The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1892-03-22
ANCIENT EGYPT.
NORMAN VAN PELT LEWIS


begun in No. 81
After this the country fell an easy prey
to Alexander the Great, that powerful
Grecian general who brought under his
rule almost every territory in the east.
After Alexander's death bis four princi-
pal generals fought for % years for his
territory, and it was finally equally di-
vided at the battle of Ipsus. S0l B. C. and
Egypt was given to Ptolemy, who also
conquered Palestine, Phenicia and Cy-
prus.
Ptolemy founded in the very heart of
Egypt Grecian civilization, which, min
Cling with that of ancient Egypt, infu-
enced the entire world.
The statues of the Grecian gods were
placed side by side with those of Osiris,
and even the natives began to speak in
the Greek tongue. Grecian architects
rebuilt the principal cities and adorned
the streets with magnificent obelisks,
palaces and theatres. and Alexandra was
made the chief city, and at this late date
sprang into public favor, and gained for
itself glorious reputation.
The Alexandrian library and museum
was one of the largest ON record, and con-
tanned at one time 100000 volumes. In
connection with it was a grand univer-
sity, where the sciences, botany and 20
ology were studied.
Scholars from all over the civilized
world focked to this great store-house Of
learning, and modern science found a be-
ginning in the land of the pyramids.
The last Ptolemy married his sister, the
famous Cleopatra, and at her death Egypt
was, like all other nations, brought into
subsection by imperial Rome. 80 years B.
lie.
The country never rose from its down
fall.
For over two thousand years a great
nation fourished in all the glory of civil
ization and advancement, but like every
other people they brought ruin upon
themselves. How true it is that nation
shall rise against nation, and Kingdoms
rise and fall.
History only repeats itself, and Greece
and Rome each in turn did but follow In
the footsteps of the "land by the desert"
They too, rose into magnifeence, and
then crumbIed into utter ruin.
We cannot but praise the Egyptians,
for they grew of themselves, with no one
to help them, and they did make splen-
did kingdom, and pushed into renown
over the whole world.
The Nile, that life giving stream, still
flows from the ru0untainS 70 r1e sssss Ut
its-zaatars axaep by other scenes than
those which Mined its- h--.sss'
No gorgeous s2fps sweep over its waters
to the strains Of sweet music. No cities
in the height of magniicence and glory
line its banks. No mighty king to-day
sits upon the throne or worships in the
Karnak temple.
The glowing fire of antiquity has
burned itself into ashes, and the cinders
of life and energy are swept away by the
fearful sand storms of the desert.
Now and then a slender obelisk towers
toward the sky from the parched plain,
and even the dried palm trees bow their
heads in sympathy.
The pyramids are but the tomb stones
of the fallen nation, and they alone speak
of the by-gone days in the first genera
ton OF the countries of the earth.
1t is all gone We cannot but feel
tinge of sadness; what vast meaning in
that word gone" Write it. as the beau
tiful summer is followed by the chilling
winds of winter say it, when over the
starry heavens, move the dark clouds of
storm repeat it, as the golden sun sinks
behind the western hills so persisted
Egypt.