The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-08-01
HOW OLD ARE wEs

/ Il
dustry, edited by Theodore S. Case,
and published at Kansas City, Mis-
souri,, is most ciedltable to the taste
and intelligence of the people sustain
ing It, and infinitely more TO its con-
ductors. This number, for July, is
especially interesting TO students of
Mete orulogy, Geologyand Astronomy,
and every intelligent reader of current
literature will peruse with avidity the
article entitled "The Great Pyramid
and its Symbolisms" The author ad-
verting to difficulties incident to the
adoption of standard of weights and
measures, declares that the pyramidal
inch is best adapted of all others to
the purpose of an universal standard
for linear measurement. If this stand
ard be fixed that for liquids and weights
is easily deducted. A cubic foot of
distilled water becomes the standard
for all weights, and while the pyramid
exists these standards are change
less. One of the early British
kings declared that three aver
age barley corns should define an
inch, but the world soon discovered
that the vendor measured what he sold
by one and what he bought by another
half-bushel, and yet he never violated
the law. Therefore the absurd tables
in old school arithmetics beginning
"three barley corns make one ince,
twelve inches one foot" etc. The
sweep of pendulum of given length
was next sought to be made standard
of measure, but this wss found. to vary
IN different attitudes and with changes
of latitude and climate. The French
standard, curved arc in the heavens
"a superficial curved meter-is proven
to be inaccurate. Alexander 81. Ste
phens, discussing this subject before
Congress, proposed the adoption of the
hair standard; but since the distinguish
ed gentleman failed to tell us what
hairs he proposed to use and whether
curved or straight, and whether from
a maider's or mans head, the standard
remains infinitely indefinite and uncer-
tain. The pyJamidal inch is exactly
one five hundred millionth of the
earth's polar axis, and is thus based on
the most natural and most advanced
scientific principle approximating alb
solute perfection. 1t is now asserted
by most learned men that the great
pyramid was built in accordance with
these exact geometrical and arithme-
tical principles, that it might serve
purposes now proposed to be attained
by Alex. H. Stephens. Very certainly
it is located centrally in the very midst
of three continents, and at that point
on the globe which would be the
most convenient meeting place OF all
people of all nations. The writer for
the Re0ieW states that the Pyramid
monumentally commentaries the be-
ginning of the grand cycle of our solar
system around Alcyone, the brightest
of the Plelades. Around this sun of
our universe all its systems of suns and
worlds and comets revolve once in
25, S27 years, and to this star the apex
of the great pyramid points with abso-
lutte precision. We cannot reproduce
or condense all that is said by the Re
Uieoo, and have only to suggest that the
whole discussion tends to the conclu-
sion that the pyramid builders were
most accurately versed in astronomical
learning. We are almost persuaded
by the perusal of the Re0ieoo to give
credence to the marvellous stories deriv-
ed by Herodotus from Egyptian priests
who talked as confidently and famil-
iarly of events that occurred ten and
fifteen thousand years before their time
as do we of incidents that preceded
the late war between the States. Who
can measure earth's duration1 Who
can tell how long it has been inhab-
tied or what degree of civilization
earth's inhabitants attained even be-
fore the pyramids were upheaYed and
before the worlds gathered wisdom
was destroyed by the burning of the
Alexandrisn library