s
ANCIENT NIPPUR,
tVONDKItl ( L RKVKI.ATIONS OF rK
HISTOIUC CIVILIZATION,
An American Expedition Makrs a Wnmter.
ful Find Kernrdd of Civilisation Otoi
Ten TliouiiniKl Yrnrs Old King SnrRnn
Value of the Discovery.
Recent discoveries In Babylonian hts
tory. made through the medium of ex
cavations conducted on the site of ol(
Nippur, supposed to be the oldest cllj
of the world, by a commission sent oui
by the University of Pennsylvania
necm to carry back Bible chronolcio
and the vestiges of early clvilizatlor
several thousand years. The commui
lon, of which the Hev. John P. Peters
I). D.. was the first director, and Prof
Herman V. Ililprecht the permanent
Assyrlologist, discovered the Interest
ing fact that ancient Nippur, supposec
to be the oldest city of the world, wni
built upon the ruins of a etlll moro an
cient city, in which were found brlcki
containing cuneiform descrlptloni
which carry the records of clvllizatlor
back to the year (estimated) 5,250 B. C
Prof. Hllprecht believes the records t
be still older, probably 9,000 U. C, an
Dr. Peter's computation, on the record!
found, places the date of the ancieu'
city at 7,000 B. C.
It is admitted that these dlseoverlei
will have a roost important lnfluenci
upon Bible chronology, which is prac
tically revolutionized, as well as upor
archaeological study.
Eight years ago, when the Univer
sity of Pennsylvania decided to senc
out an expedition for Babylonian re
search, Prof. Hllprecht and Rev. Dr
Peters, then professor of archaeologj
at the university decided upon Nlppui
as the spot that offered promise of th
most ancient finds. They were no'
mistaken. The whole world of learn
ing has been thrilled by the records thi
American excavators have dug up un
der the Temple of Bel at Nippur.
To understand the method of archae
ological research in Babylonia, it mils'
be remembered that, from the begin
ning of religion in the East, there hai
been a firm belief, which thousands ol
years have not been able to shake, tba'
nothing about a temple must ever b(
destroyed. The vases on which wen
written the temple archives were kep1
for thousands of years, and were brok
en only by accident. The worship-pen
believed that never could any tenipli
prosper that did not stand upon tht
outlines of the first temple. If the ole
temples were in ruins they did not re
move the fallen walls, but built upot
them. The same practice is etlll adher
ed to in the East.
Prof. Herman V. Hilrrecht.
The ruins of ancient Nippur consist
d of a series of sand mounds, at tli
apex of which was a hilltop ninety
seven feet above the surrounding ilea
ert level and fifty feet above the sur
rounding debris. The Arabs called tin
hill "Daughter of the Prince." Thi
walls of the temple, as they wen
excavated, seemed to have been butl
by Kadashman-Durgn, who lived oulj
1,200 years before Christ. But it tool
only a little work to reveal that tin
bricks which bore his name formec
only a thin veneer, on the real bodj
of the temp!e, which had been put then
to protect the more ancient shrine fron
the wearing effects of the sand of thi
desert. The temple proper, it wai
found, had been built by King Ur-gur
w-ho nourished 2,800 years B. C. Th
workmen dug away until they reachec
the foundations of Ur-gur's temple
which were eight feet thick. Here tliej
discovered that it had been built upor
a still more ancient temple, the foun
dation of which consisted of twe
coufaes of immense baked bricks of e
size and shape like nothing ever be
fore found In Babylonia or anywher
else in the world. In addition to King
Sargon's name in cuneiform characters
each brick boro the deliberate thumt
Imprint of the slave who made It, The
scientists were dumbfounded. Sargon
who is mentioned in the Bible, hac
long been considered n myth by archae
ologists. Yet here was the ruins ol
his temple, bearing his name, and th
debris of the city over which he had
ruled. Assyrian history, at a leap
was carried bn.ck thirty dynasties be
yond tho ie!gn of the most ancient
King hitherto known.
