NO. 1, ANCIENT CLIFF AND CAVE DWELLERS AT RIO MANCOS (AMERICA). NO. 2, ANCIENT CAVED CLIFF DWELLINGS

THE CAVE AND CLIFF DWELLERS OF AMERICA, AND THE MOQUI

HOUSES.

ancient civilized progenitors of the present people. There is no mystery about them, except lack of itemized detail, any more than there is with the stone cairns, caches, or other landmarks of the polar regions or elsewhere. They are all links in the chain of history which dates and extends until today. In the same way the Appian Way at Rome is regarded as a graveyard, and a city's triumphal arch or park is a monument to the advancement of the city. The Appian Way is an example of ancient civilized progress, while the so-called prehistoric finds are examples of ancient savage progress. As further examples of ancient civilized memorials we have Cleopatra's Needle, the Pompey Pillar, the Monolith of Egypt and the Sphinx Pyramid.

The Pyramids have long been recognized as the tombs of ancient kings erected by man, the huge stones being moved by strength of numbers. The work was planned by a few heads and even today the stupendous work cannot be duplicated. The cost now, with labor unions, would exhaust the nation's treasury. The Great Pyramid of Egypt is a wonderful monument, towering, as it does, five hundred feet above the earth's surface, a great achievement for those times. In the same way we may regard the mounds of our country-Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio-as evidences of the progress made by the early people there. They are not as remarkable, it is true, but they are the result of great labor and time, and seem to be worthy of the same appreciation, considering that they were all handwork. Why not regard them as we do the Pyramids, as monuments of the advancement made by these people, built solid, it is true, but only because they had not mastered the art of shell masonry? Today we have buildings that can contain all the men that made them. And I do not make this statement with the intention of casting reflections on the ancient erections, but merely to offset a previous statement that we could not equal the ancient buildings, and to upset these old fossilized ideas.

Now let us turn to a few brief pages of history and compare the ancient cities with the modern. We find evidences of greatness, wealth and power, in both architecture and sculpture;

and so vast and monstrous are these that even today we gaze upon them with feelings of awe and profound astonishment. By searching in the depths of the earth and by exploring regions inhabited long ago, we find palaces, temples and tombs that overwhelm us with their greatness and immensity. Although buried for five thousand years, we find painting and sculpture as fresh in color and perfect in form as though these ages had been but days. On the walls of Nineveh and Babylon are found carvings so rare and accurate that we are filled with admiration. There are enormous slabs of pure marble and granite which they carved out of the solid rock or stone. Even in the plastic art, no nation outclassed or even rivalled these, except, possibly, ancient Egypt. One of the oldest buildings in the world, the Temple of the Sphynz, one of the Gazeh pyramids, was built of huge blocks of granite lined with blocks of semi-transparent African alabaster, richly colored onyx and marble, tinted and colored mosiac panels, and inserted tile and brick. The modellings in brass were in relief and coated with enamels of rainbow hue. Scripture tells of floorings of burned and colored pottery and of paintings. Even the wall coverings, likewise of gilded and enameled paint, have stood and defied the ravages of thousands of years' time without crack, soil or dirt. Stamped and embossed leather, gold and silver lacquer, ivory-carved or jewel-inlaid furniture with massive carvings, some even of solid stone, tapestries of lost art, pillars and columns, all serve as master patterns for the finest Grecian, Roman, Italian, English and American art. It is all marvelous; but the secrets of this skill will be explained in part, and the reason for their manufacture to a certain extent revealed.

Nor must we overlook the cities of Accad, Erech and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. They were founded by Nimrod, of scripture, from whom also we read, there went forth Asshur and builded Nineveh, the famous capital of Assyrian empire, where today gigantic mounds show traces of its huge and mighty walls, lying there for countless ages, stretching for miles with its huge and elaborate defences and works, it bears silent witness to the greatness of the times, and today we explore

these ruins, laying bare to all the world the secrets of its former glory.

Here lie buried palaces and colossal figures. And this is but one of a group of cities, the remains of which are there still, all showing signs of splendor similar, if not equal, to that of Nineveh. There are walls forty feet thick, countless towers and battlements of stone and brick, forts, palaces, courtyards and buildings of such solidity as the world has never seen since. Even the roadways and floors were of hewn stone, and beautifully glazed tile and brick, to which our present architecture is but a fragile shell in comparison.

Briefly passing the most ancient Egyptian dynasties, we come to that period in which there was evidently a repetition of the famine, such as mentioned in scripture, when Joseph purchased food for the whole land of the Egyptians (a lesson for modern nations who revel in splendor when people suffer and starve). And from this on we find the government centering its efforts and policy on adding to the agricultural increase and prosperity of its country, and a new era in history commences. There are huge canals, waterways and irrigation ditches, reclaiming mighty tracts of hitherto unfertile soil, mighty vinyards, as stated, and pastures; and even artificial lakes for fisheries, also wild fowl preserves set aside. The people planted reeds and water plants, evidently with the idea of providing against further scarcity. They also develop from a buying race to a selling one. Indeed, it seemed to pass into an era in which everything was considered secondary, except the building up of the commerce. Laws were passed restricting certain manufactures for the common good, all endeavoring to promote the best, until of all the ancient cities, it seemed to have grown and blossomed into the one garden spot of all the earth or nations of the ancient world.

But when the zenith of its wealth, power and glory was reached, a height such as was known by no other nation, the people entered into a period of wealth and luxury that involved. the laying aside of godly ways. After this we observe a gradual passing from their glorious state, just as is observed of any nation which fails to regard its obligations to God.