn from them, without reluctance, to
contemplate another people, next to Egypt,
in the history of civilization, and superior to
her in its extent--a people with whose
genius and manner of life we can better
sympathize, and to whose scientific culture
we are most indebted. w.