Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-31
The Obeiisk.
tn ne rllifni. NJ he DiSn1fch.

Recently O question was agitated in GER
tain New York papers-one which, though
not touching US of the South seriously,
yet has an interest for all who venerate
the antique-relative to the preservation
of the Obelisk in Central Park. Repre-
senting. as the latter does. those two pow
erful and enlightened monarchs Thothme5
III. and Ramases H., 1.-THE Great" the
Pharaoh OF the Oppression" that majestic
mOnolith. dating anterior to the departure
of the Israelites from Egypt TO set up
their restless tabernacle in the desert, has
a singular claim 10 our confederation. It
Is, therefore. with feelings of individual.
personal solicitude that we peruse from
time to time accounts of the injurious
effects of our climate upon the Syenite
stone. and il is sad to contemplate the
certainty OF the old monuments early de-
struction, or at least the final obliteration
of its eyquisitely- inscriptions by
continual exfoliation. | opine 1t grieves
every lover of archaic beauty TO foresee IN
the near future this assured catastrophe,
especially considering that little prompt
action in the right direction would arrest
decay and preserve the grand old relic IN
definitely.
Various devices for its rescue have been
suggested, the two most notable of which
are-frst, that put forth by some expert"
and involving the chemical ircrustation
of the huge shaft with apreparation which,
while not obscuring view OF the HE
roglyphs should yet protect them from the
weather, &c. Here the object may indeed
be reached, but the color and texture
would no longer simulate or represent
those of the stone, and so it is objection
able. The other device embraces tho STU
pendous proposal to bodily remove the
Obellsk and set il up beneath the dome Of
certain lofty public building of the me
trOpolis. This latter, and indeed all the
propositions for the end i'll view that |
have seen, seem to have originated solely
in anxiety to protect tho monolith from
the weather, unaccountably ignoring al
together the effects thereon of climate
proper.
Now, with all the genii Of the Lamp at
her august command. it appears TO me the
simplest thing possible for New York city
To save the Obeisk from further injury.
Ny plan would be, stated in general terms,
to encase il, more or less closely according
TO circumstances, within an alright
casing, of its own shape exactly. OF metal
and glass. The details. of course. l hum
bly, submit TO the wisdom and taste of the
committee having charge of the work.
Such an arrangement would interpose no
obstruction to a satisfactory view of the
shaft within, while a certain class OF yisi-
tors would no doubt be quite charmed 10y
the graceful design and beautiful execu-
ton of the now addition.
But lust so surely rs that oxygen will
rust iron, or that chlorine eSorts solvent
powers over gold, just so surely will the
subtle forces of our climate, distinct and
apart from those actually indicated by the
barometer, continue to dislntegrate and
destroy that exquisite and noble exponent
of a remote age and lost civilization,
now languishing in Central Park, unless
by some means it be Theoretically protect
ed therefrom.
And, by the staff of Osiris. this were
pity and shamel II. o., II. ID.
RICHMOND. VA, January %, 1890.