The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-10-20
LIGHT IN EGYPT.

No country in the world presents SO inter-
esting spectacle as Egypt, at this time
The ancient "dry-nurse of lions" has been
for thousand years almost as dead, with
cred, and dry, as the mummies Of her ancient
philosophers and heroes. Her civilization
runs back 80 far in the dim past, that scarce
any two chronologists have agreed upon the
measurements of time-some Of them differ
ing by thousands of years. 1t is remarka-
bic fact, that the light Of her civilization
does not grow dim, but on the contrary is
found to brighten as the explorer of the past
goes further and further into the remote
ages. Egypt is very long arch in the
bridge which reaches back over the abysses
of ignorance and savagery, from the present
to the enlightenment of the primitive man.
She gave civilization to Assyria, letters to
Phenicia, taught Greece her alphabet, and
trained her in science and philosophy. Even
the chosen people were four hundred years
in her school; and Moses, the lawgiver, was
providentially prepared for his mission by
her profound instructors. In arms she was
scarcely less renowned than in arts. The
nations of all the East, from Ethiopia, far
south at the sources of the Nile, to the no
madic tribes of Central Asia, acknowledged
her sway, and brought gifts to her temples
Her libraries and her learning were the glory
of the ancient world. Her monuments are
the world wonders of to-day.
Cleopatra's gallery was death in setting
of gold and gems and bewitching beauty
death not only for that brilliant queen and
Anthony, but also for Egypt. There is a
lesson in the fact that with the close of that
splendid but licentious pageant the power
and influence of Egypt departed to return no
more fer near two thousand years. Her
children and pupils have grown up into great
nations and died the death of nations. Her
children of the third aud fourth generation
of nations now dominate the woodland it
is not strange that they look with great sur
prise to see the ancient, hoary, wriDkled
mother, reviving. Egypt cast her bread on
all waters After so many long ages she
gathers it again. Strange spectacle it is in
deed.
Ismail, the present Khedive, is the har-
vester-the usurer, we might say. He is
bringing in the civilization loaned SO long
ago, increased a thousand fold. He learns
from it to strike down slavery and the slave
trade; to abolish polygamy; to educate and
exalt woman; to establish the benign insti-
tuition of common schools; to put intelligence
and intellectual education behind his new
breech loading rifles, in the heart and head
of every soldier to put religious intolerance
under guard-as the ferocious and cruel spirit
that it is; to make proficiency in mathema-
tics, languages, and philosophy, large ele-.
ment in the tests for promotion in his army.
Even the field laborers and domestic drudges
of his own race are reached by this energetic
monarch, with the purpose of giving them
education. The ignorant Mohammedan
priests have as completely lost control of ed.
ucation in Egypt, as the bigoted Catholic
priests have lost it in Germany. Indeed,
Ismail led Bismarck in this essential reform.
In the scale of civilization, Egypt already
ranks with Spain; and will soon outrank her
as military power.
All this is the result of the enlightened
will of one absolute monarch. There was
scarcely trace of the new enterprise in
his predecessor, Mehemet Ali. The il qury
will naturally arise whether the handspring
of Egyptian progress, wrapped up in the
frail enclosures of human life, will not fail
when that life fails, and the people fall back
again into their long lethargy. There are
several reasons for hoping better things. The
son and heir of Ismail is as enlightened,
and progressive as his father. He
is enthusiastic in the work of education, CIV
ing much of his time and abundance of his
money in the maintenance Of schools in the
villages which belong to his estates. The
schools established by the prince, and which
be personally inspects, are in progress of
extension beyond book learning to practical
agriculture and the mechanic arts
But more permanent ground of hope for
the future of Egypt lies in the character of
the people. The Arabs have always been,
50 far as they had opportunity, persistent
students. The ancient spirit of the Ptole'
mics has long been hidden-the spark smoul-
1ering under the ashes-but never quenched
Under the new conditions it is bright and
vigorous once more. The Egyptians are as
agile on Pegasus as they are on their blood
ed Arabians. Having taste of learning
they will not renounce its pleasures, if they
can help themselves. Having the inspira.
ion of the knowledge that they are fairly
n the race with other nations, for the goal
If civilization, they will not readily abandon
t. Besides this, the idea is quietly but ef-
'ectively being fostered that the capitol of
he Ottoman Empire properly belongs on
he Nile, rather than on the Bosphorus;
md the leading minds have discovered that
he road to modern empire lies through the
chool-room.
There is everything in the history and |