Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-08-07
ALEXANDRIA AND CAIRO.

Alexander and Napoleon made pre-
dictions concerning the town of Alex
andria. The second said it was to be
a place of the highest political and
commercial importance the first that
it was to be the capital of the world.
The predictions, remaining so far uh-
verified, imply that these warriors
were better at destroying towns than
laying the foundation of future great
ness. Alexander was to sit on this
neck of land, the w~arriOr-god, and
hold three continents in awe; and
doubtless some ambitious dream of a
like character passed through the
mind of the modern captain when he,
in turn, conquered the country.
These brilliant prophecies were re-
corded, and che town comes down to
US to-day considerably less in size
than Cairo, and of a hybrid, uHsatis-
factory appearance, being neither
oriental or western. Yet was the
town and country carefully handled
when the first Ptloemy came down
from Macedonia to take charge of is
destinies. He had served as a gener-
al under Alexander, upon whose
death he was made governor of Egypt,
and afterward he made himself king.
He was well fitted to deal with this
people. During his rule the country
reached the height of its prosperity.
He extended great privileges to all
who would settle in Alexandria,
whether Jews or Greeks, which drew
crowds to the place. Under his au-
spices arose the Tower of PharOs and
the magnificent temple of Serapi-.
He founded an academy of learned
men, who devoted themselves to the
study of philosophy and other sciences
For their use, he made a collection of
choice looks, which grew under his
successors to 7OO, 700 volumes. All
books that he could lay hands on
were seized and copied, tine transcript
returned to the owner and the Origi-
nal placed in the library. If these
books had not been burned, the
world would doubtless be wiser to-day
than it is. This Ptolemy was the
only good one o his C He was
simple in life and manner-bOrrOw-
ing his neighbors' plate when he gave
large entertainment; prudent, just,
clement, and easy Of access. At the
time of his death he held several
countries under the dominion of
Egypt-and now Egypt pays tribute
to the Sultan. Ever since the death
of this wise Ptolemy, Alexandria has
been declining in population and i'm
portance- His successors generally,
with perhaps the exception of his son
and grandson, were given to dissips-
ton, intrigue, quarrels and cruelty.
The contemplation of the mOngrel
composed largely of Jews and of
inhabitants from Mediterranean lands
is unsatisfactory, and the mind turns
from it to go back to the past-to st.
spreading the truth of the Cos
pei; 10 Origen straying from the
and preaching his ~fallaciou
doctrines to his tOO-willing hearers
TO the grandeur of the ancient town
with its more than half q million of
inhabitants, its four thousand palaces,
thousand baths, four hundred
theatres, and twelve thousand shops,
which all tell a wonderful story of
art and luxury to the eowardly be-
of Pompey /; to Caesar swim
ming for life, holding aloft his "Com-
mentaries"; ard to CleOpatra's
strange introduction to this Roman
ronquerOr.
2 Inquittingthe city the traveller feels
rs if Alexandria were but a sham
and he sets his sails for the
breeze that shall wait him to where
Isis sits e~nthroned, even Cairo that
Is, he buys a ticket and goes 10y rail
as prosaieally as if he were on the
Pennsylvania Central. The first
glimpses of ell KahiIa, 1.-THE city of
v ictOry," are eel through sycamore
and fig-trees, with which its envirOns
ire clothed through them here and
here one sees the promise of further
in graceful minRrets, glanc-
domes, and tall palms, which is
realized On e approach,
Cairo being no exception to the rule
hat all towns of the East lOoOk best
It a distance. Still, there is enough
md to spare within its walls to make
!. sojourn here attractive. The
from the West to the East is
treat, and here Oriental life finds it's
expression: in the flowing
and majestic movement of its
Inhabitants, in camels repOsing in
he shade of olive-trees or drinking
t marble fountains, in groups of
warthy Egyptians in rich apparel,
coffee and smoking nargilehs,
the atmospheric effects of this re-
narkable climate. and the odors of
he pomegranate and the orange
on a breeze as gentle IS a
laiden's whisper. On coming here
feels like old Hafiz when he
aid :"Let us be crowned with roses,
t us drink wine, and break up the
resome old roof.Of heaven into new
'oms."-"The Egyptians dthome," in
GALAXY"