Under the t-,vo courses of great
bricks laid by Sr.rpon was found strata
about thirty feet thick containing vasei
and inscribed fragments that had beer
gradually deposited by centuries of In
habt'taiils. As the excavators wenl
down, the evidence became more and
more clear that they were delving in
the rulna of a city that antedated bj
thousands of years the most ancienl
records of known civilization. Th
curelform inscriptions grew mor
primitive at every step. Prof. Hll-preeh-t,
who is perhaps the best living
authority in the curelform characters,
and knew that it originated in plcturt
writing, felt sure that before the bot
tom of th'o vein was struck the pictures
would bo found. The excavations wert
continued to a depth of thirty foot be- !
low .the platform of Sargon, where vlr-'
Sin clay was found, and all traces ot ;
iuiman life disappeared. They uncarai-'
rd no writings in which the pictures'
were whole. They found that the pros-1
ent desert level was not the one that
had existed in the early days of Nippur j
There was an older desert thirty feet
or so below the present line, orr this
plain ancient Nippur had been found
ed. Prof. Hllprecht Is satisfied, from con
servative computations of the growth
of the layers of strata, that the lower
trams were accumulated 2,000 years
before Snreon's flay nml at least G.OOt
wri before Christ. Fragments wer
found containing cuneiform character!
scratched 6,000 years B. C. But the
world was not an infant even In those
rVij.q. The earliest cf the writings
found represent a development that
mt!!t have required at least 3,000 years
so that Prof. Hilprecht's estimate thai
the records of man's works at Nlppui
extend back at least 9,000 years scetni
to bo a reasonable one.
The expedition is admitted to be on
r,f the mont important scientific under
takings In the history of Western Asia
Ruins of Anciont Nippur.
Tl:e deciphering of the inscriptions ani
the piercing of the fragmentary text
will be the work of years. Many inter
esting stories have already been found
In the mute bricks and fragments ol
the ancient city. The completed result
will be of the highest Importance bott
to Biblical and archaeological students
"Ililprecht may well be proud," said
Professor Sayce, of Oxford, "of th(
niscr.lflcent results he has achieved,'
and the other European archaeologists
who, with Sayce, Is considered a lead
er in the science, Hummel, of Munich
added that "No other living Assyrlol
oslst could equal such a contributor
to science."
It. L. SIMMS.
D3IR POINT THE WAT TO GOLD.
lrcunmtnncei Which Open Uoldeu Ylstai
for a 'I aaldormlst.
Frank Dixon, the taxidermist of 72!
Walnut street, who left this city threi
weeks ago to hunt for gold In Colorado
which he thought he could locate fron
gold dust which be found on deer'i
teeth, has written back that he Is stil
on the hunt and In no wise discourag
ed.
Dixon's hunt for gold, and the way ii
which he undertook It, would seem t
many like a wild goose chase. Dixoi
was the only taxidermist in this city
Birds and animals came to him fron
over all tho west to be stuffed am
mounted. A year ago he received tw
deer's heads from Colorado to b
mounted, and when Dixon skinned
them ho noticed a yellow substance or
:he teeth. He examined the teeth close
iy in the light and thought ho saw t
sparkle. He argued this way: "Thi
Jeer came from Colorado, the land o:
gold, they browsed on grass that grei
where there was so much gold that it!
dust got on the grass and became In
crusted on the deer's teeth; it only re
mains to find the exact spot where tin
deer were shot, and there will be foun(
tho gold."
Dixon took the teeth to a dentist
and he said the Incrustation was reall:
i gold deposit. He took them to hit
friend Schnetter, a goldsmith, and In
became as enthusiastic as Dixon. Dix
on then wrote to the man who htid sen
him the deer's heads and found oir
where the deer were shot, away ou
beyond Denver in the wilds of Colora
do. Schnetter and Dixon started thret
weeks ago for that place.
A letter received from Dixon states
that Schnetter has etarted back tc
Kansas City, but Dixon, still full ot
hope, was about to start on a thre
week's tour along the Bouth fork of th
Wliite river. He had found no trace ol
sold, but the woods were full of grousi
and deer. He had examined the teett
Di all the deer shot, and they were nl
mcrusted with the yellow, shining de
iodt which he was sure was gold.
Kansas City Star.
r;fi
The Supreme Court on Tiiotlmclio.
The dignity of the Supreme Court ol
.'Jorth Carolina may have suffered in Hi
manner of rendering a recent decision
a at the departure from the stilted and
.nvolved phraseology of the court re
:,or;s has a breezy novelty about it
:hnt will win it welcome. That featur
of the decision is of more interest than
.ts subject matter. It waa in denial ol
:!ie right of a dentist to give a pre
scription for the sale of whisky on Sun.
