New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-19
ANCIENT EGYPTS FICTION.
MISS AMELIA B. EDwARDs's ADDRESS.
SPEAKING BEFORE THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
CIUB-DIsCussIoN OF THE SUBJECT BY DIR.


Amelia b. Edwards. a clever writer of felton, well
as an enthusiastic and famous Egyptologlst Is doubly
well qualified to speak. and her address on this
subject delivered before the Nineteenth Century Club.
in the Assembly Rooms OF the Metropolitan opera
House last night, charmed and interested large
and brilliant audcrce Miss Edwards believes that
the romantic school of fiction that which natural
since stories first began to be written. The human
sense of poetic justice always found expression in
tales of the trials and trumphs Of virtue ard the
punishment Of vice. She characterizes the "reastic'
school that mas of late sprung up as depravcd and
unnatural. AS for the ddactic novess, "they are
said Miss Edwards, the most intoerablc
of literary borcS, and il i could legslatc l wond
condemn them all to transportation to some distant
island. and condemn them to read their own stories
each other for the rest Of their natural lives
Miss Edwards maintained for her dear Egyptians
priority not only in the arts and sciences maine
MATES and medicine, but as the first novcss in the
history of the world That the Egyptians were
novelreading people not dreamed of until thirty
three years ago, and when this then came to their
knowledge through the papyrus OF The lalc Oh the
Two Brothers" the Egyptologsts of Europe were, In
fact fairly scandalized to find that these grave and
reverend seignors whose mummies arc so emlnently
respectablo should have taste as frivolous our
own
This Tale of the Two Brothers" has been frequent
IN translated into modern languages. The original
manuscript is in the British Museum, and the librarian
to the supposed Pharaoh Of the Exodus is supposed to
have written II for the instruction of the Crown Prince
whose autograph is the manuscript. The first
part of the story is pastoral and wodcd as simply
as a fairy tale. Miss Edwards, in her delightful
manner, read an extract which gave her hearers
good idea of its style IT of historical value in that
ii gives glimpse of the life of the fcllah" in the
times of the early kings Egypt. The part of
the story deals with the surprising adventures Of
the younger of the brothers. and the Introduction Of
magic and enchantment seems TO indicate that II was
Invented at a later day than the first.
Fourteen tales had been brought to light since
the discovery of the papyrus of The Two BrotherS'
and Miss Edwards held that thy
proved that the Valley of the Nile
The cradle Of romance. Herodous INTRODUCED
some of these old stories into his writings history
and traces of them TO be found IN the Thousand
ard one Nights The second part of the tale of
The Two Brothers had appeared in France
fairy tale; it had been reproduced in Italy. In Ger
many. Russia Lthuania, Rumania Albania the Pclo
ponnesus, Asia Minor, in Abyssnia, and even in
India, ii appeared popular story, current on The
lips of the people one Of the ancient Egyptian
stories, THE Treasure House of Rahmsmitcs.7 had
been printed in Professor Maspero's collection Of
Egyptian tales. and had found it's way back again to
Egypt, where il was now current once more.
DR.. Daniel G.. Brinton, Of the University Of Penn
sylvania. who published translation Of The Two
Brothers ten years said that he did not agree
with the views of Miss Edwards about ancient Egyptian
stories True said lie, we trace many tales
back 10 Egypt. but these tales not in their origin
confined to Egypt only" Professor Brnton also held
that the highest types Of romantic writing were not
found in Egyptian fiction that it was lacking in many
artistic respects and frequently nasty He could not
share Miss Edwards's admiration for these frag
ments Of Egyptian literature. He believed
in the theory that man. in the beginnings OF
his civilization, has only limited Imagination. which
accounts for the similarity Of many Of the tales in the
folk lore" of nations. Professor T. +. Crane. Of
Cornell University, also discussed tie subject in
interesting and muchapplauded address. lie said
that the Egyptian story of the treasure house of
King Rahm>imitos had turned mp" in the United
States. and lad lecn published in its American dress
by Charles Jones in his Negro Myths Of the Georgia
Coast where it the tale Of " Brcr Lion. Br'cr
Rabbit Br'er Fox and Brcr RaccoOn.s
OF all the theories 10 the general diffusion of these
folklore stories Professor Crane favored that adj
vocated by Dr. Brinon. because brought the subject
into relation with the study Of anthropoocy.
THAT is the theory said he. which has received
the brilliant support Of Andrew Lang-the theory
making all Of popular tale, shrvivals Of that
dition Of savacery through which are all supposed
to have passed The difficulty is that cannot apply
any theory satisfactorily TO account for the whole
subject II is 50 easy 10 find arguments for all the
theories that apt to choose the one
which suits personally the best, and then
to dogmatize upon that How did this
!
difficult to suppose that story with snch wellde-
fined plot. in which the incidents arc cevcrly
woven together could have originated in different
places itself and forced t. the conclusion that
such story that must have been dihused. The
thirteenth century par excellence the century Of
preaching and popular preaching revOlutionized the
style Of the pulpit that sermons, in
order 10 be popular must descend to the
level of the people. II customary for the
preacher, toward the end OF the sermon. when the
audience became somwhat weary, to inscr, story
for their edihcation, and these stories cover this
entire field TO which alluding this evening.
Preachers had to be supplied with these stories and
enormous folos full Of stories, arranged under ap
propriate topics were prepared for the 81
preachers, and in one Of these iolOs occurs
this very story Of Rahmsmitcs. which was
preached from the pulpit. and told by the
good people. and must have passed from one
end of Europe 10 the other as favOIlte story. THIS
custom been altogether abandoned in the pres
ent day. and had occasion lately to turn over vol
ume of "A Hundred Moral Tales the Sc Of Preach
ers and Sunday Teachers published in London.
and was greatly interested in finding in 1t number
Of the stories in these great works OF the th!r
tcenth century, and greatly touched ana graft
fed, As an American, by finding toward the
end of the volume arranged a. h NORA an, anu
err, nothing more nor less than our own genial Bret
Iaite's Luck of Roaring Camp 4..-
1t well for TO bear in mind in these days
when the press is teeming with volume after volume
Of the popular tale OF every country when ,carceiy
day pa>sc. in which do not new cOllectlOI
OF popular tales that the subject Of folk lore
l. which has serious sue.
ard affords problems, the solution Of which has taxed
the ingenuity Of the abest scholars" tApplausc:)
Mi. Edwards made an able reply to the discussion.
In spite OF all that had been said, she stood by her
claims for the ancient Egyptians. and the loud ana
long applause Of her hearers showed that their sym
pathcs. If not their convictions, were entirely with
her.
The president Of the Nineteenth Century Club,
Daniel G.. Thompson presided at this interesting meet
ing and introduced each speaker with "A few happy
remarks.
Miss Edwards IS closing her visit to this country
with a remarkably busy week. she has undoubtedly
capurcd The Of lovers Of art literature
This city. She will lecture Portrait Painting in
Ancient Egypt In Chickcrng Hall, this evening
Mis-, Edwards will also lecture Friday evening
and will give her closing lecture saturday after.
noon.