davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07
OF 1000 B. c. ENJOYED THE SAME RIGHTS AS MEN
Deciphering Of Many Of
the 10000 Tablets
Dug Up Casts Inter.
esting Light on Life
of People

They were inferior to the personal seals
found SO many In the ruins Of baby.
lonia and which no one living now
can duplicate In their wonderful de-
sign and finish.
Women were sometimes slaves In
those days. But 80. too, were men.
And the lot Of each was equally hard.
But a slave woman could marry Q
free man, and II she had children by
him they were free: II she had accu-
mulated any fortune, half of It de-
scended to her owner and half to her
children at her death. but II she had
no offspring her master got all. In
like manner a slave man could wed
a free woman with exactly the same
regulations. Slaves apparently could
lease or buy property and the sanctity
Of their families was observed. even
when both parents were slaves. The0
were no bitter separations through
sale by owners.
A fragment Of a lost part Of the Code
Of Hammurabi has turned up among
these clay tablets from the temple.
II had apparently beer copied at some
time from the code itself and Is chiefly
important because II contains the reg.
ulation Of inn prices mentioned above.
and the first bankruptcy law.
1t was inevitable that mi should
have had a high place in civilized
Babylonia. For Babylonla was In "a
young world which. at the beginning
Of things, was woman-made In all
the Oldest myths and legends 1t Is the
woman who creates. We hav the first
tablet recording creation at the Mu-
scum: Nintu, the goddess, made men
and m some out OF clay and some
out Of wood: my creations" she called
them. and 1t was she who warned her
Child Noah that the Flood was COM
ing. Later tpen wrote history and
changed all this. But II had not been
changed in the seventh century before
Christ.
The more tablets that are found M
translated. the nearer We shall come to
a full understanding of all that civili-
zation stood for in pre-B!blical years.
And with that will he evolved inevi-
tably a history of pre-Biblical mi
OF individual women OF importance
We have as yet very little information.
Seiniramis lived in 500 b. C. and was
for a long time looked upon as a half
mythical person, 80 elaborate Is the
story OF her divine origin, her reign.
and her end; but she has recently
been established 10y tablet find as u
historical person. very much alive at
n time.
.Azag-Bau Is the most recent and
most valuable discovery. In at least
$500 y. {. she overthrow the dynasty
Of Erech and reisned in his place 100
! years, so 1t Is said. \ monument IL
erected TO her and she II called The
Palace Lady" OF her superior intelli-
gence and ability there can be not
the slightest doubt. Would the Baby
lonian merchant and savant have de-
MED her the vote
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07

a.,or u,,o
.t,. ~, ...aa,,a... f,rca has
ia nr
N r. -. rna,o,
-
- ~
- .. .u.-
wr,o,o
49,. ..rno,
p'Fiu nn VI NV -.
r,,os. No aooo IL the same roll two
years later We note hat one man
has had his salary raised; another
ms had hia cut down. a third man
h,s d,ed aud n womn. has taken his
inh she receives The Same salary.
In the reign of Nazi- AIarattash III.
.nn,h.r ,emnIe bookkeeping ccount
nunears On II womcn's salaries for
tho vhoie vcar are given. and they
ro,.i,.e uho, men would have received
for tho Same employment.
az. r,a, pi.
- n.ia.,,., 80 tho sun cod In
'.u y -. ,.r ho,,s. IN n man
.'fp", a,aataI .,in,l.tio, that he
W." - So, 'rIv tho annual
49," 80 ,,rao OILS ~, silver. hut
'nr,tona ., nork and thirty
~. -, -,
- - ar,,L In tho ,ayerns
1T 80 cd exclusively by
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07

