The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-07

tlCal C2lCulatlOn from Tue earUeSI tluleS, ouo
understood the philosophy of the mechanl-
cal powers.
After corr, flax was the chief crop, and
linen was made so 6ne that each single
thread OF a garment sent to Lindus. By
King Amasis. (6OO years B. Co. was COM
posed of 365 minor threads twisted together.
Not only vas linen spun, but it was dyed
and richly embroidered from the verJ earliest
times. Cutting, polishing and setting pre-
cious stones was done in excellent style by
Egyptian lapidaries. They mined successful
ly, and could temper steel. Naturalization
was an art. Sight-seers may, to-day eX-
anime the corpses OF men and women over
whom thousands of years have rolled with
out bringing them to corruption, or deprlv-
ing them of their human form. The pro-
cesses of embalming occupied three months
And the swathing of the embalned form
was so artistically executed that professional
bandagers of the present day are lost in ad-
miraton of its excellence. The strips OF
linen have been found extending to 1000 yards
in length. Nor was the successful picking OF
ancestors a chance discovery. The word
chemistry" comes from chen,i, and cheml
means Egypt; the science was rightly named
after the country.
The Egyptians never took kindly to ''the
sbriny," but when they did take to the
ocean, they did it to some purpose. A fleet
fitted out by Neco II was absent two years,
and did verify double the Cape Of Good
Hope. Glass they manufactured in all its
varieties. They understood the laws of'har-
mony, and played the Tyre, harp, flute, and
guitar, besides trumpet drum and GYM
bal The Spanish castanet had its origin
in Egypt. Medicine was assiduously stud
led. There were dentists and oculists,
doctor for digestion, a physician for the
brain. Every practitioner kept to his own
branch. OF the arts and sciences which the
Egyptians possessed in common with other
ancient peoples, it is not necessary to speak
here. They could Go all that their neigh
bors did, and very great deal more that
no other nation on the earth could then ac-
complisii-nay, they did some works which
have never been equalled in either ancient
or modern times.
Great and splendid as are the things
which ne know about oldest Egypt, she is
made thousand times more sublime by our
uncertainty as to the limits of her accom-
plishments. Under the soil are hid away
thousands OF relics which may astonish the
world for agest to come, and change co1tin-
ually its conception OF what Egypt was. Re-
search proves the objects OF it much older
than we thought them to be: something
thought to be wholly modern is proved to
be a repetition OF things Egyptian, and other
things, known to have beea Egyptian, are
carried back more and more towards the
very beginning Of things. She shakes our
most rooted ideas concerning the worlds
history There is spell over her still.
The cloud which covered Egypt began to
break at the beginning Of this century. And
when life and vigor and civilization shall
return what great results may be expected
to accompany them AS she looks back
with pride aud glory at what she was, the
hope OF what she may again is lively with
in her, and she can feei trust in herself
Her reviving ambition will feed upon the
mighty deeds OF old, and her sons will gain
strength from the knowledge OF the glorious
dead. Wien this spirit shall come upon
Egypt, then, perhaps, the world will truly
understand what the wisdom Of the Egyp-
tians was
For him who believes that his puny efforts
are tending to the establishment OF golden
age, aud leading the human race to per-
fection, there can be no corrective more
effectual than the study OF ancient Egypt.
From thence lie may learn the truth that
human knowledge aud human wisdom can
not perpetuate themselves. The glory OF
Egyp. came to naught. Progress was ar
rested during large span OF the worlds ex-
istence. And when we sum up what we
have gained and lost, the amount OF ad-
vancement since the days OF Moses is very
little, and that little due to q renaissance
in the last two or three centuries.
We have plenty Of Legitimate work to DO.
We are commissioned to subdue the earth,
not to determine its future. The earth is
not ours; nevertheless, we have Il great lield
for labor. Let US benefit, If we may, our
own generation and that which is to follow,
trusting to Providence to determine, whether
any part Of our work shall survive, whether
it shall perish utterly, or whether it shall lie
for millenr;ains under cloud ard live again
hereafter to race such US i: has moi enter
ed into our hearts to conceive.
for 5lts.
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