Evening journal., 1890-03-14
EGYPT OF OLD.
THE WOMEN HELD PROPERTY,
The MEN WORKED.

Miss Amelia u. Edwards Delivered Her
Lecture TO an } dmirabie Audience
Lecture Was Repiete with Accurate
knowledge OF Egypt. Past aud Present.
A large audieuce listened to the |
eloquent and instructive lecture OF Miss
Amelia Edwards at the the West Pres
byterian Church last night. Because Of
a fall last Monday resulting In a broken
arm, Miss Edwards a sturdy English
looking woman appeared, on the ros-
trum with her left arm in splints and a
shawl over her shoulders
Rev. a. N. Keigwin introduced Miss
Edwards as the most learned of women
and the most interesting lecturer now
on the lecture platform.
Miss Edwards began her lecture with
out the hesitation and apparent EN-
barrassment so frequent with English
men. Her voice was full, rich and round
and easily filed the large auditorium.
Her accent was rich in broad as and
rolling RS, and her tones were pleasant
without being soporihc.
Miss Edwards announced her topic as
The Social and Political Condition of
Women in Ancient Egypt" She began
her discourse by saying that the sound Of
these words was strange in themselves
People refuse to believe that women
could have had any position in ancient
times except that Of a domestic slave.
That is rot true at leass 'of ancient
Egypt. Recent discoveries in Egyptology
have proven that in the palmy days Of
Egyptian history women were not only
the equal but in some respects the
superiors Of the men.
The FIRST proof Of this was found in
Egyptian art. The early sculptors and
painters Of that land expressed greatness
by size. Eminent personsges were
always represented IN colossal statues.
The character Of monarch's reign was
determined by the size of the temples
and monuments which he or she erected
In the most ancient monuments Of
Egypt now extant the women are reprs-
scented in the same colossal style
as were the great men, and
this fact, even while the written
records Of that people were sealed
J books, indicated period in the country 1
history when women were at least equal
to the men. These monuments also indi
! cate that the double crown Of Egypt
] emblemat'c of sovereignty over upper
! and lower Egypt, had been transmitted
) from female rulers.
) With the discovery Of the key to th'
written languages Of this people new
D light revealing a wonderful condition o
things regarding woman's position among
the ancient Egyptians burst over tn
land and the formerly unmeaning hero
. | gliphics had become the most interesting
g of historic records.
n Among the most marked features o
$ the ancient Egyptian civilization was tn
y freedom of the women. They had absc
Q lutte control over their own property an
actions and " hen married, absolute cor
s. troll over the property Of their husbands
y In fact his property was no longer his
IS but hers She WAS empowered to max
j. contracts, buy, sell and hold propert
d and conduct any business or any enter
prises whatever in her own name and fo
d her own benefit.
1t Miss Edwards read from several n c
le tracts which have been preserved In u
or Lauyre at Paris, q woman's petition
the fulfilment of 8 contract for col
as between herself and the farmer geners
Vt which made no mention OF her husbar
The marriage contracts from which
lecturer established the assertion beyo
cavil that a woman had absolute cont
hu | OF all the family property.
M There we're two periods to the mi
Ird riTge contract-the period Of betrotl
ed and the period Of unconditional SURF
IL der. The period OF betrothal specifi
'as that the man accepted the woman q
to made certain provisions ia money for
.en maintenance during the period q spe
elk, fed sum Of pin money and guaranteed
ss. faithful observance Of the contract W
the forfeiture Of his entire possessio
q The period of unconditional surrenC
as, needed no guarantee for the man
nothing left to forfeit
The women Of Egypt were Passionat
fond Of iewelry That trade was carr
is on to great extent and luxury in
metals and stones. Queen Hatssu Ii
about 1400 or 1900 years before ste
tty graphic views of her face showed her
have been beautiful and intellectr
er" Miss Edwards believes she was
scientific ancestor of DeLesseps. hav
n. made a canal from the Nile to the
~. Sea. The lecture abounded in inter
an and information The views gavl
clear idea Of the art Of ancient Egypt
has showed much that was beautiful
q skillful, which recent discoveries b
ure brought to light.
,.,I g.,