The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-06
Egypt's Civilization More Com
plete and Far -Reaching y
Than That of Other Countries.

The view that We now AVE o. the riss
and decay OF this great civilization and its
connection with other lands Is more cem-
plete and far-reaching than that OF any
before the monarchy. which began about
$500 Il. C.. q nourishing civilization was
spread over Upper Egypt. Towns were
built Of brick. as IN later times: clothing
was made OF woven linen and Of leather:
pottery was most skilfully formed. without
the potter's wheel. handmade. vet Of ex-
quisite regularity and beauty OF outline. aud
the variety Of form Is perhaps greater than
In any other land: stone vases we're made
entirely by hand. without a lathe. as per-
feet In form as the pottery, and Of tho
hardest rocks. as diorite and GRANTEE: wood
was carved for furniture: the art of COL
ored glazing was common. and was even
applied 10 glazing over large carvings in
rock crystal: and beads were
wrought OF various stones and precious
metals: ivory combs. with carved figures,
adorned the hair: ivory spoons were used
at the table; finely formed weapons and
tools or copper served where strength was
needful. while more useful were flint knives
and lances. which were wrought with a mi
raculous finish that has never been reached
by any other people: and games were
played with dainty pieces made OF hard
stone and of ivory. But all this tasteful
skill OF bco-s0o b. c. had its negative side:
IN the artistic copying Of nature the me-
chanical skill Of these people carried them
a very little way; their figures and beaJs
OF men and animals are strangely crude.
And they had no system OF writing. al
tnouen marks were commonly used They
always buried the body doubled up. and
oIteh preserved the head and hands sep
arateIy. was already active.
and large rowing galleys carried the wares
OF oinerent countries around the ATedlter-
ranean. These people were the same as the
modern habyle OF Algeria and akin 70 the
south European races. but with some necr,
admixture. Our whole knowledge Of This
age has been gained only within the last
five years.
At about 5000 B. c. there noured into
Egypt a very different peopla n,obs nv
from the Red Sea. Having far more artistic
taste a commoner use OF metals. a sVs-
TEN OF writing already begun, and a more
oIsdnizeo Government. these fresh people
started a new civilization in Egypt: adopt
Ing readily the art and skill OF the earlier
race. they formed by their union the r.
euliar culture so well known as Egyptian.
a type which lasted for 400 wears the
same Foundation Of a type is seen In m,
pony structure; the early historical people
nad WIDER heads and more slender noses
than the prehistoric. but from GOO n q
down to Roman times the form shows no
change.
FROM this union OF two able races came
one OF the finest peoples ever seen. the
Egyptians OF the Old Kingdom. 400 $500 n.
c. Fun OF grand conceptions ,ctive abIe
hishiy mechanical. and yet splendid artists
they nave left behind them the greatest
masses OF building. the most accurate
workmanship and exquisite sculptures IN
the grand pyramids and tombs OF their
celne,erles- Ihey perfected the art Of or
gaming combined labor on the Immense
public works. In all these respects no later
age or country has advanced beyond thIs
carry aDihty- The moral character and
ideas are preserved to US in the Writings
OF Inese people; and We there read Of the
aolhty, reserve steadfastness and klndli-
ness which We see reflected in the Ufelfke 4
OF that age.
AFTER a partial decay about 300 II G
this civilization blossomed out again nobIy (
In the twelfth dynasty about 9sO n e.
though the works Of this age hardly reach
the mgr level OF the earlier times, yet they !
are inner than anything that followed them
AT TINS period more contact with other
Is seen; both Syria and the Med |
iterranean were known. though inner
fectly.