The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-05-31

nan from ms nigh estate2-that OF
parity and iunoceuce-inte one Of
lin and shame. And from that time
down through the centuries until the
present, man has been builder and
will continue to be until the angel de-
clares that time shall be no more.
Let us profit by the experience OF those
who have already passed the shores Of
time, Lot us now notice some OF the
works OF man Wilde yet in his crude
state, as he merged from mythology
and authentic records OF his works
came to light Over two thousand
years before tie Messiah came to earth,
on the banks OF the Nile in Lower
Egypt, Menes, the half-mythical foun.
der Of the nation, built Memphis and
made it his capital, and frem that
time until 527 B c., when Csmbyses
conquered it, its massive structures
furuisht i Them Tor the oriental
writer's. 1t was one great period char
scterized by monumental structures,
pyramids ard buildings such as more
modern workmen fail to equal The
conception powers Of that people went
not beyond the material and visible
things of earth, hence the vast array
of the splendors Of earth that We find
in their country. All their powers
were concentrated upon the glory Of
architectural splendor, consequently
we find their history written upon
pyramids and temples, such as Kar
max whose beauty and massiveness
combine to stamp it as the greatest of
the architectural works of man, also
the vocal mennon which, according
to a legend, sang when the rays OF a
rising sun would strike it. By the
inccssant toll of our oriental ancestors,
their cities became one vast area OF
glittering domes, monumental splen-
dcrs and marble gods By these and
in these material beauties, and endesv.
oring by physical contest to satisfy
the wbims Of imaginary gods, they
sought to satisfy that longing of their
immortal being which is innate in the
human soul.
But there was a vacuum left that
material objects could not, neither
can they, fill, and that longing for
something beyond mortality remain
ed, the evidence OF the immortality OF
man.
After years of inoessant toll. the re-
NTH OF their glory was reached strife
, and confusion came and they trcm
( bl5d, topped and fell Then for more
D than four hundred years, almost
3 chaotic dalkness prevailed. But after
Y years had passed and the gray streak'
r of a new dawn appeared, man emerged
from his darkened home and fCunt
4 new fields in which to continue hi
0 architt ctural works which were to b.
/ landmarks for generations to come,
t The massive architecture of Greece
/ and Rome the monuments and pyr
# amids Of Egypt,--these magnifcen
r products Of mau's persistence, as the!
8 stood with their dom,s piercing tn,
!. sky, spoke and in their silent Language
proclaimed man as the wonderful &c
s MUS who wrought such wonderful
, changes in them as made them tn
n admiration Of world.
y But there ia another scene; ther
= is another story to be told; though ii
/. not so bright rs the first, It's none th
!, less true. While the one portrays th
d glory and grandeur OF man and hi
d works in material things, the Other
J.; in equally as powerful language, re
d veals to us he insignificance OF ma
y and his works when touched by IT,
all'powerIul hand of Time
l. II we could, this aIteruoon, trsn'
y port ourselves 10 the oriental Vor
r. and be placed in the midst. OF wha
h was once the pride Of mighty peoples
If with wonder and establishment "
r. would exclaim, Alas, the runuu
j. hand OF Timel
of The land of pyramids, that Ian
al whose massive structures were tn
n. dwelling places Of all that is morul
n OF her pc pile, wh-re and what is she
|. The answer comes in accents mourn
8. ful, "She is no more"
Gre, ce,that country which has justl
n been styled, "the land OF scholars an
is the nurse Of arms" whore praises wer
H. chanted by an admiring world, is
Iy country Of the past For two thou
ia an years she has remained silen
n. Her once magnificent temples, With
at whose walls were the rites of might
Sc people performed, lie low in ruin
- Aud thus the catalogue OF ancient NJ
I'd lions might br gone through and I'll
il same sad story lie the hist r. OF al
10 The ruins Of Time speak to lis in lal
IN guage Enthusiastically clear and Ell
OF deavor to write indelibly upon OF
es hearts lesson by which we, who liy
RS in the light at period of the world
e, history, may learn AID b, profited.
at The lesson is to put our minds an
es all our powers upon things that al
rs not so ready to decay at the touch {
e the ruthless hand of Time. And, il
" deed, the truest men and W, men
IN our country today are learning til
De lesson from this and other sources an
le the work Of man is to mould, shaF
and erect buildings that defy the ten