6 NOVEMBER 1909, Page 31

SOCIALISM AND THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.

[To TEE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:]

Si,—Now that Socialism has passed into the region of practical politics, it is perhaps interesting to learn that the precepts of Ptah-Hotep, written B.C. 3000, have what might be termed a Socialistic tendency, for side by side with the most exalted idea of man's duty towards God and towards his neighbour we have the following advice to a young man :— "If thou hest ground to till, labour in the field which God bath given thee; rather than fill thy mouth with that which belongeth to thy neighbours it is better to terrify him that hath possessions to give them to thee."—I am, Sir, &c., Much Marde, Herefordshire. C. C. COOKE.