The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-11
OLD EGYPT WAS uP-To-DATE
sUFTRAGErrEs AND OTHER MODERN WONDERS WE'RE WELL
KNOWN 5000 YEARS AGO.
New York Prcss.)

New York Press.)
That there is nothing new under the
sun is constantly recalled to n who
wanders ~observantly through the rock
tombs and grottoes Of the Egypt of
remotest antiquity, gazing upon the
sculpturcd relief and wall paintings.
On every side are portrayed the man.
ncrs and customs. the amusements
and recrcations and the incidents of
everyday life of the people of certain
~ 1000 or 5000 years ago and posi-
bly, OF a period still more remote.
How strangely familiar it all seems!
Here is the original new woman i'll a
hobble or sheath skirt. performing all
manner of calisthcnic exercises for the
preservation. of her s%ylph-like form.
She jugglcs with ha lis in the effort to
acquire that alertness of y n grace
in all ages. Even the balls were strik-
ingly like u modern bascballs. being
constructed of leather or skin in two
hemisphcrical parts, sewn together
crosswisc and filled with bran. corn
husks or rush stalks plated together
to form a spherical mass. Another
kind of ball was made Of differently
colored zone-like strips. similar to
those With which the modern baby is
amused.
At any modern physical culture
gymnasium for women MAJ he seen
just such sights as SO frequently con-
front II in the wall rcliefs Of the
ancient fombs of Benz Hassan. Thebes
and others near the pyramids. a young
woman balances herself pon m foot,
goes through various rhythmic per-
formances with the other, while keep
ing time with swinging motions of her
arms. and concludes the exercises with
various feats Of jumping. Even in
the more strenuous forms of acroba-
tics. which in modern times arc to be
witnessed only on the stage, women
We're then skilled performers: for the
pictures show them turning back
somersaults. either singly or firmly
locked together in pairs. the head Of
one being held between the legs of the
other. for all the world like the cor
responding act in the modern circus.
The game of forfeits. a sort of riding
Dall game. was amusing and afforded
plenty of exercise for the young girls.
The penalty for missing the ball con
sisted in an exchange OF positions be-
tween the rider and the mount. The
riders evidently did not sit pig-a-back.
as II might expect, but sideways. so
that it required considerable agility to
retain ones seat while playing.
The modern double spinning wheel
game of children is strikingly shown
in a picture of two girls in inclined
positions being rapidly whirled upon
their heels by two young men, who
grasp them by the wrists. The young
damsels We're less conventional than
their modern sisters. for in many cases
a short petticoat constituted their sole
attire. as they We're accustomed to lay
aside the loose upper robe for greater
freedom in exercising. A girdle about
the waist, n straps or suspenders
over the shoulders. We're sufficient to
secure this garment in place. In some
Of the pictures the ladies are shown
in their boudoirs. busy with the rouge
pot n the eyebrow pencil. Indeed
such things as mirrors, combs. per-
fume ~ ungent jars. and such like
toilet articles. have been found in the
tombs in a fair state of preservation.
Elaborate wigs were a customary
means Of Identification. and many of
them have been found with the num-
mics.
Even the respectable English parlor
game of charades is not now. for it
appears to be have been very popular
with the ancient Egyptians. who gave
exhibitions of this nature for the en-
tertainment of guests after a dinner
or feast. There is a we'll known group
entitled "The Wind" in which three
young women -typify by their. undula-
tions and swaying motions the action
of the wind Upon a field of grass or
papyris reeds. There is also a satiri-
cal group called Victory" or Under
the Feet" in which the kings are so
frequently n enthusiastically repre-
sented in the relief sculptures as tri-
umphing over their enemies. these re-
llefs being always accompanied by the
explanatory superscription. 'all ma
tons lie under thy feet"
Our modern comic illustrated papers
are distinctly foreshadowed by the ar
lists of those ancient times who DOS
by no means deficient in Il certain
form of quaint humor as depicted in
their clever c~aricatures of such human
foiblcs and weaknesses as are usually
ascribed to modern life; namely Cos
sip, foppery, vanity, oStentation and
the vulgar display of riches; and the
ancients ridiculed these %conceits in
much the same way as do our modern
knights Of the pencil.
/. For example. there is extant the
representation Of a bald headed fop
with an expression Of extreme disgust
on his face as he leaves the barber
shop after an unsatisfactory shave.
The foolisllness Of petty wars is Illus
trated by a battle scene in which all
tne are animals; the be-
siegers, soldiers and officers alike, are
represented as dogs marching with
very martial air. While the beleaguered
castle or fort is defended by a garri-
son of cats armed with spears, bows
and arrows. Again. a huge hippopota.
mus is pictured reclining calmly
among the uppermost branches of a
fruit tree watching a black bird,
which, wishing ia share his shady re.
treat. is ascending the rungs Of q lad.
der leading to his reposeful seat Thus
and in a thousand other ways. is the
human nature of five or more thou.
sand years ago brought intimately
home to US today. and we find it to be
s%ingularly familiar.
The prototype of that most modern
of all occupations open to the business
women of our day-that of stenog.
rapher and typewriter--is clearly anc
distinctly represented in a number O,
relief pictures. wherein are show.
a superintendent OF foreman dictatins
his accounts to two young scrtbes, twt
being generally employed simultane
ously to insure accuracy. The artis
showed with wonderful realism how
carefully the superintendent chose hi
words, and how thoughtfully he pom
dered over the business before distat
Ing. Even characters from "Chante
\ NIn@rV r.