New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-23

Khapa or Chrephren, the builder OF the second
| pyramid There are two of him here, and there Is
sufficient difference in the faces TO indicate that
they were executed at different periods of his life
and although it is such very long time ago. the
boldness of the execution and the truth of the
anatomy prove that they had fine artists in those
far-off days These statues weIe found in the
temple unearthed by Marietta, close under the
shadow of the mysterious Sphinx at Gheezeb, where
| the sun is in the northwest.
There is one other person in this room, and that
| is woman an Arab dressed in the usual suit of
| black, with long strip of black Grape hanging
| from the usual silver pipe over her nose. She
| carries all her worldly wealth in chains of NapO-
Icons around her neck, her arms, and depending in
/ strings from her hair and ears, and she is gazing
| intently on the jewels of Queen Ah-hO-tep. and
| doubtless wishing that she could supplement the
| decorations of her own dusky skin BY the addition
of some of those of her late Majesty. True,
the Queen has been dead 5000 years still, as you
| gaze upon her adornments that yet survive, you
fancy you can recall the irnperious wearer. and If
you glance to the right and catch sight of the e1-
qusite marble face OF Queen TaIa, you acknowledge
| that if Ah-ho-tep were as beautiful, she deserved
all the ornaments with which she loaded her regal
person. and more besides. There is superb massive
chain for state occasions with enamelled
scarab depending from it.; indeed all the enamels
are exceptionally fine. There rings and grdles
| innumerabe; there are dozens of bracelets and
bangles for and legs; there is the royal mir
Tor Of FURNISHED gold and there is a little golden
Ratchet for Sunday wear, although the deceased
| meant business for there is a solid bronze article
for ordinary use and couple of daggers for every
day outbursts of temper. There are few objects
of jewelry more chaste and original than some Of
these. and the eod-vorkers of Cairo to-day can find
| Al
auctions Of these beautiful works of antique skill.
wooden figure attracts our attention on the left
where behind it is chamber filled with memorials
of the most ancient monarchies. Ii is figure two
thirds the size OF life and is evidently the portrait
of a hearty hale country squire albeit his costume
is only half of a short shirt. But he is every inch
aforementioned rural gentleman, with a bright
eye smiling mouth, a bald head and IoVial
double chin He has staff in his fist, and Is JUS
starting out for a morning walk perhaps 10 inspect
the condition his farms and stock. and when you
are told that he was carved five thousand years
AGO YOU gaze at him IN astOuishment and are com
neled To admit that our boosted modern art has
produced nothing more natural or pl easing than
this same breezy old gentleman III W0rm-eaten
wood. go.
Near this s a statue in stone the size of life, of
powerful man, erect. with marked features and
commanding expression; the limbs are strongly
modelled, and the feet like those OF the modern
Egyptians. are the very largest SIZE made to DC
shoes. There is wonderful vitality In
this statue m mcb induces m the eoo pose,
expect the moment when Il may step down from its
pedestal and walk straight out into thear. On Is
head IS q black skull cap. and II bears the SIMPLE
tumi Of priest The figure IS portrait OF kaneier,
one of the officials of the temple OF Ptah king OF
the internal regions, according to the Memphis
ritual.
Between this statue, and another of one
Ii. a chamberlain 10 a king of the same
period aud equally lifelike and characteristics
inf. T.saff mo IA.
taken from tie tomb where they had sat IN awful
silence for fifty centuries. These are the Prince
BahDtrp and his lady Neicrt. lie Is a dark red ana
she pale olive her figure clearly outlined through
the single white robe she wears; and there they
sit side by side. with the most marvellous air Of
life and expectancy. His features ale commonplace,
hers regular aud handsome, though her head Is de-
formed by hideous IVY Around her
neck is a deep collar of jewels and
the eyes Of both of glass some transparent ma
terial 1t was the custom 10 immune the portrait
models of the deceased In a particular recess of
their tomb, and when the discoyerer hrst let inc
light in upon the glltterDg eyes Of this married
couple the effect must have been magical ana start
ling indeed.
But where arc the Kings of the middle dynasties,
whose names written IN the Bible, IN Herodotus
and Strabo There, before you. l0n'er Is the
throne room, where their ancient maIestles lie slde
by side. Enter rcycTently for here are the remains
OF the old great ones OF the ear Jl tne
his magnificent son Rameses with AmenOphis,
1hohIaes and the other grand departed potentates,
their collins Us rich and splendid n when first LAID
away IN those superb paatal tombs they constructed
with ,uch care in lie and which they conceived
would be closed forever tO mortal eyes. Here they
are ANONYMOUSLY brought forth INTO the glare OF
day aud compelled to tell their names and their
story. aud To exhibit their bones TO the modern
barbarian from lands that were forests aud savage
swamps when they ruled magnificent empire.
Here in this grand funeral chamber Is the rare col
lection of rOyai mummIes found recently IN the Val
lev of the Kings at Thebes. From head 10 foot
these monarchs are swathed in wreathS OF lotus
leaves and buds and II is said that when lately eX
posed 10 the air these ,were IA gay and green as
when bound about them first by reyerentlal
hands The bodies of the Queens are done up IN the
most delicate parcels, folded and tied rs they OHg-
nally were for delivery at the throne of Osiris Tor
Judgment. On the coffin of Rameses the second |
ms portrait mask is spendldly carved and is the |
very transcript of those dignlfed, smiling features
which 1t was his delight IN life tOscupture over tile
lengthiand breadth OF his Kingdoms.
Hank! There is wild, fierce shout |
gwen without, and the gusts OF wind mount into
whIrling tempest. VIVID flashes of lightning blaze
through the rooms, and give unearthy splendor |
10 the gorgeous sarcOphagl OF the kings 1t Is the
first coming of the khamsin, the sluOOm that every
year breaks over Egypt IN the early spring. lie |
ram de5ceudS III torrents, gurglng and leaking |
through the insecure sky-lghts and the sun baked
roofs the attendants rush to move the unprotected
mummes and III the whir and crash, their hvid |
ICES seem TO smile fTOwn, and from the pOr- |
celan eyes Of some great drops OF rain start out |
like tears
Regardless of all remOnstrance, the attendants |
thrust the hapleSS visitors ont into the STORM III
our ORDERS" GEORGE FAwCETT ROWE.
-------------
JACK.
From, The Detroit Free Press.