The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-12-25


missed rare opportunity to hear a
lecture that was treat. The subject
was presented in fascinating man
ner and it is one to which very
little attention is given in the South.
1t is one full of living interest
The lecturer was DR.. James Penni-
man, the dean of the college depart
mcnt of the University Of Pcnnsylva-
MIA, man of rare gifts of mind and
speech. The subject was "Some Ex-
cavations in Babylon by the Univcr-
sity of Pennsylvania" dealing with
discoveries conirmatory of the Book
of Genesis. There was a fine audi
ence and thoroughly interested one
it was from first to last. One college
professor pronounced the lecture one
of the finest things he had ever heard.
All listened intently to the story of
the days of as far back as 600O 3. c.,
as the lecturer told of discoveries of
records Of ancient times, unearthed at
Nippur or Calneh, Babylonia, and the
relation of these records to history as
set forth in the Old Testament.
Among the interesting specimens Of
the finds made at Calneh shown by
DIR. Penuiman was private letter
written in the time Of Abraham, about
1000 years B. c., and a contract made
while Moses was yet alive, about 1900
3. G. Both these interesting records
are in the form Of small fat bricks
and are written in character simi-
lar to that found on the cuneiform
bricks.
In general way DR.. Penuiman told
Of the work of the university in exoa-
waiting the olden cities, which for the
past twelve years has been carried on
under the direction of DR.. II. V. Hill
precht, professor Of Assyriology. In
exoavating the ancient city Of Nippur
the workmen and scientists have been
forced to so more than so feet below
the surface Of the country, and as the
digging progresses more and more in
teresting facts are being brought to
light.
DR.. Penniman stated that these dis
coveries made by the eycavators and
the history written on the tablets
brought to light showed that the world
was older than most of us imagined,
and that as the records are being read
It IS being shown that the age extends
years farther back than has nov been
proved. Some Of the tablets dug from
the sands Of the country show dates
more than 1000 years B. c., and show
that in those olden times many of the
customs we think new and modern ex-
listed in higher state of cultivation
than do ours.
Some of the ancient tablets, receipts
Of various kinds, were exhibited by the
doctor during the course of his talk.
One very small brick was held up for
view that was many hundreds of years
older than the Old Testament, and the
statement was made that the transla-
tions Of each tablet showed the same
methods Of life and OF expressing
thoughts existed then as do now-only
the older ideas were far better than the
modern ones.
The miraculous way in which the
books of the Old Testament was hand
ed down to modern people was then
alluded to, as the question Of the very
extensive and cultivated literature of
the day was discussed. ALI these won
derful books have been lost excepting
the books of the Bible. The state Of
civilization they exhibited was exceed
ingly cultivated and far advanced. And
knowing the existence and loss Of this
wonderful literature and poetry,
makes more miraculous and shows
more strongly the power Of the God
which rules US, in saving for
che present world the old part of tho
Bible.
The excavators Of the University of
Pennsylvania have brought to light
thousands of the most interesting tab
lets of the olden times, and in the his.
tory they exhibit is to be found the
lives and actions of more than Is kings
who ruled before any Of those mention
ed at length in the Old Testament. One
of the tablets found in the excavation
OF the fireproof vault in the store Of q
prominent firm Of merchants shows
guarantee representing an emerald ring
to be gold and warrauting it for the
term Of 20 years.
In concluding the lecture, DR.. Penni-
man said that the work of the univer-
sity in accomplishing the results it had
been able to do WAS Lhe most nictnr-