The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1892-03-15

die long and mai row lid il;6 atfinRs were
fastened either ~ means d peqs or wrap
ping, and were supported froniSlhe sound
ing board by bridge.
They were played very much like the
guitar of to-day.
4 Someone tells US that the player u.s.
ualy stood up, and moreover, at times
danced to his own tune.
The sistrum consisted 81 an open loop
of brass like the horseshoe, supported
by handle with the curve at the top.
Across the opening were twp on three, and
sometimes four, metal bars on which were
rings and rattles. On top vas usually
small figure of one of the sacred animals
This instrument was chiefly used at re-
ligious ceremonies.
THE cylindrical maces were also no
doubt of bronze. They consisted of
straight or slightly curved handle, sur
mounted by a ball. which was often
shaped into the resemblance Of & human
or animal head
''The performer held one In each hand
and played then by bringing the two
heads into collision with greater or less
force, producing this & loud clash or
cIang. ~
such music was snfieient to mark time,
and was sometimes einployed without
other accompaniment to guide the dance"
In one tomb near hepyramids is repre-
scented band composed Of two harpers.
four singers, piper and flute player.
In another sculpture two singers are ac-
companied by a flute player, and two
harpers. In third. three sing. while one
plays the harp, one the Tyre, and one the
double pipe.
The following is a list Of the professions
and occupations of the ancient Egyptians
The priests, soldier, cowherds, swine
herds, traders. husDandmen, boatmen
sailors builders. masons6 iurniture max
ers, sculptors, painterS lusicians, dan
GERS, scribes, physicians. 8rchitects, fisher
men, glassblowers, stonecutters, sports
men, laborers and ne: -
We have no ideas how the civiliza-
ton of Egypt started. Il i impossible to
logically trace its history to definite be-
ginning. In earliest times the country
was undoubtedly divided into small ter
ritories until sMense, half mythical
king. conquered - part Of
Egypt. and built the clfS emphis.
About twenty centuries vas the time
during which Egypt may be said to have
iourished, and the last one ends only
few years before the advent Of Christ.
Historians usually divide ancient Egypt
into three periods chr oiogically, name
ly the Old, the 3. and the New
empires.
The Old empi sted from about
2, 700 to 2.OS0 B. CsT
1t is impossible his space to even
touch on the political history of the
country, and volume Eafter volume has
been written about the kings who one
after another assembled the throne.
The principal facts to bring out in con-
nection with the Old empire, are that dur
ing this period the pyramids were con-
structed in the fourth dynasty. and the
capital was changed from Memphis to
Thebes.
The Middle empire extended from 2,OS0
to 1925 B. c.
During the period Of the Middle en-
pire the country began ID take on q new
liss,ana.r.seer - enhea.
Ethiopia was conqn
Strife having arisen throughout TIE land
the entire kingdom was divided into five
provinces, and even after this division
the kings made frequent wars against each
other.
At this time extreme Lower Egypt had
been conquered by the Shepherd kings,
who on hearing of the ciyil wars, overran
the whole country. ovefthrew the kings,
and entirely conquered the land, in 1000
B. c. Great oppression then lasted for
several centuries, untiIone Of the native
rulers at Thebes, having gathered around
him large army, drove the oppressors
out of the land, and once more established
freedom.
The New empire lasted from 1926 to
527 B. C. During this period Egypt rose
to all its magnifcence, and q thousand
years of peace ensued.
At this time the great temples were
built, and Seti in turn conquered and
subdued Mesopotamia Assyria and Chal-