settlement, was. to quote from a note
on Commerce and Law made by
the bridegroom. but was deposited with
the brides father for her benefit. The
lowry on the other hand. was given
by the brides father to the prospec-
tive son-in-law." In the event Of a
successful marital life the man got
his bride price back some time.
Many contracts stipulated that II
a man dismissed his wife she was
to have not only her dowry. but the
man was To- pay her damages as we'll;
If she was the offender. she forfeited
her dowry and paid him the same
amount of damages. 1t was "A nice
equality OF the sexes.
divorce can be granted in case Of
a ch.ldless marriage, but the marriage
gift. as we'll as the dowry which the
woman has received from her father :
house. must be returned to her, and
If there VAS no marriage gift, the
husband must. In that case. give his
wife a nina of silver-an amount
which is reduced to one-third in case
the husband belongs TO the plehesan
class. Two other causes for divorce
are improper conduct on the part of
the woman or incompat!bllity between
husband and wife"
But divorce was not too easy. \.
man could not set aside his wife IL
she had poor health. She might in
any event. II she chose, take her
duwry and her wi property. II she
had any. and return to her fathers
! house, but If she elected to stay her
husband might not III treat her. She
was head of his house. eVen though
he married again. which was per
missible.
IL a man accused his wife Of infdel-
ity he had To prove II; but-and this
is significant of woman's power then
she did not have to prove an cCusa
ton against him. The laws. however,
COMPENSATED. IF proved guilty tho
wife was thrown into the river or
from the top of a column. but the man
went free when his guilt was estab-
lished.
Widows. wives and daughters were
well fortified by Hammuradi. 70
quote from The Civilization of BABY
lonia and Assyria": The widow r.
oeives her dowry and the marriage
gift on the death of her husband. ant
is allowed Ia remain in her husbands
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07

was always a delicate n for Mexico,
Cuatema.an eN!les and rev~olutionists
could not be prevented from using
Mexico az a refuge and as a base of
revolutionary plots. Guatemala on her
part embarrassed sometimes the MeXi-
can Government. when former Presi-
dent Rarrillas was making Mexico
his residence he was
us-assluated 10y Guatcmalans, VINO
escaped. The Guatema An Govern
ment showed marked Indifference In
Moxico'r demand for their eNtradition.
Whatever ambition Mexico q the
past may have cherished for Gnate-
malan territory the Carranza Govern
mcnt Is not Likely 10 nour.sh terri
tor.al designs. 1t has enough to do
with establishing itself in the borders
Of Mexico proper. Yet it Is perfectly
understood that there will he revolu-
tionary movements formed along the
border by dissatisfied Guatemalans,
and the omen question is what the Car
ranzt author.t cs can do or will care
to do to stop them.
The cho'erir old gentleman who by
the action of the Washington Admin
4FlItAiAHliA lAi@ WI 'll' W y
head of Mexico does not like Estrada
Cabrera, and Estrada Cabrera does not
Ike him. II il not. therefore. improb-
able that II exchange of views be-
tween Cabrera and C%arranza on the
border situation VIII be pointed;
whether they WI lead to an actual
rupture cannot now be guessed.
The reverse side of the situation is
the possibility Of "A Mexican revolution
against CarranZa which will seek sup
port from Guatemala, Carran2a "A
had a nominal control on Tehuan-
tepec and the State OF Chiapas since
the IIuerta Federal commanders gave
up or became bandits,
Chiapas has shown considerable in
dependence of all the factions, At enc
time /, was vepOrtod to he IN a move
ment with the adjoining States to form
"A new republic, but this movement
never got further than the exercise OF
an unusual dcerce of local indepcnd-
once. If the state Is handled wisely
by the ~Carranz!stas there need be no
trouble. If L IL handled ar~rogantly
and with Indifference To ocal interests
the pruepect Of the southern segment
of Mexico precipitating an imbroslio
bet the de facto carranza Gov
eminent and Guatemala is not remote.
The international bridge over the
Such!atc has n military advantage
which is frankly r~cCOgn.zcd on both
sides of the river, When the Pan
American Railway reached the south
ern frontier the expectation was that
r., -. -FL 80, ,,t1tr... fi,Aa N,.AfI'l hn
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07

