The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-04-14

town was congestcd and had sections
like the sluns OF today with the
crowded dwellings, opening on narrow
alleys. There were ONE separate
dwellings, ana some b~arrack-like struc-
lures presumably for unmarried work
crs. But ever IN the most humble
houses evidences were found that their
occupants lived on a higher plane than
might have been supposed. Various
manuscripts were found including n
medical treatise and several wills. And
in the separate dwellings, were found
such toys as tops and coils and tiny
boats to show that the pastimes OF
children Of that remote time were not
vastly different from those Of today.
At the very border line between the
prehistoric and the historic in Egypt,
civilization, it has been found, had
reached IL considerable degree of de
velopment. Tie tombs Of the first
Egyptian kings, who lived anywhere
from 5000 TO 1000 years ago, are
such as no barbarians could have
crccted-a fact which pushes the be
ginning Of Egyptian civilization into Il
a very dim past indeed. This was be-
fore the days OF pyramid building
when the tombs were underground
structures.
Preserved in the Tomb5.
The furniture Of this distant period
was by 40 means crude rs II might
assume it would have been. There
were ebony chests skillfully inlaid
with ivory, stools with ivory legs
carved like the legs OF bulls, vessels
cut from alabaster and ewerS Of cop
per wrought with the cunning that
only highly skilled craftsmen could
have possessed. Daintily fashioned
bracelets on the withered arms OF the
mummy Of Egypt's first known queen
add further to the record Of the prog
ress in the arts which Egypt had at
tanned when we catch our first glimpse
Of it down the ages.
And there Is a pretty little picture
of the family relations OF this ancient
society. Besides the tomb Of the first
Egyptian king at Abydos is that OF
his daughter, and carved IN her tomb
the pet name by which her father
knew her-"Sweetheart."
Even at that early date the court
was socially highly organized.
WomanhoOd was sincerely respect
ed in ancient Egypt and especially
was this true OF the mothers. What
might be called Egvpt's substitute for
the fifth commandment ignored the
father. 1t was an injunction: "Never
forget what thy mother hath done for
thee. She bare thee and nOurished
thee In all manner of ways. If thou
fOrgettca her. she might blame thee;
she might lift up her hands to God,
and He would hear her complaint
In many families il was the custom
for titles and property TO pass not to
the eldest son but to tie son Of the
eldest daughter. There was no moth
er-in-law joke In Egypt. To the mind
Of the Egyptian 1t was the natural
thing that his wife's relations should
take Il deeper interest In his affairs
than his blood relations.
Much OF the ability OF those who
live today to look into the past Of
Egypt. TO see something OF It's flesh
and-blood life, and to understand
somewhat Of the joys and sorrows Of
it's people, must be ascribed to the
preserving powers OF the desert air
OF that sandy land. The perfect CON
dition OF some Of the objects recovered
from tombs Is marvellous. One Of the
best examples Of this was the tomb
Of the noble parents Of the great
Queen Tyi. The discOverer Of the
large airy chamber that was provided
as a home for these important per
! sonages declared that IL seemed the
room might have been shut up only a
few weeks before. Beautifully carved
and inlald arinchairs stood about, on
them down-stuffed cushions that
could have been sat upon without in
jury. In another part Of the room
were twin beds" perfectly preserved.
The most amazing discovery Of all
was that Of II Jar Of honey, 1890 years
old. still q fluid ana still having It's
recognizable Odor.