I tell you the fisherman suffers more than any employment. Consider, is he not toiling on the river? he is mixed with the crocodiles. Should the clumps of papyrus diminish, then he is crying for help. If he has not been told that a crocodile is not there, terrors blind him. Consider, there is not an employment destitute of superior ones Except the scribe, who is first, for he knows letters; he is greater than they. Shouldst thou walk after great men, thou art to proceed with great knowledge. Do not say proud words. Be sealed in thyself alone. SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. The Greek loved learning for itself alone. Not so the Egyptian. He, too, praised learning and considered no calling so worthy as that of the scribe. It was not because an education lifted one out of a sordid world to purer heights of knowledge, however, but rather, because the scribe was exempt from physical exertion, and if ambitious and persevering, might find all official doors open to him. A citizen wished his son to receive an education in order that he might occupy a position superior and less arduous than he could otherwise hope to fill. The lot of the laborer in Egypt was hard. Working constantly he could but provide himself and family with their scanty food and scanty clothing. At any time he might be pressed into public service and here he was fortunate if he received "one clean garment once a month," in addition to his monthly rations. Scribes were safe from physical toil. Quite naturally, it followed that a family would make every possible sacrifice that one of the children might be fitted for a life more safe and comfortable than the average. No higher ideal, no loftier motive seems to have actuated the parent than this: to qualify his son for an easy and lucrative position in life. There were elementary schools in Egypt in an early age. These were open to all children, who probably paid a small fee to the teacher. Gradually also, there grew up around the temples schools for the training of boys for the priesthood. As the empire grew and tribute was asked and received from many tribes and countries, many scribes--copyists and accountants--were needed in the service of the government, and schools were opened in connection with the court to educate boys to meet this new demand.