The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1916-12-28

ston Is by no means prfmtivei The date of this
book is $500 B. c.
Geography was taught, We're astronomy and
history In the collection is the oldest history yet
found, tablet giving the list of Bahylonian kings
going back TO the flood. The claim Is that it is a
record Of $4,000 years. but this may be disputed,
since the names Of the monarehs which seem to
be those of men who reignpd snccessiYely may be
of men who ruled simultaneously, in Kingdoms
That We're adjacent A conservative estimate is
that this history covers 1900 years.
There is book on botany. teaching the people
how to raise the date paim IN important crop of
the times. Agricultural books abound for the
temple had a collegiate department, just have
Cornell and other American universities where
scientific farming taught The Babvlanians,
is we'll known. We're remarkable engineers and
past masters In the field of irrigation. It is not
surprising that Doctor Langdon has found many
records of this in the museums Bahylonian col
lection We learn. again. of canals being dug
and Of tablet that chronicles the opening of a
great waterway, like the Panama cana-the cele-
bration over il. the presence of the king and the
pride felt in the great skill of its engineers.
Further documents are reported verifying preyi-
assertions that the BabYIonan woman re-
ceived an education equal to mans, took her place
with him in certain lines, and was compensated
with the same wage as he.
Books" had no cases and when found are often
crumbled, broken cracked badly Clipped
that parts of the translation must be guessed at
omitted entirely. Others fortunately are found
intact.
Letters the other hand sent in
velopes also of clay. When the tablet letter had
been duly inscribed and signed, it was rolled in
a fine clay powder and slipped into hollow clay
pocket. More clay dust then shaken in, so
that layers of powder packed about the
tents of the pocket and the letter could not get
rubbed or scratched. The clay opening then
sealed and stamped with the sender.s ring.
dispatched with It. Later, know that Baby
loniun and Sumeran governments supported regu-
lar postal systems. 1t is quite possible that that
regime in existence in 23oo Il, c.
Many letters found with seals unbroken,
and these are marvelously preserved in their soft
powdered pads. We only surmise the reason
for their sealed state Perhaps a man kept sealed
copies of the most important letters he had 10
write Duplicate copies eff records and transac-
tions have been unearthed sometimes miles apart;
and the same practice could have held. nationally,
of letters.
Some of these letters may have been
delivered. thanks to an inefficient postal service
in some particular locality; or. and this is more
plausible the breaking out Of frequent revolutions
could have eoneeivaby crippled the Babylonian
post offices and left many letters forever unde-
lvered.
Individually the oldest undevered letter in the
world is in the Rahylonian collection Of the Uni
verSity of Pennsylvania museum. Its date would
be 1000 b. G. ard Doctor Langdon opened and
reaG 1t only last week
II is from master to his slave or to some I'M
derling or employee. Obviously, it is only one of
several letters since it refers to previous CORE
spondence and to a previous transaction over
which the writer is perturbed. It's archaic SUI
merriam is dictatorlal oyerhearing and peevish,
and rants of some unsatisfactory flour deal that
the underling has undertaken. One wonders
whatever became of that fouri
Other tablets being catalogued have pic
lures on them. One, hunting scene, reminds
one of the prehistoric cave drawings found in
France There is another of battle scene, very
much broken but and interesting.
The coming of Doctor Langdon to the Universe
ty of PENNSYLVANIA museum is timely and for
tunate. The Babyionan division has had no eu-