husband absent from home ON BUSH
ness. me II Ia interesting to compare
with the code the discussions and ie-
cisions on the complications arising
from such circumstances in the Tai
mudical. treatise setting forth the jew
lsh practice. with the same endeavor
to distinguish between enforced alb
sence and actual desertion. ON the
latter subject the Babylonlan Code Is
brief and explicit. The woman can
marry another. and II the first hus-
band returns she Is not TO Ego back
to him" That is. If she has been de-
serted.
From this Il will be seen that the
laws ~ affecting wives differed less
from those in force to-day than one
would have imagined. the points of
similarity being more numerous than
those of dissimilarity.
Some of the University Museums
tablets are purely and delightfully."-
feminine. There Is a guarantee by a
jewe!ler to a woman customer that an
emerald he has set in a gold ring for
her will not fall out for twenty years.
Again. a lady gives her slave girl as
security for payment of a debt. n
wonders II 1t was u gambling debt.
Women played at games OF nance.
gossiped. went to a SUR enough cir
Gus where performers did deeds
of grace and daring in the ring, or
drove In their chariot together to the
hunt. Mural paintings on the walls
Of B~abylonian ruins tell us this.
They spent hours over their toilette,
using many kinds Of cosmetics from
beautifully jewelled cases M tubes
hat have been found with the paint
and the brush lying dried in them they
had mirrors of highly polished bronze.
The prevailing styles remind us of
those Of the present season. witt
rather full skirts. tier upon tier. they
wore turbans and cloaks. for those are
mentioned in one brides dowry list.
Adoption was an institution in
Babylonia, and undoubtedly was OF
mutual benefit to the contracting par
ties. Parents thereby secured greater
advantages for their offspring. and
the foster parents were guaranteed
against "A lonely. uncared for old age
The laws Furnishing ingratitude in
these cases were severe, and applied I,
both children and foster parents. Male
and female children were adopted Will
identical stipulations.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07

w rt'ns 'S"" '""" I STAR star. solder.
w adventurer and member OF the
family to which Edgar Allan Poe be-
longed. was killed in France Will"
serving as "A private in the British
Black Watch Regiment. officers of the
United States Marine Corps began to
recall incidents in his career,
In 1903, when war threatened be-
tween the United states n Colombia
over the Panama Canal strip, Poe, by
authority of the then Secretary OF the
Navy, John d. Long. enlisted Win the
sea soldiers to serve during the war.
IL war should not result he was I"
be discharged, for, excellent soldier
thong he was. he could not bear the
'rigors' OF a peaceful campaign.
Capt. Smedley ID, Butler appointed
Poe a sergeant In his machine u
company, an appointment not at all 10
the adven;urer's liking. So Poe went
to Col. Littlcton w. I. Waller lnoW
in command of the Marine Corps
forces ashore in HaytD and asked to
be reduced to private.
Il don't think I'm capable Of holding
The rank Of sergeant in the United
states Marine Corps he told Col. Wal
Ter.
This was an unusual case and the
Colonel wanted To know why Poe con-
sidered himself not fitted to hold the
rank.
81 have a fair education and con-
siderable military training Poe re-
piled. "bu | haven't been in the
Marine Corps long enough to he a
sergeant and to do the duties as well
AS "A marine sergeant should do them"
Col. Waller smiled. why. Poe
he said, IA number Of Second Lieutcn-
ants. only recently commissioned, have
Just Joined us, and 10 one expects
them To know everything there is to
know
That's all right, Colonel Poe re-
piled quickly. y one expects a Sec
ond Lieutenant TO know anything, but
they do expect "A whole lot from q
sergeant
Poe was reduced 10 private and was
| put In charge Of the mule corral. As
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07

fairy well advanced for the establish
ment Of an American bank. They fell
through for various reasons, including
the uncertainty as To- the means OF re-
funding the debt and the generally un-
satisfactory political situation.
The Germans still are the predomi-
mating financial power in Guatemala,
Notwithstanding the interruption 10
their trade caused by the world war.
Their Investments In coffee planta-
lions alone . to $4,000, 900.
They show M eagerness 10 let go
these investments.
The largest investment which the
United States may he said To have is
in the railways, the outcome OF c. Il.
H~uutlng;on's original investment.
Part Of the capital in these railways
has been supplied by the sale Of bonds
in Europe, yet The companies are con-
sidered an American enterprise ind in
Ease If trouble the investors un-
questionably would look to the United
States for protection.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07
PRENTISS POE, JR., RELATIVE
OF POET, KILLED IN FRANCE

