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recording details about the hands and ears of
slaughtered enemies； the numbers of captives； the
baskets of wheat； the numerous animals； the tribute；
the treaties and the public records。 These ancient
scribes employed a cylindrical box for ink； with writing
tablets； which were square sections of wood with
lateral grooves to hold the small reeds for writing。
During the time Joseph was Viceroy of Egypt
under Sethosis I； the first of the Pharaohs； B。 C。 1717；
he employed a small army of clerks and storekeepers
throughout Egypt in his extensive grain operations。
The scribes whose duties pertained to making records
respecting this business； used both red and black inks；
contained in different receptacles in a desk； which；
when not in use； was placed in a box or trunk； with
leather handles at the sides； and in this way was
carried from place to place。 As the scribe had two
colors of ink； he needed two pens （reeds） and we see
him on the monuments of Thebes； busy with one pen
at work； and the other placed in that most ancient
pen…rack； behind the ear。 Such； says Mr。 Knight； is
presented in a painting at Beni Hassan。
The Historical Society of New York possesses a
small bundle of these pens； with the stains of the ink
yet upon them； besides a bronze knife used for making
such pens （reeds）； and which are alleged to belong to
a period not far removed from Joseph's time。
The other history of ink； long preceding the departure
of Israel from Egypt； and with few exceptions
until after the middle ages； can only be considered； as
it is intimately bound up in the chronology and story
of handwriting and writing materials。 Even then it
must not be supposed that the history of ink is authentic
and continuous from the moment handwriting was
applied to the recording of events； for the earliest
records are lost to us in almost every instance。 We
are therefore dependent upon later writers； who made
their records in the inks of their own time； and who
could refer to those preceding them only by the aid
of legends and traditions。
There is no independent data indicating any variation
whatever in the methods of the admixture of
black or colored inks； which differentiates them from
those used in the earliest times of the ancient
Egyptians； Hebrews or Chinese。 On the contrary if we
exclude 〃Indian〃 and one of the red inks； for a period
of fourteen hundred years we find their number diminishing
until the first centuries of the Christian era。
Exaggerated tradition has described inks as well as
other things and imagination is not lacking。 Some of
these legends； in later years put in writing； compel us
to depend on translations of obscure and obsolete
tongues； while the majority of them are mingled with
the errors and superstitious of the time in which they
were transcribed。
The value of such accounts depends upon a variety
of circumstances and we must proceed with the utmost
caution and discrimination in examining and weighing
the authenticity of these sources of information。
If we reason that the art of handwriting did not
become known to all the ancient nations at once； but
was gradually imparted by one to another； it follows
that records supposed to be contemporaneous； were
made in some countries at a much earlier period than
in others。 It must also be observed that the Asiatic
nations and the Egyptians practiced the art of writing
many centuries before it was introduced into Europe。
Hence we are able to estimate with some degree of
certainty that ink…written accounts of some Asiatic
nations were made while Europe was in this respect
buried in utter darkness。
An interesting story which bears on this statement
is told by Kennett； in his 〃Antiquities of Rome；〃
London； 1743； as to the discovery of ancient MSS。；
five hundred and twenty years before the Christian
era； of what even then must have been remarkable：
〃A strange old woman came once to Tarquinius
Superbus with nine books； which； she said； were
the oracles of the Sybils； and proffered to sell them。
But the king making some scruple about the price；
she went away and burnt three of them； and returning
with the six； asked the same sum as before。
Tarquin only laughed at the humour； upon which
the old woman left him once more； and after she
had burnt three others； came again with them that
were left； but still kept to her old terms。 The king