J.ay and reads in part as follows: "II
dentists camo within the term 'phys
rifin.' as used in code, section 11,
tooihache' would became alarmingly
more prevalent than "(make-bite, and
'.hat it would with usage, become more
langerous is evident from the fact that
:he very first dental surgeon's prescrip
!on for toothache coming before us is
for 'one pint of whisky.' The size o!
.he tooth is not given, nor whether It
svas a molar, ineleor, eye-tooth or wis-iom-tcoth
and yet there are thirty
:wo teeth in a full net, each of which
HKglit ache on Sunday. Tho duties
;f a dentist are limited to the 'manual
jr mechanical operations' on the teeth
Whenever the use of liquor is neces?
?r.ry, it being a remedy to act on the
body and only indirectly in case for the
tec ih, within the purview of the statute
it must be prescribed by a 'physician'
'o authorize a sale on Sunday." New
Voile Post.
i:
Tact ami Uentleneia.
Cf nil the gifts to be prayed for, next
!n Rraoo at heart, tact and gentleness
:: nuvuner are the most desirable. A
I (ju;, shy, curt manner, a cold In
lirurcnce, a snappish petulance, 1
!.. appearance of stolidity, antag
r. -.... 2 r-nd wound and rob even really
i.::.d notions of half their value. It is
v, uriii while to do a kind thing grace
fully Piul tactfully. There is a certain
propriety of demeanor which never
1:1-1 u r-r, a mistake, which guards the
t-.tliiiK of a loved one as carefully aa
a moiher cherishes her llttla Viellcate
t hlld. In time such fact becomes na
tural, and one who has It makes others
happy without trying to do so. 4
THE COLUMBIAN,
Eleotion Figures.
The remarkable nature of tlie re
cent election is only becoming known
as the figures are studied and com
pared with those of the presidential
election in 1892. And the more they
are studied Wie more remarkable the
election of McKinley appears to be.
In 1894 Cleveland had a popular
vote oi SSO.Q'S. and Harrison
5,170,108, and there were 12,110,636
votes cast. Cleveland had a popular
plurality 01 330,810. Tins year Jlryan
poued, as correctly as we can ascer
tain, 6,344,463 votes, or 787,545
votes more man Cleveland received.
On the surface, added to Cleveland's
plurality of 380,810, this would seem
to indicate a great victory for Bryan.
But while the Democratic vote in
creased that much the Republican
vote increased 1,876,994 giving Mc
Kinley a plurality of 708,639.
McKinley received 7,053,102 votes,
the most ever cast for any candidate.
The total vote was it, 600,000, an
increase of three millions and a half
since the last presidential election.
While McKinley's plurality is very
large the returns show that it can be
made up by the pluralities of three
states Massachusetts with 165,000,
New York with 249,000 and Pennsyl
vania with nearly oo,ooo. In the
ten fusion states we mentioned a few
days ago California, Illinois, Iowa,
Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey,
Ohio, Oregon, West Virginia and
Wisconsin while the Democratic
vote increased 212,67c, enoimh to
have carried them for the Democratic
candidate, the Republican vote in
creased more than 730,000, sweeping
these states into the McKinley col
umn, although Kentucky went there
by only a couple of hundred, not
enough votes to carry all the electors.
The vote was a tremendous one, at
least on paper. We hope it is a leal
one. It is, to say the least, remarka-
Dle that what appears to be a plurality
ofi,i6S,355 should be met with an
increased vote of 1,876.994, assuring
a Republican plurality of 708,639. It
is remarkable but Hannaesque. And
it is also remarkable that three states
should give that much plurality alone
and that in all the others Bryan could
not get enough votes to elect him.
That also was Hannaesque, Patriot.
Turucd Down the Minors.
