Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-03-20

Church was the most delightful literary
occasion ever experienced BY any audi
enoe in Wilmington. The large audi
forum was crowded and it goes without
saying that all that exists of Wilmington
culture was present to do honor to the
most prominent and gifted sayRnt that
ever visited this city.
Promptly OF O'Clock the pastor, the
Rev. A. N. Ksigwin, escorted the lee.
turer, Miss Amelia q. Edwards, the noted
English Egyptologist, TO the platform and
introduced her, brieil stating the subject
Of the lecture and adding that the accom-
plished lady IS here under the auspices
of this ladies' of the New Century Club
and Of the W. Q. 7. U.
Miss Edwards is somewhat elderly
lady who effects her listeners with the inn
preston of very decided ind viduality.
She ia evidently one OF the work-a-tiay
people OF science. She speaks as IL she
had only just at the moment laid her pom
aside for the purpose of explaining some
knotty point of Egyptian lore. The we'll
known portraits of her appearing re-
GENTLY In the leading magazines give 8
very fair idea CT her features. Her hAir
Is brushed back in gray folds from temple
and forehead. II doel not strike one to
look at any other feature but her eyes.
These seem to govern and rule her diclion
as she describes with wonderful versa
Utility the infinite variety Of illustration
and story that continually pour forth,
M ss Edwards wore shawl throughout
the lecture.
The audience shuddersd moment as
nm attendant placed reading desk with
refectors upon the platform. But the
vuna n far ha
spoke entirely extempore throughout the
whole two hours.
In clear pleasant voice she thanked
the introducer for his kind words and
smilingly made some slight correction ia
the title.o the lecture, the main subject
being the social and political condition CT
women in ancient Egypt. Strange to say n
exact contrast to all other eastern couu-
tries the women of ancient Egypt enjoyed
distinct social and legal equality with the
male sex. Indeed in some respects the
female had rights that supersedef those
of the male. THIS is borne out irrefuta.
bly, by the sculptures and writings upon
the monuments of Ghizsh. The Egyp-
tian mode OF describing greatness was
by making the ruler or kings figure the
largest and the servants or slaves as pig
mics. In the sepulchral monuments, how.
ever, the wife was always OF the same
height, sitting or standing, as her husband.
The servants are pictured approaching
her with as much respect as their master.
This is proved by the sculptures OF the
18th, 18th and 21st dynsst!es OF Thnth.
mes. Descent, that is inheritance by tina
female line is another law that has been
proved. Recent discoveries have shown
that three distinct systems OF writing
existed in Egypt. They were the we'll
known hieroglyphie, the hieratic
(priestly) and the demotic (popular).
Miss Edwards advised her audience to
give up the Anticipated idea that the first
is picture language. 1t il no such
thing. 1t is fully alphabetic and syllable.
The hieratic was used for neurological
purposes, monuments, and religious writ.
ings. These were always written upon
papyrus. 1t is the ourslve or running
hand used also by poeta astronomers and
lawyers. Il was in common use 3400 b.
O., or So centuries ago. The latest OF
demotic style is of the 25th or 2GGt
dynasty, i. e., 700 B. O. This was the
commercial hand yet more curaive thar
the hieratic and was likened by the lee
turer to our shorthand.
Twenty years ago only two Eyyptolo-
oRn decipher it almost as we'll as some OF
us can Greek. Brugsch Bey and another
teacher now have numbers of pupils
training in the language. The demotic
papyri are found in the houses and eel.
lars OF private residences hidden away in
earthen pots. They are chiefly domestic
accounts, land sales, law documents, &c.
Thanks to the translation of these
documents many important historical
stumbling blocks have been cleared away
When Herodotus and Diodorus visited
Egypt they noticed strange social facts
which they placed on record. III,
former found women conducting publ,
business, and the men at home looliiul
after domestic matters. DiodCru1 sait
that Egyptian husbands promised in al
things to obay theiE wives. We and b,
these papyri that this is about tEu4
Women were adtuslly government con.
tractors. In these contracts, which wer,
made by married womsn, there was No
reference to the husband at all.
Here Miss Edwards read from a,
original contact where woman made
contrast to supply government with
quantity OF corn. She made c0mUjktG,
ia regard to the nature Of lie pa men
stating that she WAS entitled to act meme,
down. She wouli accept nothing Int
payment Ia hard oaeh.
Another papyrus record told the cas-
Of Womsn 9njag the farmer genera
(tex collector for money. She had talI4i
over his collection district to gather Ia
taxas for certain sum. Idara WIS
dispute in Law about il. IN the coutfaU
or in the dia1lts there Wsl no Mantio
of the hubbard.
interesting subject OF ancient Egyl
tien marriage contracts was next al.
oussed. These we're always ia two parts
first the beErotnzl. This was called til
mans acceptance o. tic wolaaun--in ii
rect contrast TO our modern cagtom, I'LL
second part was called the 'p3siod 0
establishment" In the first part the ma
pledges the whole OF hla properly to Ill
bride, and guarantees to supply aar du,
ing the bstrotnsl with sill neeaeI ii
money and every Injury. In the saGoa
part, which il the actual marriage, IN
husband makes over oil his property
houses, aud everything lie is possessed :
without reserve to his wife.
Miss Edwards then read marrie3
contract of tie 23l year Of rtaletay Rhii
Rdelphus, $50 Is. q.
1t commenced, Il have accepted tn
person as my wife, Then wGs write
with legal s8artitnde the money to
paid over 10 her each m0Eth aud Ii
total for the year; also the pocket mono,
Il continued, We will be Tor thsa 20 d
nland the money aud to guarantee th
y pledge all my property
WHAT Was called tee wifa'B astabligt
meat contained tine husbands statsmea
IL lake any other wife / stall forte
NIL gvxs A. Il