The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-18
TABLETS SUCH AS weRE USED in ANCIENT
-1Ufss1 eI-- CORRESPONDENCE

Babylonia that is to-day only one of
many revolutionary changes that are
just beginning to operate in industry
here, to wit, that of profit sharing with
employees. The agent OF a rich man
has written in No. 80 addressing the
servants Of his lord as TO their portion
of the years profits. Only the brick
layers-for what reason is not made
clear - have had their participation
withheld from them. Come up and
your case, which you have, establish
before the servants OF the King the
writer admonishes them.
Larsa may have had its Soviet and
it's Bolsheviki, and tablets OF them
have not yet come to light
Dawn of Labor's Rights.
This is the earliest instance in which
labor is spoken of as having a definite
status. That is, 1000 years ago labor
was invited to lay its case before cap
ital or before the Government which
controlled capital.
Priority Of shipments OF essentials
in war time was not strange to the
ancients. Another epistle from an Of
ficer of the Babylonian army to the
commissary department is plainly
marked rush" 1t den.-nds grain for
the fighting troops and warns do
| not withhold H."
Mothers-in-law were in evidence. A
| lawsuit pertaining to a dowry Is the
| subject OF another communication. and
mother-in-l law seems to have held the
/ winning cards. The writer in report
ing the results OF the action, presum-
ably to the plaintiffs lawyers, says.
I'VE have examined their case. Judg-
ment according 10 the law OF our Lord
we have rendered them. The entire
| dowry which Mattatum gave to her
daughter when she brought her 10 the
house OF Ilushu-Ibishu We have said
must revert to Mattatum. We des-
patch a sheriff to her. Let them give
| unto Mattatum everything in such
good condition as is now beheld."
| The Babylonian law was explicit as
| TO dowries. A husband was entitled
to certain commodities with his bride,
and the brides father Cor mother, as
| the case might be) had to give them
to him. But II the marriage turned
out unhappily the wife could return
| with her dowry to her fathers Cor
| mother's) house. This lawsuit demon
! strates that 1t was sometimes neces-
sary to fight to enforce the law-and
Mattatum won.
/ Phases From Correspondence.
| Previous light thrown on Babylonian
court affairs has denoted that women
always received equal justice with
men. "Babylonia had equal laws for
men and women. and equal rights"
But there are instances of chivalry
toward women before the bar OF Jus
tice; occasionally. as here. seeming
partially is shown one. However,
there is nothing in the old tablets
found so far to show that Babylonia
was ahead Of Nassau county.
The Babylonian business man was
polite and ceremonious when he wrote
yours received and contents duly
noted" Thus he unburdens himself
May Shamash and Marduk pre-.
serve your life!
Concerning that which you wrote
|, Send for thy brother so that he may
assist thee and a man has destroyed
the vessels OF the temple aNl took one
shekel of silver by robbery I reply
as follows: I have taken notice. THAI
81 grain is not In my field.
"'Send me 60 ga OF -four.
, "(R-SASAAng) my garments. which