Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-04-06
Saint Harg's Beacon.
NOSES is 4 sCHOOLBOY.

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made in deciphering the inscrip-
tons Of the monuments, point to
O system Of instruction, even in
the time Of Moses, which surprises
as. Indeed, we could not believe
ID possible were the proof not over
whelming; and when We speak OF
lads preparing for the civil service
examinations in the time of the
Pharoahs We begin 10 think that
some one 10 joking. But | make
this assertion in sober earnest,
about which there can be no doubt.
Lads in those days prepared for the
learned professions just as they do
now, and some of the pictures are
strongly suggestive Of "crammers. I"
IL would seem, too, that the noble
art Of self-defence was included in
the athletics from the day Moses
stood rp to the boorish shepherds
and vsnquished them. Games Of
various kinds were INDUCED in, of
which We have lost touch, but arch
cry and vres,ling stand out promi
nently in the list, and the illustrs-
tions of such are numerous.
The alphabet acquired which
would generally be taught at home
probably by private tutors-the
course Of education could be de-
termined by the choice of profes
sion. To the educated classes there
were the priesthood, the army and
the civil service. These were the
three great professions, and the
subjects taughtat the great centres
Of learning, like Heliopolis or Her
mopolis, would include religion.
astronomy and astrology; magic
and the use Of meant atoms med
icine, anatomy, the use of amulets
and charms history probably ont
extra Ian guage /; engineering, men
suration, land surveying. construc
ton, architecture, geometry; mill
tary exercisss-all athletic sports
were Observation-Disclosures. said
to have been revealed by Thot, and
law. The civil service was. per
haps, the widest profession, as il
included the posts in the Kings
household, she officers Of taxes.
and superintendents of pu blic
works. The chief butler and the
chief baker 10 the time OF Joseph
would come under this head, and
we're probably men of refinement
and education. There would also
be under this head the record Office
where large number of men would
be employed writing the national
annals. Tue highest education of
course, was demanded for admis-
sion to the priesthood. Indeed.
the training never stopped. and
embraced almost everything The
priesthood had the pick Of the men
Certainly, next came the civil ser
vice. For the army the require
ments were not severe. more regard
being paid to the military athletic
exercises. The priests we're no,
only the mil listers Of reiigion, they
were doctors and magicians, and
probably lawyers.
A most desirable post was to get
into the regal household. in imme-
date attendance upon the King.
Msgicians were specially favored,
hence the diligen: study Of magic.
Perhaps some youthful readers
would offer no objection to such a
subject being introduced into our
public schools, and would regard it
as fine fun to cause walking sticks
to turn into serpents, and date
trees to grew out of cricket caps
One wonders what Etonians were
like whether they we're as mis-
chievons and ss boisterous as Eng
lish lads; il so, what a time the
masters must have had, and what
fiogging there must have been.
Wonderful stories are told of the
magicians. mean, of course, the
masters of the srt-a position, |
suppose. every lad who had taste
for that subject aspired to win.
lis it true" said Kheops to one
OF these sorcerers, ''that thou canst
replace q head that has been cut
of? On his admission that he
could do so, Pharaoh immed lately
proceeded to put his power TO q
test. Bring me prisoner, and
let him be slsin," commanded the
King. The magician answered at
this: "Nay. not man, sire, my