the threatened war did not occur, he
was discharged from the Marine Corps
and later enlisted in the kentucky
State militia during the Gov. Goebel
shooting trouble. Even duty on The
dark and bloody ground during those
troublesome times didn't bring him the
excitement he CraNcd and he bitterly
contided to Marine Corps friends, Il
believe that If ] ever get TO hell III
find the fires banked
still in pursuit Of the elusive strife
he became a captain in the Honduran
army in 1907. when that country was
at war with Nicaragua, and during the
brief struggle got several thrills at the
siege of Anapal ana the battle ~
Buenavista. 1t was after the conclu-
sion of that wal that Foe with five
other Americans who We're serving in
the Honduran army became involved
IN some sort OF trouble with the Gov-
eminent authorities INC for "A time
their lives were in Jeopardy. At the
urgent request of the American Consul
the L, :, :, Princeton wns des-
patched to the Honduran coast to
rescue the adventurous Americans.
The IrinCctou,s cutter on reaching
shore at an agreed point found them
alive and well n anxious to get back
10 the States.
But my baggage aid Poe to the
Princeton's Captain, who had come
ashore in the cutter. What Of my
baggage? Please to remember that !
am an officer and gentleman in the
service of the Honduran Government
and | have much luggage"
We'll attend to that all right" Ssid
the PrincetOn's commander easily.
"How much have you got?"
"Fi!tv-four pieces all told" replied
-, Poe.
The Princeton's skipper was aghast.
do you think my gunhoat il q
freighter. sir? However, we'll fetch
II off for you. Kindly enumcrate the
pieces and what they contain. so that
! may send sufficient sWall boats and
men to handle H."
Poe was deeply engross,d In thought
for a moment as II trying To remember
everything and then said, "one pack
Of playing cards and an extra pair OF
socks"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07

AS a daughter she had certain rights
to dowry and inheritance tina corre-
sponded to the sons right to a mar
riage portion and a share in his fathers
estate: ~ a wife she bought and
sold land conformity with her husband:
and as wife and widow she was en-
titled to a very definite, mar equal
share in any estate Of the man she
married.
The temple Of Emil was n kind of
corporation. as well as a legal and
business centre: these were added TO
its religious and collegiate functions.
II owned land and houses which 1t
leased: men and women paid rent and
presented votive offerings to It; they
went to IL for wages and money with
which to pay debts and ransoms to the
enemy. and We're not charged interest;
and all contracts OF marriage. trans
fer or lease of land or slaves, deeds.
notes, &c, were written and executed
in II. Documents were made In dupli-
cate. and sometimes a man took his
away and hid II in his house. leaving
the copy IN the temple. So are our
deeds to-day kept m file in a recorders
Office. Assyriologists have established
this fact by the occasional discovery
If two tablets of the same transaction
at two different spots.
But the great majority were kept
in the temple archives. together with
the textbooks on astrology, history
and grammar and with a great mass "
books OF temple business. The tablets
are OF Cay, sometimes baked, some
times only dried in the UNI; they are
tiny; any one OF them may be picked
up between the thumb md forefnger.
In some instances finds are badly
crushed and m%utilated, much interest
ing data having been ohliterated: in
other cases the tablets are still Won
derfully perfect.
They We're. originally. pillow shaped
or rectangular cakes ~ clay, usually
enclosed in an envelope of clay with
powdered clay poured about the en-
closure To prevent rubbing. We know
that all letters-and the early Nippur-
ians were great letter writers-were
! sealed and sent this way: but AS we
-, tear on and destroy an envelope and
keep the contents, y the Sumerian
broke and threw away his clay COW
ering and kept the letter Of his friend.
In many cases the envelope protect
ing "A contract has been c~rurnhled and
lost by centuries of crushing walls
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07

tries. She has had some able Generals.
who have undoubtedly cherished this
ambition. but when the Dictator
President Rutlnu Barrlus fell at the
head Of his troops this prospect was
ended in the military sense. There
after any power which Guatemala en-
ertcd was through the underground
channels Of Central American dlplo-
macy.
The official attitude Of Guatemala in
relation to the other Central American
countries has been that If benevolent
neutrality, hut this bcnevolcnce some
tines takes a form that is not appre-
ciated. Whenever q revolution starts
in Honduras, for example, the cynical
General Americans are IN the habit Of
saying that II il a revolution against
Guatemala or in favor of Guatemala.
as the case may he, The President Of
Guatemala naturally desires a friendly
President IN Honduras and hence il
has happened that the Honduras Presi-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07

