The New York herald., 1876-12-13

in 1872 expecting to meet with that reward which
the IN any shape docs not get often enough 10
les aurrS Al first the proloundest scholars
attached le importance 10 the Cypriote antiqniIcs
hnay they were acknowledged as adding new chap
yer TO the history OF art and OF archaeology and while
The British Museum coqueited with the SILENT yet eIo
quen relics OF pas, age. New YORK beslirred Itself
and snaiched them away. From that day 10 this
they have been "si.ey stowsan IN the
Metropolitan Museum lost science and art. but II IS
10 be hoped that disseminating committee will soon
expose tnemto the view OF receptive public And
now, when The General comes with his extraordinary
ind AT Curium New York again steps ia aud raises
the requisite amount OF money ior its purchase while
the EuesL governments Is undergoing a surgical opc
aon IN order 20 appreciate rs Importance Had Mr..
Disrac rehcclcd The feeling OF ,he British Museum
he would not have hesi,ated one moment.
Alter giving months time 10 the study
and valuation OF general Cesnolas collection ami
placing u admirably Tor inspection in he Museum,
Mr. Newton aud Or. Birch strongly urged Its accep-
lance upon the government IL ST. Petersburg hnd
been In treaty with General Cesnoa portion OF The
war iund would undoubtedly have been expended IN
purchasing The treasure TINS would have been carry
ing out plsraeitish iino Of pohcy The United
States Russia; the Prime Minister hesitaici. and
TO the swiu belong The spols OF Cyprus
Newton and Dr. Birch as with The exception OF about
200 pieces sold TO them by r. H. Lang Esq for many
years English Consul al Cyprus tho British Museum
is without specimens OF tho period illustrated by
the Cesnola collection. Mr. langs contribution has
uc value, II We except the upper part OF the draped
statue 0. IA deity wearing wreath. This rs exceed
lngy fine. II is an interesting fact thai, while the
Cypriotc statuary disncgralcs IN their damp climate
the dry American atmosphere renders such prccau,on
unnecessary.
VALUE OF THE rIxp
As there is not the least doubt about the anthem
ITCHY o General Cesnoa's collection the trst qucs-
ton TO be asked by Americans is, OF what does the
Curium lhd consisty or what does II not conssty
General Cesnoa goes in search of The sito Of Cugum
OF wncn there is visible trace taking Tor his guido
two lines OF Eslrabo that vaguely Indicate posi-.
ton He traces this site 10 rock 800 lee, above the
lie counts seventeen mounds, comprising
columns and debris OF important buildings, he
rha tWn nj NJ
mounds; he digs and digs and digs and idcn-
TIDES tho great Temple OF Apollo lie Digs
the treasure chambers OF an pnknown temple, con-
taining offerings from the poorest
General Cesnoa hopes that ancient history may be re-
vised and corrected. In the FIRST chamber General
Ccsnoa found after sitting the cxcava,cd earth, 500
objects OF gold and gems, consisting o diadems rings,
earrings bracelets necklaces lof winch there are
twelve IN wonderful preserva,ion and solid armlcts
two being The heaviest IN the world. wei. hing three
pounds, anu being waith n'mctai alone $1,000. There
Is gold cup OF nvc and hall inches IN diameter
decorated with pattern OF Egyptian work. There
arc cylinders of Baby ylonian origin three of which
the Rev. IL. Iayce, Professor OF Assyrioogy at OK
ford, reads dates that are not far from 1000 B. C.
There are many scarabe OF tine Workmanship and In
tagh that excite enthusiastic admiration. According
to Mr. King, "Boreas carrying on Oristhyca, daugn-
ter OF ccihcne' equals anything known in the style
for bold drawing aud skillul treatment OF the nude
forms. OF another iniaelio rhe Rape oI Proserpne,
Mr. King that tor excellence o composition and
torcbo expression OF its meaning II may safely DO
placed ut the head Of all that Is known IN tho archaic
style. third gem, representing 'Victory.'is Is In
comparable for exquisite hnsh A fourth GEM repre-
senting woman the attitude OF the Venus AZ the
Bath" perfect Greek work Of indescrbabe beauty.
1he materials OF these gems agate onyx, carncan,
chalcedouy, Jasper, sard, 60 Some OF the jewels
enamcilcd, others granulatcd In this gold
also found three ROCK crystal amphorm, very rich In
ionc.
SILVER AND TERRA Gotta.
In the second room General Cesnoia found silver
objeoA only; but aasl silver goes down TO postcriiy
In rust ruin. Nevertheless the relics very in
,eresting and ono cup displays EXQUISITE workman.
ship Tho British Museum has thirty spcc mems Of
silver, b. c 800. General Ccsnola has 273 specimens,
B. G. 600 Terra rottas, aabastra, vases aud nctc
groups wero discovered N tho tnird room, and the
bra lamps, four beautiful lions heads belonging
to fountain, and many other objects. There Is ono
vase four feet inch IN height and six ce IN CIR
cumfercncc, valued ut So 900, which IS splendid
ample OF tho archaic Crock. General Ccsnoa found It
In fragments and was week In looking up the
pieces. Robert Ready, an employe OF the British
Museum, wonderfully skilled In putting together slnss
and pottery as well as IN taking Impressions OF CONS
and cyndery has made this ine vase almost as good
new without adding any foreign material
WHOM HONOR IS DUE.
"Happy America! Again she takes from as new
treasured TITS useless TO contend against much
money - Ernest Rcnan; but in supposing that
to tho munincencc OF the price paid Tor Il NJ Rcnan
Is drawing upon his charming Imagination. Had Gen.
ernl Ccsnola taken Iurely commercial view OF his
treasure would have sold II bit by BIT and realized
at least ,000 He could have disposed OF the
Curium find to Mr.. J. s. Morgan, the well known
| American banker in London, to greater pccu-
| niary advantage than he did in closing with
| the offer OF the New York Museum. But General
Cesnolas ambition was to keep the collection together
sending u to New York he feels that he doing
his utmost to found museum that ere long should bc
an honor 10 the United States Too much credit can
not DO awarded Robert Hoe and the gentlemen CON
nectcd with him their enthusiastic energy in ac
compiishng noble object. and TO Miss Wolf, whose
generous beneaction of $40. 0C0 made the purchase
possible. the women ol America owc an especial
debt OF gratitude Tomorrow lhe British Museum
viii look upon the Cypriote treasure May tho
New World welcome II heartily as 10 reconcile
European students 10 It's perpetual exile! kF.