IV 

 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ALPHABET 



BEFORE we turn specifically to the new world of 

 the west, it remains to take note of what may 

 perhaps be regarded as the very greatest achievement 

 of ancient science. This was the analysis of speech 

 sounds, and the resulting development of a system of 

 alphabetical writing. To comprehend the series of 

 scientific inductions which led to this result, we must 

 go back in imagination and trace briefly the develop- 

 ment of the methods of recording thought by means of 

 graphic symbols. In other words, we must trace 

 the evolution of the art of writing. In doing so we 

 cannot hold to national lines as we have done in the 

 preceding two chapters, though the efforts of the two 

 great scientific nations just considered will enter 

 prominently into the story. 



The familiar Greek legend assures us that a Phoeni- 

 cian named Kadmus was the first to bring a knowledge 

 of letters into Europe. An elaboration of the story, 

 current throughout classical times, offered the further 

 explanation that the Phoenicians had in turn ac- 

 quired the art of writing from the Egyptians or 

 Babylonians. Knowledge as to the true origin and 

 development of the art of writing did not extend in 

 antiquity beyond such vagaries as these. Nine- 

 teenth-century studies gave the first real clews to an 



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