Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1895 — Oldest Scythe in the World. [ARTICLE]

Oldest Scythe in the World.

Quietly reposing on one of the many well-filled shelves in Flinders Petrie’s private museum in London is an ancient agricultural implement which throws much light on the art of husbandry as practiced by the prehistoric Egyptians. This antique farming tool is a wooden scythe blade, which was found securely imbedded in the mortar of one of the oldest tombs of the valley of the lower Nile. The shaft of the instrument, as already stated, is of wood of some unknown species, the edge being carefully set with a row of flints so as to present their jagged edges in a manner not unlike that exhibited by the teeth of a saw. These flints are of uniform size, the base of each being fastened so as to fit the curve of the wooden blade. The teeth are not set into a groove along the edge of the blade; as one would naturally suppose, but each are firmly cemented in place, the material being of such excellent composition and the workmanship of such superior quality that after a lapse of time closely approximating 6,000 years they appear as sound and perfect as when first taken afield by their original owner. To manage a furnace fire: The fire should be shaken down and raked perfectly clear every morning. A few shovelfuls of coal should be put on and all the draughts opened. The ashes should then be taken up. As soon as the coal begins to burn well and the fire looks clear at the bottom put in coal enough to come almost to the top of the Milwaukee is a variation of Minnewaukee, meaning “rich and beautiful country.” One of the easiest ways to take a cold is to drop asleep without an extra wrap - over the shoulders.