Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-12-26
A STRIKE IN ANCIENT DAYS.
How Egyptian Workmen were Driven to
Revolt.

ItSSUtts
When strikes are so common in Eu.
rope and America. it will be Interest,"
ing to consider how the ancient Eyyp-
tians managed such u crisis in the
labor question. 1t vas supposed that
strikes were IN original outcome to
our modcrn civilizations; but the de-
ciphering of a papyrus in the Museum
Of Turin shows how the old proverb
that there is nothing new under the
SUI applies to strikes as we'll as to
many other things. This papyrus,
which is a sort of journal or day-book
of the superintendent of the Thebes
metropolis. furnishes curious details Of
a workmeu's riot or disturbances in
Ihcbes, in the twenty-ninth year of u
King Ranses, who is supposed to be
Ramses Ill. The workmen's quarter
sent a Reputation on the 2Sth Of De-
cember. to Hatnckin. the keeper of
books, and to several priests of the
metropolis. The speaker OF the depu-
tation spoke as follows:
"Beiold. We are face 10 face with
famine. We have neither n~ourishment,
nor oil. nor vcstments. We have no
! fish; We have no vegetables. We have
already sent II petition to our sover.
eign lord the Pharaoh, praying him to
give US these things, and we now adj
dress the governor. in order that he
may give us ~wherewithal to live"
These facts took place on the 9th
of December (tirst day of the month of
IyOi). The general distribution of
wheat was then evidently due to the
workmen. but why it did not take
place is not known. Perhaps the indi-
vidual who should have distributed the
food VAS absent. Whatever was the
cause Of tho delay, the uced was ur-
gent, and Hatnekin. with the priests
present. either touched with COMPASS
sion. OF TO prevent the affair from
reacnins the ears OF the governor Of
the metropolis. accorded Que days ra-
tiOns. How the wVrk lilo lived in the
days following Is not recorded in the
papyruS; but sonue weeks afterwards
they were in full revcit. Three times
they forcibly emerged from their quar-
ters, Notwithstanding the walls which
surrounded them and the gates which
CLOSED them in. I'VE will not rstuth."
cried u kn.i,u 10 the police sent in pur.
suit of thom. go toll yourchiet what
we tell you; it is famine which speaks
BY our mouths" To argue with them
WAS useless. "Inero Was great agita-
tlOn,' writes the superintendent in his
day-book; II gave them the .&rangest
answer | could Imagine, but their
words were true and calue from their
hearts,"
vicy were quieted oy "a distribution
of ~halt-rations. but ten days later they
were up again.
Khons. the leader OF the band. press-
Ell his companions to provide for Them
selves. Let lis fall" said he, ..upon
the stores OF provisions aud let the
governors men 20 ana tell him wha,
We ave done" This counsel! was fol.
lowed as soon as given. They entered
forciDly into the enclosure. but not into
the fortrcs, whore The provisions were
kept. Ile keepers OF tue stores. Amen-
Nrxtu. gave them something. and con-
ir.vrd 10 induce them 10 return to their
quarter.
kIevcn days later the movemcn be-
gan again. The commander Of Thebes,
p .sSlny by, found the mon seated on
Tue gruul,u Dcn!nL the temple Of Seti,
al the northern cnd Of the metropolis.
Immediately tnc.y began to cry: ''Ealn-
iue! Faminur' The G ,mmundsr then
gave them :n order Tor fifty measures
0t wheat III The name of Pharaoh, .who
has sworn, said he. IAN oath that
you viii have food again" Most like
~ Pharaoh never heard Of the event
anu never received the petition ad-
dressed to him II couple Of months pre-
viOuSlv.-i lie TtLVt.