house as long az she lives. but she is
not allowed to sell it. for 1t belongs
to her children. If no marriage gilt
has been made then the widow re-
Ceives In addition to her dowry IN
mount equivalent TO the share of a
son. The widow is further protected
from m-altreatment from her children.
who ma not force her To leave the
husbands house without good cause"
THE dignity of marriage and the
family life had been recognized To the
extent that the father gives N daugl-
ter n dowry on her marriage. and
hat a portion of the estate is settled
upon her. though the latter does not
appear to nave been obligatory. II
is expressly provided. however. hat IL
the father fails TO give his daughter
n dowry she il entitled to n share in
the ostute on the fathers death equiv
alont to that Of a son with the re-
striction, however. that after her death
1t reVerts to her brothers.
The question OF missing husbands
who had gone to fight or on n husine ~
trip was much more important in those
days of frequent wars and uncertain
means of communication than 1t Is to-
day. Starting from the principe
that a nan must provide for his wife,
the code adds a number of dcclsio Is
10 distinguish between dcsCrtlon and
enforced absence. II "A man is cap
tured but there is provision made 10y
him for his wife she must remain
F, faithful To him. II she fails to do 80
She Is to hc thrown into the water.
but II tho husband fails To- provide for
her she - free from blame II. as the
phrase of the code reads. she enters
the house Of another; and II she
bears children To her second husband,
and thrn the first one returns she is
10 be taken back by her first husband,
while the children ~ the second one
are placed IN charge of the father.
Such cases arose frequently in con
sequence of the numerous wars N
which the petty states and after
ward the united states of the Eu-
pirates Valley We're engaged. as a
consequence of which wives might Be
IN doubt, whether their captured hus-
bands would ever return. Making
provision for the wife was. however.
taken as an Indication of the hus-
bands intent to return, and there
fore the woman was bound to him
until she heard that he had persisted
The same would apply. rf course TO q
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07
Delicate Situation Brewing in Which Relations With the \
Government MAY Be Further Strained

dent sometimes has been a protege OF
the Guatemalen executive.
opinions differ in II marked degree
among Central Americans regarding
the future relations OF Guatemala with
the other countries, hut the pre-
puNderant view seems to he that there
former years.
The internal situation VI Guatemala
is. after ali. the test 10y which the
country's relations with Mexico n
the other Central American countries
VIII he determined. The revolutionary
Guatemalans and their ahettors in tn.
rest of Central America and in
The United States. who characterize
Cabrera as another Daz. will not make
much Roadway by mere characteriza-
tiuns of this kind.
Cabrera actually has initiated many
social and economic reforms, but his
opponents give him no credit for them.
lie has Ia deal with an Indian popula-
: ton in "A mass which Is unlike the peon
population of Mexico. II Is homo
geneous. but has none Of the tribal
characteristics of the Mexican Indians.
Consequently there are few tribal
,eaders tn set themselves up as mill
tary chieftains,
Tie military class has not got
the hold in Guatemala that it mas
obtained ia other Latin American
countries. Cabrera himself is a
civilian. He was n lawyer at Ouetzel-
tenango who had become primer
d~esignado. or first vice-president. at a
,g.x. ,-l.,N ,I. .,litnrv, l,,t nroht,, -
Rutino Barrios was strongest. on
suCCcedng 10 the Presidency he
astonished the military group by
organizing a compact following which
challenged their pans. They were
not strong enough Ia organize Il sue
cessful revolution against him and this
has been the situation during the
eighteen ears of his administration
lie has escaped ASSASSINATION narrowly
on several occasions.
Cabrera differs essentially from
Portirio Diaz in that he has not sur
rounded himself with n group Of men
such as the Cientiticos. He has been,
and he will continue to he, the whole
Government SO long AS his power
lasts. He has also shown considerable.
rcsourcofulness as a diplomat. lie
has STAYED off importunate foreign
creditors and has hafied the foreign
Governments which threatened him
At times he has been in high favor
in Washington and at other times
his popularity has been below zero
His status at h present period Il
not exactly known.
As part Of his general policy Presi'
dent Cabrera has encouraged develop
INK the of Guatemala, TIL,
railways which he has caused to b,
built are part oc n comprehensive
programme of internal development
The coffee crop is the foundation OF
such prosperity as the country en-
Joys, but the other agricultural re-
sources are considerable, Last year
ON account of the European war
coffee found only "A partial market "a
unremune.ative prices. This year tn,
prices are good. and Notwithstanding
that the European market IL still
partly closed most OF the crop vii
be handled probably,