The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-12

titled with and had such direct action upon their efforts
in the initiative arts that 1t is impossible to separate
them in consideration Of the influences which tended
TO assist retard their progress Aiming at the same
objects end governed great extent the laws,
they formed close and inseparable alliance which
abled Them in defiance of the ravages of climate and age,
to accomplish the purposes which had called them
stence Considered in their joint results they present
us with an ensemble of power genius Skill which in
spires us with feelings Of wonder reverence viewed
independently impression is imperfect and unsatisfac-
tory Painting and sculpture were in fact component
parts of architecture itself. There was scarcely DOR
ton of the Egyptian palaces and temples to which they
had not contributed their choicest efforts The buildings
themselves to have been raised with direct re-
ference to the accommodation of the statues of del
ties and kings may be by the manner in which
they are built into the walls INTELLECTUALLY attached
to the columns of the edAces One of the chief objects
in the construction Of the Egyptian temples appears to
have been impress the mind Of the worshpper he
approaches the sanctuary with sort OF progressive
verence and ave. and for this purpose the architect
avaed himself literally of the aid afforded BY figures
Of colossal dimensions, so artifcially grouped
to secure the desired effect. Long avenues
of sphnxes combining human and animal forms,
Chose of the lion and the being chiefly en-
poyed) served to fill his mind with overpowering
sense Of the physical well spiritual attributes Of
the gods whilst the huge figures that confronted him at
the portals put the climax to his terrors Another ia
vorte device resorted to to impress the Imagination Of
the voary the artificial eongation of the perspective
by gradually diminishing the heighth Of the doors
leading into the sanctuary. With enlarged vews
both of religion and art, nevertheless realize
he effect which this combination of the idea Of space
with huge and startling efgies, must have had upon
the minds of the superstitious So little was the trick
cry of art understood at that period that the
spired by these simple arrangements must have been
attributed to subtle and overwhelming influence
arising from the immediate neghborhood Of the Deity
The architecture Of the Egyptians pervaded by the
fame defects which we have already pointed out in
their works of painting and sculpture We notice In It
the heayness the ignorance of the rules Of
art, and the reliance upon vastneB of proportion
of producing sublimty. The pyramidal form,
which probably first adopted from the idea of dura
bity which attaches to it, to have become the
leading feature of its STYLE and to have impaired its
graceful character to details in which that quality
could not be ensured by it, Yet told by travel
lers that the heavness of the Egyptian columns and
namcntat.n scarcely perceptibe, and indeed ap-
pee almost symmetrical, when viewed in the light
ud snade of that peculiar atmosphere That the
Egyptians themselves of the heaviness
their columns is evident from their efforts to tighten
the effect by a multiplication breaking up Of the
lines. Thus in the earliest efforts of which have any
distinct and satisfactory evidence find it attempted
by hung and subsequently by strating and indenting
them to convey the appearance of united stems
bound together by horizontal bands.
Whatever merits the architecture of the Egyptians
may be said to possess to have the result
rather of blind exploration than of settled principles.
They had correct scale of proportions and appear to
have arrived slowly at conception-an imperfect one, it
must be confessedof those natural laws that suggest
for instance the relative size of the shaft to its capital
the strength of the column to the weight 1t Is intended
to bear In forming opinion of any system of archi
lecture first naturally led to examination Of
its columns and capitals Of the former there but
two prevalent kinds in Egyptian architecture, which
we're however, enlvened by variety of capitals, the
forms of which generally taken from flowers plants
and trees The lotus the papyrus the palm, and other
native productions suggested ideas and combinations
which, transferred to the atmosphere Of Greece,
panded after while into those graceful and classic
styles Of ornament which modern nations, in their
poverty Of invention compelled to adopt the most
beautiful and perfect in art
the Egyptians did not carry the arts to any very high
degree of perfection to them ut least belongs the honor
having watched their infancy and first developed
their capabilities. Even the which they commit
ted may be said to have proved useful demonstrating
those who after them that there nober OBJ
ects of ambition in art than the illustration Of regal
vanity savish superstition Their conceptions at
times attained the height Of submity; and had their
means of execution but equaled their ambition their
works could have been surpassed. With all their
defects they may still be considered the Tans Of art
whose destiny to struggle for ages against the de-
basng and souldestroyng influences that chained them
down. What they accomplished they effected with
out aid from Others the light Of previous experience
Imperfect Egyptian art may be- it features
of grandeur and submy which have not only served to
stimulate the ambition of other nations but to trans-
init the memory of their achievements the remotest
times.
In the articles which we have devoted to this subject
have endeayored to show that there in this museum
higher purpose and utility than the qualification Of the
idle curiosity that seeks to sspate the enmu of vacant
minds We look upon all such collections as great moral
auxiliares by which instruction conveyed in its ost
pleasing and attractive FORM When we recolect the
crowds that we have throngng the Egyptian coec
tions in the British Museum and the Louvre we cannot
help feeling surprised and panied at the contrast which
this gallery presents The sound of football but rarely
dsurbs the relics Of the voaes isis and SO far AZ the
New York public are concerned they might as well have
sumbercd on in the dust of Memphis and Thebes And
yet we talk OF our intellectual boast Of
our progress in the arts of civilization It is only the
of vain pretenson that to profit by the
lessons Of the past
LARGE ROBBERY IN CHICAGo-IMPoRTANr AR
REsrs-On Tuesday afternoon Englishman named Bar
ry arrived in town by the Michigan Southern Railroad
and after landing he into saloon near the do
pot Of the Rock Island obtained glass Of LIQUOR
He then went back to the and found an acauain
lance with whom he went to another saloon and obtained
more quor this done, they walked about town until Al
ter dark when Barry went into the State Bank and de-
sired TO deposit some money Seeing him partially ntox
Gated, permission was given him to leave his MONEY!
whereupon he counted out 81 100 in gold but the Bank
officer would take but 81 00O certificate Of deposit
Tor that amount given He then left the bank and
was found in the night by the police lying the side