We clip the followinc from the
Daily, published at Sunbury. It says:
"1 he lnuiiznation of the working-
men of the anthracite coal resrion is
aroused at the glaring insult by the
newspapers ot Philadelphia, when tney
declined to publish the resolutions on
the United States Senator contest and
condemnatory to John Wanamaker,
one of the candidates for that hich
office- It is known that the resolu-.
tions that were adopted at the late
convention of the United Mine Work
ers of America were furnished to
every morning paper in Philadelphia
on Friday night, but all declined to
publish them. This was the case
with every paper, no matter what its
political complexion, and now the
miners wonder how it comes that
these papers take such interest in the
workingmen, when their direct votes
are needed and trive them a cold turn
clown at a time when, though they
nave no vote, they have a right to ex
press a desire to have onlv a man
friendly to their interests fill a certain
nign piace.
Reduced Bates to Washington on Account
cf the Inauguration via Pennsylvania
Railroad.
For the benefit of those who desire
to attend the ceremonies incident to
the inauguration of President-elect
McKinley, the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company will sell excursion tickets
to Washington March 1, 2, 3, and 4,
valid to return from March 4 to 8, at
the following rates : From New York,
$8.00 ; Philadelphia, $5.40 ; Balti
more, $1.60 ; Ilarrisburg, $5.06 ;
Williamspoit, $8.79 ; Buflalo, $11.20;
Rochester, $10.48; Altoona and
Pittsburg, $10.00 ; and from all other
stations on the Pennsylvania system
at reduced rates.
This inauguration will be a most
interesting event, and will undoubted
ly attract a large number of people
from every section of the country.
I he magnificent , facilities of the
Pennsylvania Railroad make this line
the favorite route to the national
capital at all times, and its enormous
equipment and splendid terminal ad
vantages at Washington make it es
pecially popular on such occasions.
Chailes Clark, of Williamsport, was
on Friday riddled with shot while out
gunning. He sat down to rest with
his head agaii.st a ntump, and had on
an old gray hat, which, from a dis
tance, resembled the color of a squirrel
01 that species. William Criwford,
with another party, mistook Clark's
hat for a squirrel and shot at it.
Clark was not killed but he is badly
injured.
Thin or errav hair and bald heads.
so (lisi)lcasiiiL' to manv people as
I 1 a -
marks of me. may be averted lor a
1 long time by using Hall's Hair Re
nder.
BLOOMSBURG, PA.
B0Y3 AND TOBACCO.
A skilled physician recently inves
tigated the effects of smoking on
thirty-eight boys between the ages of
nine and fifteen years. Twenty-seven
showed distinct signs of nicotine poi
soning In twenty-two there were
serious disorders of the ciiculation,
indigestion, dullness of intellect, and
a marked appetite for strong drink.
In there was heart aflcction; in eight
decided deterioialion of the blood ;
in twelve frequent bleeding of the
nose ; ten had disturbed sleep, and
four ulceration of the mouth ; of
course many of them having several
of these evils combined. By this
report one can readily see the effects
of tobacco on boys of a lender age.
Williamsport's board of trade has
issued its annual report of the indus
tries in that city. It shows that the
number of males employed is 6317 ;
females, 1412 ; a total of 7729. The
averages wages of males is given as
$it 23, and of females at $5.67. The
annual value of the product of mills,
shops and factories makes a grand
total of $13,244,682.14.
The general pension appropriation
bill for the year ending Tune 30, 1896
carries a total of $141,263,860.
670 new wells were completed in
the coal oil fields of this state during
November.
A girl rescued from the Johnstown
flood seven years ago by Michael
Sabol, has just been identified.
A mother wouldn't steal her own
child, but we often see her kid
napping.
When a man dies he leaves the
earth, but none of his descendants get
Palmistry and poker are much alike.
Both are a study of the hands.
Liver DBOs
Llko biliousness, dyspepsia, headache, consti
pation, sour stomach, Indigestion itro promptly
cured by Hood's Tills. They do their work
Inlood'S
easily and thoroughly. Ij I fe
Host after dinner pills. Vf III CI
25 cents. All druggist.
I'reparcd by C. I. Hood tt Co., Lowell, Mass.
The only rill to take with Hood's Sarsaparilla.
HUMPHREYS'
No. 1 Cures Fever.
No. 2 " Worms.
No. 3 " Infants' Diseases.
No. 4 " Diarrhea.
No. 8 " Neuralgia. '
No. 9 Cures Headache.
No. 10 " Dyspepsia.
No. 11 " Delayed Periods.
No. 12 " Leuchorrea.
No. 14 " Skin Diseases.
