Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-02-01

We see through the haze OF time 4
nation apart and exclusive, its civilixar
ton arrested and passive for years,
emerging at length into fellowship with
the outer world, chiefly through the
persistence Of Ph9nician and Greek
merchants, and much in the same man.
Q IS the peculiar nations Of China
and Japan are, i'll our own day. gradu-
ally being opened to western COM
merce. There is reason to believe that
Egypt was a settled nation long before
the foundation of Nineveh and Baby
lon, and that these derived their civili-
zation from Egypt; but Egypt did not
enter into free intercourse with the rest
Of the world till after the time Of
Alexandria. Two sea boundaries gave
it an extensive line OF coast. II is
united to Asia by the Isthmus OF Suez,
and lies open to the interior Of Africa,
the Nile forming . grand channel Of
communication with the South. The
country, as now, was flooded three
months in every year by the overflow
OF its river, and was likewise artiicially
irrigated by Q network of canals, as
well as from Lake Moeris, constructed
by the king whose name it bears u q
reservoir for the superabundant waters
ut the time of the inundation. Inland
boats and barges, made Of boards and
papyrus, Q in general use on the
Nile and on the canals as the common
means of commu nication between the
towns. A sailor caste is spoken OF,
and boats occupied a conspicuous place
in the religious festivals. Later in his
tory Egypt owned q fleet Of four hum
dred vessels, used in the coasting trade,
and o venturing as far as India.
The wood, copper, and iron necessary
for their construction we're obtained
from the Phnnicians. The Egyptians
reached, perhaps, the highest develop
ment possible to a people excluding
themselves from association with all
others. Their system Of castles con
fined trades and professions to certain
families, and made productive
skill in the various arts and handi-
crafts descend as an heirloom from
parent to child. Resulting from this
practice, Q superior degree of excel
lence was manifested in their works of
metal and wood. Their harps excelled
those of modern make in beauty of
form and their chairs and touches we're
OF chaste designs. Even in wicker
work they showed artistic skill. For
many purposes of art and utility they
used o compound metal of a green
color, the method of alloying which is
now lost. Their cutlery and weapons
of war were also made of o compound
metal, o kind of brass bronze. Ele-
gance was specially aimed at in their
pottery; the examples now in u mu-
seums are made Of fine clay, and are
very beautiful. Excellent cotton cloths
and muslins, together with wooden fab
RIGS and embroidered work or tapestry,
we're among the products of their in
dustry. Buying and selling fell to the
lot OF the women. Household duties
were attended to by the men. In ac-
cordance with this custom it was the
daughter. not the son, on whom de-
volved the duty of supporting q help
less parent. The laws promoted self
dependence. Securities for loans were
contrived, usury was forbidden, and the
rights of creditors were limited to the
property OF their debtors. They were
q grave and u~nsociable people. of
quiet, temperate habits, and submissive
nnder control.