Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-11

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| Early in the Second Dynasty the
rights of women were strongly and per-
manentiv established. Ba-en-neter,
third king of that period, energies from
| the shadow to proclaim a decree so
Just and righteous that his name still
shines brightly upon the page of his
tory as Divine of Soul" This decree
declared a law of female succession to
| the throne when a princess was the eld-
| est child Naturally such a law af-
| fected all the varied ranks and condi-
| lions of women. From 1000 B. c. on
ward daughters We're as carefully
| trained and educated as the sons, the
| rights of the former equally respected
with those of the latter, the condition
of one as happy as that of the other. If
the king died the queen assumed gov
eminent as in the case of Queen
Nitocris, whose reign closed Sixth
| Dynasty 3, 33J B. G.
Our story of Cinderella was first
written in her honor and relates that
Nitocris. 1.-The beautiful one with rosy
cheeks" was bathing one day in the
Nite when an eagle carried off her slip
per and dropped it at the feet of the
king. Enraptured by its beauty he had
| the whole land searched for her and
married her.
When we consult the genealogical
| tree of an ancient Egyptian nobleman,
we fad that his descent is traced with
care along the female line of his house
| 20 some proud ancestress who was
daughter, sister, wife or mother of a
king His male ancestors are men
| toned when they have particularly
distinguished themselves.
| Thus it came to pass that all women
| who inherited or held property disposed
| of it in their wills according to their
pleasure, directed the management Of
| their estates or households, went about
| unveiled as freely as the women of
| America now do, drove their own
| chariotS if they We're wealthy, loved
| learning, enjoyed reading and writ
| ing. and sent letters and orders
| stamped with their own seals. Incl
| dentalIy. they exhibited a fondness for
| imported gowns, and many a Babylon
| ian dressmakers bill has been found
| creditably receipted.
| The position of the women of Egypt
| was well known to the Hebrew women
and doubtless inspired the daughters of
| ZeloDhehad to demand their rights.
| The Hebrews based for more than four
| hundred years all of their conceptions
of Ife upon their observations in
| Egypt.
A happy life and full development of
her intellectual powers led woman as
well as man to plan great achievements
for the honor Of God, the family, and
the country. Deir-el- Bahari, the tenn
| ME nj * f1l
| largely restored. A wonderful sight is
now revealed to the traveller up the
Nile. From the wide river is seen q
long vista of terr-tced courts, a stately
approach to the temple proper. where
its spacious altar is flanked by spread
ing wings, ana the grand facade of ma
jestic columns CLEANS snowy white
against the background of the darker
limestone heights. This splendid vision
was called into life at the command of
a woman. Queen Hatshepsu, who lived
ana reigred, and wrought many Won
ders in Egypt go years before Moses
was born.
Her two great obelisks at Karnak are
almost the highest in the world, mono
liths of se-granite, 1872 feet high,
quarried at Aswan. carved, transported
ana set up in the incredibly short space
Of seven months.
II have done this" she writes, from
a heart full of love for my divine faith
er, Anon. | have entered upon the
way in which he conducted me from
the beginning; all my acts We're ac-
cording to his mighty spirit.
; With tho reign of Hatshepsu we
come to one Of the most brilliant
periods of Egyptian history, and the
rule of the greatest queen that ever
lived.
1t was a unique reign. She believed
: first in her royal right to do as she
| pleased; and second, that it was the
destiny Of everyone in her kingdom,
ana as far beyond as she could reach,
, to also do as she Wiled. Queen
; Hatshepsu was perhaps the first dress
reformer in the world. She placed the
crown of a king upon her head-the
double crown of white and red
adorned her chin with an artificial
beard ana clothed herself in male at
tire. BY those who sought favor at
court she was humbly addressed as
His Majesty and when she brought
her kingly fist down, all Egypt
trembled. When Hatshepsu was
liking" no nation dared refuse her
tribute. nor did her armies ever suffer
4 defeat.
| The ninth year of her reign saw a
l famous expedition of discovery sail
forth to unknown seas in search of the
; Gland of the gods perilous voyage
to far-off Somalland.
Two pictorial accounts of it are pre-
served to US in the Temple sculptures
at DER Bahari. There are the ships
starting from the Theban harbor. the
sails filed by the wind straining al
: their fastenings.
: Then the deep blue water of the sea
: is reached. and the creatures of the
! deep are represented in the water be
= low the vessels. AS if to emphasize
G the courage of these explorers in the
4 fifteenth century before Christ one
+ monster is shown occupying a space
: exactly equal to six of the rowers
above him. Next we see the ships with
e sails furled. at anchor close by the
r foreign shore. while the crews carry on
]. board treasures of gold and franklin