of wealth were the only classes who had time for sports. The great
temples and palaces were built with solid masonry of stone and brick,
but the dwelling-houses were constructed in a light, graceful style,
surrounded with long galleries and terraces common at this period of
development in Oriental civilization. The gardening was symmetrical
and accurate, the walks led in well-defined lines and were carefully
conventional. The rooms of the houses, too, were well arranged and
tastefully decorated, and members of the household distributed in its
generous apartments, each individual finding his special place for
position and service.

For the comparatively small number of prosperous and influential
people, life was refined and luxurious so far as the inventions and
conveniences for comfort would permit. They had well-constructed and
well-appointed houses, and, judging from the relics discovered in tombs
and from the records and inscriptions, people wore richly decorated
clothing and lovely jewels. They had numerous feasts with music and
dancing and servants to wait upon them in every phase of life. It is
related, too, that excursions were common in summer on the great
rivers. But even though there was a life of ease among the wealthy,
they were without many comforts known to modern times. They had cotton
and woollen fabrics for clothing, but no silk. They had dentists and
doctors in those days, and teeth were filled with gold as in modern
times. Their articles of food consisted of meat and vegetables, but
there were no hens and no eggs. They used the camel in Mesopotamia and
walked mostly in Egypt, or went by boat on the river. However, when we
consider the change of ancient Babylon to Nineveh, and the Egyptian
civilization of old Thebes to that {177} which developed later, there
is evidence of progress. The religious life lost a good many of its
crudities, abolished human sacrifice, and developed a refined mysticism
which was more elevating than the crude nature-worship.

The rule of caste which settled down over the community in this early
period relegated every individual to his particular place. From this
place there could be no escape. The common laborers moving the great
blocks of stone to build the mighty pyramids of the valley of the Nile
could be nothing but common laborers. And their sons and their
daughters for generation after generation must keep the same sphere of
life. And though the warri