New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-16
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
AFT SITE FOR THE oBELIsK.

FIT SITE FOR THE OBELlsh.
CRITICISM OF SOME IMPRESSIONS CREATED BY
COMMANDER GoIRINGE AND OTHERS.
To the Edftor OF The Tribune.
SIR Last evening / had the pleasure OF
hearing the lecture OF Commander Gorrnge, followed Dy
the remarks OF Others regarding the obesk The au
dence drawn together by the lecture left the buluhR
with the idea that obelisks in Egypt were set upon
knobs and emnences similar to that upon wnlch
preparations made to put our 0belisk. MI
William C. Prime. referring TO the one which STANDS Dc
fore tho temple Luxor example OF such placing
stated that the obesk still remaining in stu stoOu
upon ground fifteen twenty feet higher than the sur
rounding country The argument that, therefore,
1t ia proper that this One obesk should stand upon
a knoll" or " eminence."
Having been in Egypt and observed every obeisH ia
exIscnce there aud having In consequence OF such o.
seryaon signed with other artists request that ths
obek should put in the plaza at the entrance to tue
Central Park Iustfy request by the following sla'e
mepts which in many respects diamericaly opposed
10 the statements and arguments made ut the meet
Ing OF the Society the Advancement OF Science ana
Art:
FIrst-The whole spirit of ancient Egyptian architec
ture whether monumental or otherwise. hnd the e'e-
ments rcpose and strength and these were principally
given by long level lines contrased by perpendicular Ut
nearly perpendicular lines.
Second-In Egypt 40 obellsk was placed so that inc
curved lines Of the ornamentaton OF the pyion (Which
stood behind ~ of the obelisk itself, least Of al
curved lines OF foundation or formation OF the
ground had the slightest power over the observer Whtn
viewed as a whole. .
ThiTd-Eyen according to Mr.. W. c. Primes statement,
when the present neither admit nor deny, II Inc
ground upon which the obehsk was placed before
Luxor was fifteen twenty feet higher than the sur
rounding country" In the mile and n half between
Ixor and Karnk, whose temples were connected by an
avenue of sphinxCs, gentle slope existed, but no
knoll" or "cmuence" was there, and therefore mat
oIelisk stood up0B ground which would give line IN
accord with the spirit OF Egyptian architecture
FOurh-The Obosk placed wnere 1t ~ now lnienden
would denied MI the conditions OF ts original pos
ton save perhaps viz the privilege OF overlapping
the nei1hbOrng structure which might ut any Time III
the future be taken away from It, story or a tower
added to the Metropolitan Museum would deny the ooe
lsk this last privilege. =,
FfHh-The grand lines OF the original position woud
he essentially secured by placing where l. with Othcrs
desire il should be placed for INC impression Eonu
ma kc wOnld upon reaching Fifty eghthst and Flfth
ave- going up town. the narrowness Of the street png
LEFT behind aud the long. low line OF trees Ia the Pk
being distant enough to make apparent 70 the mOet cas-
ual observer the dignity and grandeur OF the oDesK
is not even now too late 70 nave Inc git
OF old Egypt to young America placed In httng posi-
ion. lhASk HALLEk-
Nssr York, Jan. IL, 1881