Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-03-31
MOSES AS A scHooLBoY.
Youth at the Time OF the
Pharaohs.


especially the strides that have been
made IN deciphering the inscriptions
of the monuments, point to a system
of instruction. even in the time of
Moses, which surpasses US. Indeed, we
could not believe it possible, were the
proof not Overwhelming; and when we
speak of lads preparing for the civil
service examinations in the time of the
Pharaohs we begin to think that some
one is joking. But 1 make this asser-
ton 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
examiners" 1t would seem, too. that
the noble art of self-defense was in
cluded in the athletics, from the way
Moses stood up to the boorish shep-
herds and vapquished them. Games of
various kinds were INDUCED in of
which we have lost touch. but archery
and wrestling stand out prominently
in the list, and the illustrations of such
are numerous.
The alphabet acquired, which would
generally be taught at home-probably
by private tutors-the course of edu-
cation could be determined by the
choice OF profession. To the educated
classes there were the priesthood, the
army and the civil service. These were
the three great professions, and the
subjects taught at the great centers
of learning, like Heliopolis or Hermop-
oils, would include religion, astronomy
and astrology; magic and the use of
lamentations; medicine, anatomy, the
use of amulets and charms; history;
probably one extra language; en-
gineerinS, mensuration, land survey
ing, construction, architecture, ge-
ometry; military eXercises-al athletic
sports were encouraged; arithmetic,
said to have been revealed by Thot;
| and law. The civil service was, per
| haps, the widest profession, as it in
cluded the posts in the kings house
hold, the Office of taxes, and superin-
| tendence of public works. The chief
butler and the chief baker in the time
of Joseph would come under this head,
and were probably men of refinement
and education. There would also be
under this head the record office, where
q large number of men would be en-
| ployed writing the national annals.
The highest education, of course, was
| demanded for admission to the priest
hood. Indeed, the training never
stopped, and embraced almost every
| thing. The priesthood had the pick of
| the men. Certainly next came the civil
| service. For the army requirements
were not severe, more regard being
paid to the military athletic exercises.
| The priests were not only the minis
tiers of religion, they were doctors and
magicians, and probably lawyers.
most desirable post was to get into
| the regal household, in immediate at
tendance upon the king. Magicians
were specially favored, hence the dill
! gent study OF magic. Perhaps some
| Youthful readers would offer no objec-
ton to such subject being introduced
into our public schools. and would re-
| gard it as fine fun to cause walking
sticks to turn into serpents, and date
trees to grow out of cricket capsi One
wonders what Egyptian Etonians were
| like; whether they were as mischiev-
Gus and as boisterous as English lads;
| if So what a time the masters must
have had, and what fioggings there
must have been.
| Wonderful stories are told of the ma
| gicians. 1 mean, of course, the mas
tiers of the art-a position. I suppose
every lad who had taste for that sub
| ject aspired to win. rs it true" said
| Kheops to one of these sorcerers, "that
thou canst replace head that has been
cut off ?" On his admission that he
could do so, Pharaoh Immediately pro-
| ceeded TO put his power to the test.
Bring me a prisoner, and let him be
slain,' commanded the king. The ma
| gician answered at this: Nay, not a
man, sire, my master; do not COM
mand that this sin should be commit
ted; a fine animal will suffice" So a
| goose was brought, its head was cut
off, and the body placed on the right
| side, and the head of the goose on the
left side of the hall. He recited his
| incarnation from the book of magic;
and, Ioi the goose began to hop for
ward. the head moved to meet the body.
| gan to cackle! The same process was
| gone through with bull and a peli-
can. Many similar stories are told.
| Moses, as the protege and the adopt
ed son Of princess. would have within
reach the whole range of education,
which has been briefly described. His
adopted mother. as a princess royal,
would have her own estate, palace and
| retinue of attendants. Probably she
would be a patroness of one or more
of the colleges, so the lad Moses would
have every facility which wealth and
| influence could give. There is the flash
| of genius. there is also the solidity of
the scholar. in the man who made Is
rael a nation and the first fighting
| power of his age. No man in all the
worlds history has done so much as
| Moses. AS statesman, soldier. lawyer,
historian. poet, the story which fasci-
mates US as children retains its attrac-