The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-21

There are many sets of checker men
in ancient tombs. and the game was
favorite in ancient Egypt. "odd and
Even and Jacks were PLAYED on
every side, and marbles, too, of course.
All these were the delight OF some
children and found a place in some
graves. Inscriptions show how famil-
lar were the games that were played
without toys.
Balls are often exeavated, and IL
was apparently considered great sport
to play game of ball, each boy sit
ting on the shoulder of some other
boy. This combination of ball and
leap frog would be rather strenuous
even for football playing boys of TO-
day.
So many toys are dug up that one
might be tempted to think that time
had not dealt kindly with children in
building school houses and printing
books, If 1t were not for pile of copy
books as high as that Of playthings.
If dead child must have his toys, in
order not to be lonely In the ''ufi-
known bourne" 1t was equally i'm
portant that he should carry with him
his credentials to show that in this
world he was good scholar and care
fully taught. So his papyrus school
OOOhS WtHI ltilO the grave, LOO. 1neX
are imposing even to-day.
In ancient Egypt boys of good fam
lily had much to learn. There were
two languages to begin with, the COM
mon and the literary, and then all
sorts of mathematical problems had
to be solved. The Nile, in Overlooking
its banks, obliterated landmarks and
land surveyings was very necessary
part of boys schooling
Geometry and astronomy were
taught to every boy at an early age,
and if he did not learn there was a
supple rod in waiting for him.
In learning to write, then as now,
the children copied wise sayings and
stories. One of the maxin7s to copy
which must have been a great joy
runs: Let no day pass in idleness.
for then thou wilt be logged. A boy s
ears are on his back and a logging
makes him hear" Even these terrible
warnings, however, did not prevent
boys from scribbling all over their
copy books. Sketches of animals. and
what may be caricatures of teachers
appear on many copy book.
Scholars did not always have to
copy maxims, however. Fairy tales
were much in evidence, too, They
have singularly familiar sound One
OF the most popular begins in this
way:
There was once a king who had
no son. He desired a son and PRAYED
the gods to give him one, which was
ordered by them. The Hathors, or
Fates, consult at his birth and decide
that he shall die by the bite of snake,
a crocodile or dog. The king was
greatly troubled when he heard this.
He built great castle in the midst
of a wood and furnished it with all
that, was best in the palace. and set
Keepers over 1t, and forbade the child
to go beyond it,.
Does not this sound like the OPEN
ing of many a fairy tale of to-day,
especially that of the Sleeping Beau
ty? The story goes on to relate how
the Prince, grown to manhood saw
married. They loved each other dear
~. and when the Prince went beyond
the palace in the wood the faithful
wife kept watch over him. He is near
ly bitten by a serpent but she saves
him. Then the story breaks OF.
II would be pleasant to know IL the
wife saved him from all dangers. but.
unfortunately. the Egyptians rever-
ence for the word OF the Fafes prob
ably gave a different ending. Besides,
before the story ends. the Prince had
also seen and loved a dog which had
followed him faithfully for years. The
loGe between them was SO great that
the Prince would not part from hts
four-footed friend. even though he
knew that death might result II
would ~ too bad 20 have him de
from his faithful dogs bite. o. per-
haps be ala, 80 " is Just a. well that
there r. no ending % this story Of
icng ago.
Even q bit o. Il goes 10 prove that
civilization may come and elvfiika-
fl0HF mBy 50. but chlldsOCs1 via re-
main ths same until fhs biG bel called
earth ehHffis ~ an4 sees NAnderlnR,
. paie % gkQst. emgnN ths sarm
young W)ficR.