now began to wonder at her obstinacy； and thinking
there might be something more than ordinary
in the business； sent for the augars （soothsayers）
to consult what was to be done。 They； when their
divinations were performed； soon acquainted him
what a piece of impiety he had been guilty of； by
refusing a treasure sent to him from heaven； and
commanded him to give whatever she demanded for
the books that remained。 The woman received her
money； and delivered the writings； and only； charging
them by all means to keep them sacred； immediately
vanished。 Two of the nobility were presently
after chosen to be the keepers of these oracles；
which were laid up with all imaginable care in the
Capitol； in a chest under ground。 They could not
be consulted without a special order of the Senate；
which was never granted； unless upon the receiving
of some notable defeat； upon the rising of any
considerable mutiny； or sedition in the State； or
upon some other extraordinary occasion； several of
which we meet with in Livy。〃
Some of the ancient historians even sought to be
misleading respecting the events not only of their own
times； but of epochs which preceded them。 Richardson；
in his 〃Dissertation on Ancient History and Mythology；〃
published in 1778； remarks：
〃The information received hitherto has been almost
entirely derived through the medium of the
Grecian writers； whose elegance of taste； harmony
of language； and fine arrangement of ideas； have
captivated the imagination； misled the judgment；
and stamped with the dignified title of history； the
amusing excursions of fanciful romance。 Too
proud to consider surrounding nations； （if the Eyptians
may be excepted） in any light but that of
barbarians； they despised their records； they altered
their language； and framed too often their
details； more to the prejudices of their fellow citizens；
than to the standard of truth or probability。
We have names of Persian kings； which a Persian
could not pronounce； we have facts related they
apparently never knew； and we have customs
ascribed to them； which contradict every distinguishing
characteristic of an Eastern people。 The
story of Lysimachus and one Greek historian may
indeed； with justice； be applied to many others。
This prince； in the partition of Alexander's empire；
became King of Thrace： he had been one of the
most active of that conqueror's commanders； and
was present at every event which deserved the
attention of history。 A Grecian had written an
account of the Persian conquest； and be wished to
read it before the king。 The monarch listened
with equal attention and wonder： 'All this is very
fine；' says he； when the historian had finished；
'but where was I when those things were performed？' 〃
CHAPTER II。
ANTIQUITY OF INK。
THE INVENTION OF THE ART OF WRITINGTO WHOM
IT BELONGSITS UTILIZATION BY NATIONS AND
INDIVIDUALSWHEN IT IS FIRST MENTIONED IN THE
BIBLECITATIONS FROM THE ENCYCLOPaeDIA BRITANNICA
AND SMITHS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLESOME
REMARKS BY HUMPHREYS OF THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS
OF HANDWRITINGCOMMENTS BY PLATO AND
THE COLLOQUY BETWEEN KING THAMUS AND THOTH；
THE EGYPTIAN GOD OF THE LIBERAL ARTSFIRST
APPEARANCE OF INK WRITTEN ROLLSDESTRUCTION
OF THE TEMPLES WHICH CONTAINED THEMCOMMENTS
OF THE HISTORIAN ROLLINSDESTRUCTION
OF THE MOST ANCIENT CHINESE INK WRITTEN MSS。
THERE is a difference of opinion as to what nation
belongs the honor of the invention of the art of
handwriting。 Sir Isaac Newton observes：
〃There is the utmost uncertainty in the chronology
of ancient kingdoms； arising from the vanity
of each claiming the greatest antiquity； while those
pretensions were favoured by their having no exact
account of time。〃
Its antiquity has been exhaustively treated by many
writers； the best known are Massey； 1763； The Origin
and Progress of Letters；〃 Astle； 1803； 〃The Origin
and Progress of Writing；〃 Silvestre； 〃Universal
Palaeography；〃 Paris； 1839…41 ； and Humphreys； 1855；
〃The Origin and Progress of the Art of Writing。〃
They； with others； have sought to record the origin
and gradual development of the art of writing from
the Egyptian Hieroglyphics of 4000 B。 C。； the Chinese
Figurative； 3000 B。 C。 ； Indian Alphabetic； 2000 or
more B。 C。 ； the Babylonian or Cuneiform； 2000
years B。 C。； and the Phoenician in which they include
the Hebrew or Samaritan Alphabet； 2000 or more
B。 C。； down to the writings of the new or Weste