The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-21
WI ritIng.

|
The first method of presenting Thoughts
to the eye was the pictorial system. Thi,
mode Of writing is quito profusely given IL
tho Egyptian hicroglyphlcs. which Tho
priests employed In symbolical and ale
gorical manner. '"The eye, for instance
became symbol of Providence, the bird
al emblem of swiftness, the scaling ladder
representative of sicgc." Chanpolliou
Claims that the hieroglyphics are divisible
into three distinct classes, tho symbolic.
tho phonetic and figurative signs. It Is
unknown when picture writing was in.
vented. Some writers affirm that letters
came into use when the Authorizations of
pictorial signs became necessary as the
| system extended. For example, two
hands and bow took the place of IN
archer; Oh eye and sceptre signifed a
monarch. In time even these curtailed
signs were found TO be Inadequate to the
wants OF tho people In giving signs to
thoughts. Figures were employed 10 re-
present language and It's separate organic
clements. 1t Is unknown when alphabetic
or letter writing was first discovered. It
Is supposed that Moses was acquainted with
the art OF writing, which proves that It's
| existence was know at a very early period.
The Greeks and Romans asserted that the
| Ph@niclans were the inventors of letters,
Some attribute the invention of letters to
Moses, others believe that Abraham knew
the art OF writing, and we are also told by
some learned historians that Abel knew
! tho use Of letters The jewish Rabbi
say ''God created letters on tho evening of
the first Sabbath"
a very singular invention of q SYLLABLE
AlnhAhnf rni fa1 Of T..
who was ignorant of the English tongue
and could not read a word In any language
'Ihis poor savage succeeded in producing
IN 1924 an alphabet 80 complete that he
was able to write letter. Tho Chcrokces
were delighted, the youth of the band
travelled great distance 10 learn tho new
art OF writing and reading, which from the
pecuIlarity OF the alphabet and language
they could acquire in three days sufficiently
TO practice themselves and to teach others.
types Tor printing in this character have
been cast. The appearance of the Ian
guage thus printed B sngularly uncouth
and barharous.
Ihc invention OF marks for punctuation
Is ascribed to Aristophanes, the famous
arcek grammarlan. Authorizations of
words wero not made in ancient writing.
except upon coins and Inscriptions. There
are extant some remains of an ancient sys
tenn of writing In which all the Characters
arc formed by different combinations of
one simple element. No satisfactory
method OF Interpretation has ever been |
given of these writings. Of all books now |
in existence the writings of Moses and the ,
Book OF Job arc considered the most
ancient
The Mexlcans used the pictural method
OF writing. 1t is rotated that .sthcy an
prlscd their King, Montczuma, of the land
ing of the Spanards by means of a linen
cloth, Oh which this event was represented
" RaSs4Kafss Of foia oxiaaRb a btAefAs AetfAe IT s fl COT
umns, beginning at the bottom to read.
The Japanese and Chinese also write in
columns, but they read from the top, going
from the right to the left. The Germans
first wrote in the Latin characters; their
alphabet was not in general use until tho
thirteenth century, The 'monastic" alpha
let was used in Germany as carly as the
eleventh century. About the time of the
Roman conquest writing was first prac-
ticcd in Britain. The several forms OF
French writings derive their names from
the different races Of kings who have ruled |
that country.
The Greeks have ever manifested great |
enthusiasm III promoting knowledge. Tho |
first library that is known was collected by !
Pisistratus, who lived at Athens. King |
Attalus had a library that contained 200,-
900 books on rolls. The celebrated library
of Alexandria was founded by Ptolemy |
Philadelphus; it is said to have numbered
700, 600 volumes. 1t was destroyed in GAP
A. D. The first private library is sup-
posed to be the one founded by T.. Emil
lius, 1877 b. 9. The first public library
was founded by Asinius Pallio, IN the hail
of the Temple Of Liberty on Mount Aven-
tine Augustus founded the celebrated
library in the Temple of Apollo on Mount
Palatine. The Romans had several largo
private libraries. Tyannio, a native of
Pontus, who was taken prisoner by Lucul-
lus and brought to Rome as a slave, and
receiving his freedom. taught grammar
and rhetoric, investing much Of his carl-
ings in buying books, and is sad to have
collected library Of 10000 volumes.
Consantius established a public library Mt
Constantinople. Its contents increased
srom time to time to 100, 900 volumes. 1t
was destroyed by fire in A. d. ATT.