New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-16

We may now take it for granted that the re-
manning Alcxandriln obclisa is secured for the
CITY of New York. The muniiiconce of single
gentleman has anticipated the gradual, if Ger
tain. contributions of a numb of our citizens
and thus prevented the Khediye's offer from
bring met by any seeming ungiacl0uSncss of
delay We cannot recall any former instance
when the possibility of splendid addition to
the growing attractions of our city has been so
Instantly and generously converted INTO GER
tainty Even if the Khcdiye's consent to Sug-
gestion. which appears tn have been originally
made by the English contractor be only UNI
derstood, but not formally expressed, we may
safely assume that it is given. There is every
reason 70 SUPPOSE that if the request had been
made by a committee OF gentlemen represent
inc the city, it would have been willingly
granted. The Khedivc has always received
American visitors with special cordially;
his army has been organized, and Is chiefly
commanded, by American officers, ana he is
quite aware OF the importance of the increas-
inc trade between Egypt and this country
Moreover, the obclisk rs it now stands, IL the
one relic of the Egyptian Past which can most
readily be spared
tbe "Nccdesr should be taken away from Al
exandria. But we must remember that they
were originally erected in Heliopolis (the On
of the Bble) in the sixteenth century before
Christ; then, in the first century of our era,
Transported 1870 miles from that citv, and set
IT'D in front Of the CGsarium, the temple
which Alexandria erected to Augustus Caesar
This temple has utterly vanished from the
earth, and the obelisks are rs completely sun
dered from their associations as that in Paris.
And Egypt is still rich in obesks. Among
the runs of San-the loan of the old Hebrews
in the Delta, lie no less than ten, all over
thrown and some shattered. At IIeiopolis, an
obelsk sixty-eight feet high, which was four
centuries old when Moses was born, still
stands erect In the temple of Luxor there is
one of seventy-iivc feet i'll height, the mate of
that in Paris. Karnak possesses four, two of
which are ninetytwO feet high; and IN the
granite auarries ut Assouan lies supreme
monolith OF nincty-fve feet, VIII oh appears to
have been left there on account of "A flaw in
the stone. All these keep their original places
aud the ruins of the ages recorded in their
inscriptions lie around them. The obelisk
which we shall receive has height of seventy
one feet with base of seven feet seven
inches square It's material is the rose gray
granite Of Assouan, the ancient Syene. If
placed where no fire can reach it. il ought to
last for many centuries, in our climate.
The disposition of this monument, therefore.
is matter of The first importance. The Cen
trail Park is no place for 1t. As an architec-
tural form. 1t needs a frame of buildings, CIV
ing it a background on all sides; but, apart
from this fact, it should stand in the heart of
the city, IN the constant Wow OF hundreds of
thousands Of people. Ii must be an habitual
and familiar object, not show to be visited
w going out OF the way. For that dumb, cold
granite is an OVERLOOKING fountain of memories
..al a,--,.;i.!.s. We know-we do not guess.