Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-10-24
Discoveries In Babylon,

Antiquarians Anticipate finding i'm
mense treasures of ancient literature in
the libraries of Babylon which are now
being discovered and await the spade of
the excavator. About two-thirds of the
Assyrian library of Assurbanipal, or
Sardanapalus, the son of Esarhadon.
has been secured, and is now in the
British Museum. The interest attached
to their study cannot fail to be great,
for by them We are brought into con-
tact with men and women who lived in
the days of old Hebrew kings ant.
prophets, and even, it is supposed, as
tar back as the patriarchs. BY patient,
diligent, and earnest band of scholars
these are being deciphered the variety
and extent of the information gained,
is at present very imperfectly known.
Strange to say, the literature of ancient
Assyria was in language distinct from
that spoken by the people, learned
language OF former times, understood
by the literary men of the age, like the
Latin of our own day. 1t is called the
Acadian tongue. Its study was imper,
alive on scholars, and acquired by the
help of lexicons and grammars. From
lectures recently delivered at the Royal
institution, by Rev. A. H. Saycc, we
gain some elementary knowledge of the
literature, which appears to have been
very varied in its character. The his
torical documents bring unexpected,
but most valuable evidence of the ac-
curacy of the Chronicles of the Old
Testament. The religious literature is,
of course, full of gross ,uperstitions,
but it is said that most of the mytho-
logical fables Of ancient Greece, such
as the labors OF Hercules, the lion of
Nemea, the bull of Crete, etc., are
found there already. The Sabbath of
the seventh day appears to have been
observed with great strictness even
the monarch was forbidden to eat cooked
meat, change his clothes, take medi-
cine, or drive his chariot on that day.
There are some astronomical observa-
tions which show considerable research,
as, for example, one which speaks of
spots on the sun. As Sir Fl. Layard
once found a crystal lens in the ruins of
| Nineveh, it is probable that some rude
form of modern instruments was
known. Not the least singular discov-
cry is catalogue, compiled four thou
sand years ago, which directs the per-
son wishing to consult any book to
search ont and write down the number
and hand it in to the librarian.
Doesn't WANT TO BECOME BAD Boy.
"A bright-looking boy, twelve years
old, who said his name was Tommy
McEvoy, went alone into Jefferson
Market Police Court last evening and
said to Justice Morgan: Judge, your
Honor, want to give myself up"
"Why, my boy?" asked the court.
Because" replied the lad, ~ hain't
got no home and don't want to live in
the street and become o bad boy"
"Why don't you stay at home?" amt
got no home. Fathers been dead nine
years, and mother died before that"
But where have you been living since?"
with my aunt. She lives in Forty
first street. But she gets drunk. And
she won't let me stay indoors. To-day
she chased me out and said if l ever
came back she would do something
awful to me. I'm afraid of her, and so
I've got no home. Nobody will take
me in because I amt got good clothes
and don't look nice. can't get any
work, and I can't get anything to eat
unless beg or steal it. Then the cops
IL take me in. I don't want to get ar
rested. don't want to steal, nor to be
bad boy. Won't you please send me
somewhere where can learn something
and get to be man? There's places
like that, amt there? The Justice
told the boy there were such places for
good boys, and taking the little fellow
under his protection, promised to find
him home in some good institution
N. Y. Times.
WEEDS IN Roof CRoPs.-The great
drawback in raising such roots as tur.
nips, beets, carrots, &C., is the labor of
clearing out the weeds in the rows. Too
many have permitted them to grow
several inches, reducing the crop and
greatly multiplying the labor. Hence
the importance of thoroughly clean
ground. Those who intend to plant
crops that require putting in early, will
have to take such land as they have
already prepared; but for turnips, the
soil may be repeatedly stirred with
plough and harrow for several weeks to
come, destroying many of the young
weeds as fast as they reach the surface;
and this will afford a good opportunity
to apply and intermix manure. The
labor thus expended in destroying
weeds will be repaid in the fine con.
dition which is given to the ground
Country Gentleman.
Subduing and Avoiding Fever and |
Ague.
Of all chronic diseases, fever and ague is |
perhaps the least conquerable by the ordi- |
nary resources of medicine. There is, how
ever, remedy which completely roots it out
OF the system in any and all its various
phases. This celebrated anti-periodic is
vegetable in composition, and is not only
efficacious, but perfectly safe, thing that
cannot be predicated with truth of quinine.
Hostetter's Stomach Bitters is, besides, a !.
most efficient means of defense against ma.
laria, as it endows the physique with an