Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-22
ABoUr oBEIrsxs.

III was said some years ago that Yankee
wanted 10 buy shakspeare's house, aud trans
Iert IL from Stratford and the Avon TO the
United states, and either carry IL through the
country Tor exhibition, or put il together az
,one central spot for permanent show. Per
maps some other Yankee will bethnk him of
the plain of Marathon, and digging up 4 shin
ful OF earth, viii bring il over the ocean. and
spread 1t on some accessible and convenient
site as ground Tor patriotic emotiOn-admis-
sion, twenty -hye cents. The transfer Of the
Elgin marbles was thought by many persons
" De but form OF barhariSm. For although
II Is not To be denied that noble and beautiful
figures are noble and beautiful everywhere,
yet when placed as parts of a building in a
certain country monuments of a unique ar
and OF great civilization, they have a fitness
and beauty and charm there that cannot be
another place.
There Is something of the same ineoneruiiy
IN IN erecting an Egyptian obelisk in New York.
vi course, II the King OF Siam politely offers ms
team OF white elephants, We cannot no.
nIely refuse, and if the khedive of Egypt
OILERS US an obelisk, we must eourteously re
cel'e IL. Win unique generosity. some cour-
teous American has generously proposed To
pay Tor the Transport, and there has been
speculation as TO the proper site for the white
ele-that is, the obelisk. fifty-seven years ago
Mehemet Ali gave an obelisk to George the
Fourth. of England. But only within two or
three months did the illustrious gift leave the
shores OF Egypt for England. On the way a
storm arose, the vessel which carried the ODE
lisk was cut loose and by a singular good for
tune il was recovered and lowed into Ferral
harbor, where ii now lies under claim for
savage. There was tragedy at the time of
The loss in the death of the English sailors who
tired 10 Succor the crew of the vessel thai held
the obelisk. Ii seems 10 be probable that the
Needle will remain at Ferrol until the Eng
lish can decide where To place il in London.
Waterloo Place was the site designated i'm 1921
But the stranger did not come. Forgetful Of
The proNerb. Sir Gardner Wilkinson. the
famous Psychologist, apparently looked the
rltt horse III the mouth. for he said that the
Inscriptions were 80 defaced that the obelisk
was hardly worth having. This, however. was
singular reason for not BRING il to London
and placing it, for it was intended to raise il
MOI IN commemoration of any Tothmes or
shepherd King. but III memory of Sir Ralph
Abercromby and other English soldiers and
sailors who had died i'm Egypt. and TO their
memory the hieroglyphicS recording in an un-
known language unknown men and events did
not seem To be indispensable.
Obelisks are small family, but il must be
owned that they are great travellers. Only
iorly-two are now known, of which twelve are
III Rome. Florence has two and Paris, Aries,
and ConStantlnople one each. In England
there are already four; and the fifth, now on
its way 10 England. and wintering at Ferrol
had already madeleine journey, from Heliopolis
TO Alexandria. at which place it is known To
have rested for seven centuries. That two of
them should have set of, or intended to set of,
upon an ocean journey simultaneously is an
unprecedented fact In the history of obelisks.
Should the American voyage BE- made, the
landing and transport of the imposing guest
wiz bt d CGIlouS SptttdCt tIliht llldl ut-
signed for England, il will commemorate no
men or events in the history of the country. Ii
will be a Singularly interesting relic of an
ancient art and civilization, remote from all
native association of country or climate. 1t
will probably disappoint general expectation,
because OF its moderate height and simplicity
of form
1t Is singular fact that while, as we under
stand, but little money has been collected for
the BarthOdi statue, the sum necessary TO
bring the Obeisk was pledged at once by an
individual. Whatever may be said of the
FTeRchiQeSS OF the proposed statue i'm the har-
Dor, it would undoubtedly have a certain his
tOric significance, for the relations of France
and the United States were most friendly dur
ing the great contest for our Independence
statue of America made by a Frenchman,
and in some sense a gift from France to Amer
lea, would have interest and reason for
being" But an Egyptian Obelisk in square
OF the city would be but curious estray Ii
would, indeed, be full of interest The loiterer
would find himself floating away, a. he gaZed.
TO realm OF awe and mystery. Palm-trees
would hang by river brink and SakiaS sigh.
Camels would plod heavily along, and dusky
by. Old kings and mummied PharaOhS would
turn to him werdly like the ghosts of Hud-
sons men to Rip Van Wrinkle, and unknown
birds spread brilliant wings and float away i'm
radiant sky. Whoever had seen Egypt
would see it again as he beheld the obelisk,
and he who had not crossed the sea would
have vague and alluring foreShOwing of all
that Egyptis. The magic spell of the Obelisk
would be complete. The mountain would
have come to Mohammed.-[ Editors Easy
char, an Hdrper'S Magazine for Jdnudru.