Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-10-09
CORNELLs MUMMY.
"Penpi' Released from his Cerements after
sleep OF 5000 Years.

Ithaca Journal.
At o'clock yesterday afternoon about
$50 persons who had been invited to
witness the removal Of the mummy
from It's case, had assembled in the ana
tOmlcal lecJure-rOOm, and were anxious
ly awaiting the ceremonies which were
to be held over this ancient Egyptian.
In the front Of the room upon a long
table stood the object toward which all
eyes were directed; the case, which was
covered with inscriptions and rude rep
reservations, had been cut into and ar
ranged IN such a manner as to IA
cllitate the work that was about
to begin. Shortly after 3 o'clock
Professor Tyler arose, and, after a few
Introductory remarks, spOkesubstantially
as follows: Il regret that we are to make
the acquaintance of this venerable gen
deman this afternoon in the absence of
President White, but it will be impossi-
bic for him to be here even next week,
and this seems to be the most cOnven-
lent time that is available during this
term. In looking over the records I find
that Professor AgaZziz delivered a lee
ture at the unwilling Of a mummy at
Harvard College a few years ago, and
that similar exercises were held at the
Royal museum on a like occasion, at
which perhaps but one person here this
afternoon, Mr.. Dewey, has ever been
present
"Hhis mummy Was presented to Presi-
dent White and the University by Mr..
POmeroy, Consul General at Cairo. He
procured it at the metropolis in Upper
Egypt, about q year ago, but was detain-
ed at Thebes, by theraVages Ofthe cholera
in Lower Egypt, until Fall. At Cairo
French scientist translated the hero
glyphlcs which are upon the case, from
which we learn that this mans name
was 'Penpi," and that he lived in the
twenty-third dynasty"
There are different theories advanced
why the Egyptians embalmed the
bodies of their dead; one, because it was
they could not bury them with safety.
But these theories hardly seem to be
satisfactory. By the inscriptions on
tOmbs, monuments, and on the mummies
themselves, we learn that it was a sacred
rite, the expression of their faith and
belief in their religion, which at that
time was a pure faith; they believed that
life was a conflict between good and evil
and that mans destiny would be settled
by final judgment, but evolution was
silently working IN the Egyptian faith,
as well as science, though downward in
stead Of upward. In consequence of this
belief the friends did all they could to
make the future OF the departed bright
and happy, and to protect him against
the attacks Of the Evil One.
"FrOm these figures here on the case
we see that the friends of 'PenpP were
anxious to secure repOse for his soul.
Here, on his head is the sacred beetle,
around his neck IS the representation of
a necklace, on his breast is the figure Of
a Vulture holding two seals IN his claws
an emblem Of eternity; below Is a spar
rOW-haWk, also holding a seal. From
the inscription we learn that 'PenpI be-
lOnged to the twenty-third dynasty.
Eight hundred years b. O., kind friends
laid away this body which, to all ap-
pearances, has remained unframed for
nearly 1000 years. We can hardly COM
prehend that this man lived before the
first Olympiad, nearly 80 years be-
fore the legendary foundation of
Rome; was a contemporary with the
founding of Carthage; lived 200 years
Lefore Cyrus, 800 years before COnfucius,
$50 years before Julius Caesar invaded
Britain, 400 years after the Trojan war,
100 years after Homer, 222 years before
Scion, 800 years before the battle Of
Marathon, or in Jewish chronology, 500
years after the Exodus. 175 years after
Solomon, and was contemporary of
Elijah, Elisha and Ahab."
y
fessor Gage, who gave a brief account of
the method pursued by the Egyptians
IN embalming the bodies of the dead.
He said: "The process of embalming is
very simple, and it Is not, as Is generally
supposed. a lost art After death the
remains were taken to the lower order of
priests, who removed the soft parts of
the body, which was then placed in a
sort of brine and soaked for seventy
days; it was then removed, and resin,
cinnamon, myrrh, ETC., was applied; this
was followed by a thorough drying.
Sometimes the face was gilded, but only
by the most wealthy. The cost Of en-
balming a body in this way was from
81, 600 to $1,000; after the drying process
the body was wrapped, often a thousand
yards of bandage being used.
The case about this mummy is eVi-
IDENTIFY made Of the same material as the
cloth Wrappings, but soaked in some
gum"
After the speaking the mummy was
taken from the case and the unWTapping
commenced. The bandages, which were
of yelloWish color, about ten feet long
and four inches wide, were made Ofhnen
and fringed at the ends; they were put
on very symmetrically, one layer being
crOssWise, the next up and down.
The head only was uncovered IN the
presence of the visitors. This was found
to be in a good state of preservation; the
hair had been shaved closely, but on the
back Of the head a little could be seen,
which was Of a sandy color; the beard
also could be recognized. The face was
of medium size, with low forehead, a
Roman nose and rather high cheek
a gOOd-lOoking face,
taking his age into consideration.
q the unv~rnv,r was GOING on a
grain Of wheat, well preserved, was
found. which was placed in a bottle and
passed around that all might see.
Those present we're asked to look at
the mummy as they passed out, an OPP
pOrtunity Of which all availed them