Garland Globe | 1906-03-03 | Page 7 | First Story of Imagination

FIR8T STORY OF IMAGINATION I Written by Ennana of Thebes for Egypt' Crown Prince In 1300 B. C Tho "Talo of Two Brothers," writ-ten writ-ten 3,200 years ago by the Thobon scrlbo, Ennnna, librarian of tho pal-aco pal-aco to King Mcrcnptnh, tho supposed Pharaoh of tho Exodus, Is tho oldest work of fiction extant. Tho talo was written apparently for tho entertainment of tho crown prince, who subsequently reigned as Set! II. His natno appears In two places on tho manuscript probably tho only surviving sur-viving autograph signatures of nn Egyptian king. This pieco of antique fiction, written on nineteen BhcctB of papyrus in a bold hieratic hand, 'Was purchased In Ita'iy by Mrac. d'Orblney, who sold it In 1857 to tho authorities of tho .British museum, whoro It Is now known as tho d'Orblney papyrus. Other specimens of ancient Egyptian Egyp-tian fiction have slnco coma to light, which appear to prove that the Nllo valley wu not only the birthplace of tho arts and sciences, but was also thj cradle of romance. Stray Stories.