No. IB Cures Rheumatism.
No. 16 " Malaria. "
No. 20 " Whooping Cough
No. 27 " Kidney Diseases.
No. 30 " Urinary Diseases
No. 77 " Colds and Grip.
Sold by Druggists, or sent prepaid on
receipt of price, 25c., or C for $1.
Dr. HcMiiiitEYs' Homeopathic Manual
of Dibkases Mailed Fiiee.
Humphrey!' Med. Co., Ill William St., H. Y.
sever
Via.
Lead
m I
ELY'S CREAM BALM It poll tlve care.
Apply into the nostrils. It is aalcklr absorbed, so
conts st Dnnrglsts or by msil j samples loc. by mall.
ju.1 Diiuiiijuto, 00 warren BU.Hew York City-
If we can sell you
one ac. package oil
who
iui uilnuxture
we'll be satisfied.
You'll buy more
for it will touch
the apot. Grocert
hve 6EELICTS.
has Added
a little of Seel
ilz'a to ordinary
rcolico know a
tnand drink that
L will flense lier husband.
U
Persons exposed !o
weather are protected by
ittouches.244.
the Scm
orui.
V iK x 1
CM nowi ctacEu
He will tell you that Scott' Emulsion has S
been endorsed by the irfedical profession for
C twenty years. This is because it is always
t& nalatable always uniform always contains &
paiataoie always unuorm uiwup t
3 the purest Norwegian Cod-liver Oil
jf and Hypophosphites. You should in
3 sist on Scott's Emulsion, with trade
A mark of man and fish. Put up in 5o
& cent and jji.oo sizes. The small size
&2 may be enough to cure
S help your baby.
THE KINO OP
JUVENILES . .
No book hu ever been mad lor young people which compare la value, or has hael
one-tenth the sale ol this great annual.
SIX
HANDSOME
COLORED
PLATES
ADDED
TO
THIS
YEAR'S
VOLUME.
Millions of Copies
have been sold.
Order trom your Bookseller
ESTES & LAURIAT,
ALEXANDER BROTHERS & CO.
DEALERS IN
Cigars, Tobacco. Candies, Fruits and Nuts
SOLE AGENTS FOR
Henry Mail lard's Fine Candies. Fresh Every Week.
lEt? asrs Goods .a. S5eci-Xj1,-z".
SOLE AGENTS FOR
F. F. Adams & Co's Fine Cut Chewing Tobacco
Sole agents for the following brands of Cigars-
Henry Clay, Londres, Normal,
Bloomsburg Pa.
ftadefj Iow Jmd Good Worir.
For the finest and best stoves, tinware, roofing spouting
and general job work, go to W. W. Watts, on Iron street.
Buildings heated by steam, hot air or hot water in a satisfac
tory manner. . Sanitary Plumbing a specialty.
I have the exclusive control of the Thatcher steam, hot
water and hot air heaters for this territory, which is acknowl
edged to be the best heater on the market. All work guaran
teed. W. W. WATTS,
IRON STREET.
SHOES
We buy right and sell right.
OUR SUCCESS IS BASED ON THIS FACT.
Honest trading has won us hosts of customers but we want more.
We are selling good ehoes, bo good you ought to eee
them. Drop in and we will make it pay you.
Cohneh Ikon and Main Sts.
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF
CARPET, MATTING,
or OIIL. CleiOTII, .
YOU WILL FIND A NICE LINE AT
W. 1. BKOWEE'S
2nd Door abovo Court Haute.
A large lot of Window Curtains in stock.
A6KF0R THE BSfcKLET ONllGilFsAND
Bart
GIVES BE5T UGHT IN THE
your cough or tifcj &l
ft
CHATTERBOX ""1896
Over 400 Pases.
o
200 Full Page
Illustrations.
J
Several new Stories,
each book In Itself,
and hundreds ol Short
Stories, Anecdotes, Pas
ales, Ac.
Th best possible
CHRISTMAS PRESENT
lor boys and girls
ol all ages.
or ol us. Evsry Dealer carries It.
Publishers,
BOSTON.
Indian" Pri.ncoss, Samson, Silver Ash
Illoomshurcv Pn.
ia-iy
SHOES
W. H. floore.
W6RIB AiiyjELy5Alt