Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-10-17
THE KHEDIVE'S PRESENT TO THE
UNITED STATES.

Among the associated press dispatches OF
Sunday we find the following:
The whole sum needed for transporting to
and erecting in this city the Egyptian obelisk
now standing at Alexandria has been secured.
It SO happens that we have fallen, in a
most timely way, upon some very clever
fooling upon this subject. 1t is in the New
York Sun, and at the risk Of offending the
Ent--ize, we reproduce the same. The
New York World having mentioned the fact
that the Khediye OF Egypt had presented this
shaft to the people of the United States, the
Sun says: Our own means Of knowing in ad
are, perhaps, quite as good as those Of our
| neighbor. We feel ourselves authorized to
state that His Highness has never contem-
plated the offer of this paltry obelisk to the
United States of America. He has learned
from the intelligent conversation of American
officers in his service that the gift of shabby
shaft of red sienite, sixty or seventy feet tall,
would make no impression whatever on
people accustomed to build its smoke chinneys
three times as high. He has heard of our
Of the Egyptian ebelisk was undoubtedly
plagarlzed by its author, Thothemes, the
Third of that name. Moreover, he must be
aware that the inscriptions in an obsolete
character upon the sides of Cleopatra's Needle
would have no practical interest to the
American public, since, with the possible ex-
cepti0n of Hannibal Hamlin and Maior-Gen
Dix, nobody would be able to read them Mr.
William Emerson Baker of Boston might
prize it as piece of brio brac and set it UP
between his piggery and his bear pit but as a
donation from a great potentate to great
people it would be ridiculousy inconsiderable
If we correctly understand the intentions of
His Egyptian Highness, it is a grander and
for America. The greatest of the three |
pyramids of Ghizeh is to be ours if we will +
accept it as mark Of his atfectionate esteem. |
The khedive is panied that the citizens of |
a noble republic should be put to the incon-
venience and expense to view the masterpiece |
of Cheop's architectural genius, and he is
willing to make US present of the structure
provided we stand the expense of removal.
The fact that the great pyramid has been for
years source of considerable revenue, in the
way Of backsheesh, his enterprising but men
aacious subjects, does not interfere with ais
generous purpose. We have only to reach out
our hands and receive the magnificent gift.
Here is an opportunity which New York
should not allow to pass by unimproved.
in some worthy site within our
limits, say on Mount Morris or
Washington Heights, the pyramid of Cheops
would be credit to the city and an attraction
o visitors from the outlying districts. As
he World truly and gracefully remarks, the
architectural and aesthetic side of New York
bought and feeling sorely needs the silent
'ut stimulating presence of some object of
majestic proportions and imposing history.
Neither the Brooklyn bridge, nor the Tall
'ower, nor even the lofty wooden edifce upon
he Court House roof, affords the right sort r
stimulus, In the pyramid OF Cheops we d
hould possess such an object It's lofty apex,
yer which might proudly float the flag of the ii
mon, WOulu leau our eyes ana our thoughts
even hundred and odd feet toward the su- t
ernal blue. The severe simplicity of the q
esign would educate our art instincts; the
Memories and traditions surrounding this
enerable pile would inspire our minds to
lstorical study. The interior of the structure
light be leased to the Theosophical Society
a place Of worship, for in those labyrinth c
lie chambers and in the silent presence of o
ladowy congregation of deceased Egyptian
ngs, Hierophant Olcott could fifty celebrate
lie mysterious rites of the primal faith. 1t ,
ay be objected that the pyramid would not
oat, and that it would be impossible to tow
across the Atlantic. How do we know that a
wouldn't float! We are not aware that the
pertinent has ever been tried VIII the
,ople of New York bestir themselves to Sc
IRE this splendid donation, or will they su-
nelly listen to the objections of the skeptical
ID thus perhaps allow the pyramid to go to :
Philadelphia or Boston! q
The sort of chemists who are called in to Y
int away the appearances of old age as they oc
hoic 81 n, 4lo+ |