is added to the department of human knowledge.

Thus, with our knowledge of prehistoric times, what so seemingly
vain as to attempt to roll back the flight of time, and learn
the condition of primeval man? All the light of ancient history
makes but little impression on the night of time. By its aid we
can but dimly see the outlines of the fortieth century back;
beyond is gloom soon lost in night. But a few short years ago,
men did not think it possible to gain further information.
With the materials at hand this could not be done. The triumph
of the intellect was simply delayed, not hopelessly repulsed.
Geology was but just beginning to make good its claim to a place
among the sciences. This unfolded to man the physical history of
the world as read from the rocks, and deals with times so vast
and profound that we speak no longer of years, but of ages.
And with the aid of Geology grand secrets were wrung from the
past, and new light was thrown on the manners and customs of
primitive man. Thus the foundation for still another science was
laid, called Archaeology, or the science of Human Antiquities.
These two sister sciences are the keys by whose aid we have not
only acquired much information of a past that seemed a hopeless
enigma--but, as Columbus on the waste of waters could perceive
traces of land as yet invisible, so can the present seekers
after knowledge trace the signs of a satisfactory solution of
many of the great questions relating to the origin and history
of the vanished races of mankind.

In whatever land we commence our investigations, we quickly come
upon the evidences of an ancient life long antedating all
historical information. Ancient Egypt has been a fruitful theme