Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-27

own language. Many OF their old school
books have been recovered, and are
serving now as textbooks for scholars
as they did for the school-boys OF the
land Of Assur twenty-five centuries ago.
HOW DID THEY DEcIPHER THESE cUSEI-
FORM CHARACTERS
A long story, and one OF the Hottest
triumphs OF scholarship.
The Persian language is also a recov-
cred language. Long ago, travellers
found Persian monuments on which
were inscribed cuneiform characters.
Some of these were brought TO Europe,
but for nearly two centuries they ro-
manned uninterrupted AS these in
scrlbed monuments we're known to have
been erected by Persian kings, and as
the inscriptions were in three languages,
it WAS inferred that they were kiDgly de-
liVsrances, intended for the three
nations included under Persian rule
1t was also concluded that the
first column was the language of
the King. By degrees tho Persian
version was decipherod. 1t was George
Frederick Grotefend who hit upon the
FIRST clue to its decipherment. He
saw that the first word in every line OF
the inscription was the same, and as
suming that it stood for king, he rea-
sonsd that the second word OF each line,
which was variable, was the name OF some
king. knowing tho list of the old Per-
sian kings, he went to work. Finding
one of the names on various monuments,
end counting the number OF letters
which it contained, and also know
ing from Persian history that Darius and
Xerxes had been great monument
builders, he felt assured that this
name belonged to one or the
other OF these monarchs Assuming
that this oft-recurring name was Darius
he tried the next name, and finding that
the Persian sign for r in Darius was the
third sign in thsnsm OF the next king in
order. and also that the two names we're of
the samelensth, he concluded that it must
be XerIes. The name of the next king
was much longer, but was composed
/ largely Of the sarae signs which spelt
/ the name of XerIcS he decided that
/ it must be ArtaxsrxeS This gave him
his clue and no began to build bis Per
sian alphabet. He was followed by
other students, who succeeded in con-
structng q complete Persian alphabet
As said, these Persian inscriptions
were written in three languages Having
worked up the Persian, 1t remained to
find out what tbe others were. Nobody
knew, but it was conjectured that while
the languages differed, the matter WAS
identical. 1t was the same thing IN three
languages. How shout the other two ?
One OF them strongly resembled the
Hebrew. By means Of the Persian, it
was easily translated, and a large part OF
It's alphabet worked out But what Ian
guage was it? What dead nation had
spoken it
About this time, discovery began in
Assyria. Tablets and monuments were
found with cunelform engrayings, OK
actly corresponding to those characters
in which one OF the languages on the
Persian monuments were written. THIS
settled several things. IL showed that
it WIS for the ABsyrIans that the Persian
Kings wrote one OF the versions OF thoir
royal announcements. 1t also showed
that one help in deeiphering this
newly-dscovered Assyrian literature
would DO the noSledge already &C
quired from the Persian monuments.
But this, while valuable, was not enough.
The complexity Of cune form signs, as
well as the scarcity OF material at that
time. rendered progress in Assyrlology
slow and diflicult. Happily, since then,
| Assyria, st the behest OF scholarly enter
prise, has opened her storehouse, and
placed tho most abundant supplies at
our hands for mastering the language.
HOW CAN AN UNsCHoLABLY OUTSIDER
KNOW THAT AssYRIoLOdY Is NOT A
| FRAUD?
A very pertinent question. There ore
Semitic scholars, especially in Germany
| (where they doubt everything), who ayow
| their disbelief in the Assyrian language.
They refuse to teach or even to study 1t.
They arc quiet, old professors, fixed IN
their methods OF teaching Semitic Ian
guages, and they feel unwilling to Crap
pie the Assyrian problem. Besides,
there is a popular skeptlcism existing
a1neng many intelligent men whO have
never carefully studied the subject Nor
is this surprising This coaceited world
has always scowled at every new inyen-
ton and discovery. 1t had 10 welcome
even for Him who was the embodiment OF
truth and love. Besides, it is n wonder
full thing indeed that a language, buried
and forgotten for 50 many centuries,
| should be brought to life.
In spite of this chilling reception, the
| Assyriologist has done his work and tho
sluggish public begins to believe. OF
course there is much internal evidence
az 10 the genuineness Of the Assyran
language which only student can APP
preclats. 1t lies beyond tho domain Of
tho outsider. There is fact, however,
which is convincing. About twenty
years ago sn elaborate inscription OF
! Iiglath Pileser was discovered and
brought to the British Museum. As vet
its character was not known to the pub
lie. and not even to scholars Copies OF
this inscription were placed in the hands
Of four eminent psychologists, with the
request TO furnish 4 Translation OF the
same to q committee OF the Royal Asiatic
Society, within limited time. Iach
man worked alone aud without consulta-
ton with one another. Sealed copies OF
the translation were sent 10 the commit
mittee at the appointed time, and they
were critically compared They were
substantially identical. Other similar
tests have been made, and always with
the same result.
WHAT WILL PROBABLY BE THE FUTURE OF
THE ASsYRIAN LANGUAGE?
All answers to this question must, OF
course, be conjectural. Butif We are to
Judge by the measure of its progress,
the enthusiasm of its students, its rela-
ton to the Hebrew language and Old
Testament history, the important light
which it throws upon general history,
and, above all, its corroborative testi-
mony in favor OF Old Testament state
menis, we must conclude that the public
interest in AssYriology Will increase year
b,y raor To this mnst IVA aided the fact