Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-07-04
Cleopatra's Needle,

Letter from John Dixon to the editor of
the London TImes: Ny attention has been
drawn to some statements in the House of
Commons as to tho alleged decay of the
Egyptian ObliSk on the Thames Embank-
ment.
After making a careful personal examin-
alton OF the monument, my critical eve
fails to detect upon its surface sign of de
cay whatever. Were there such, there
could be no doubt there would be grains of
stone lying on the altar steps and top of
the PEDESTAL. | climbed up and could not
see one sign of decay. | also could see
glittering points on the surface of the So
luton of silica supplied to me by the chem
lists OF the British Museum, at the sugges-
ton Of my old friends Sir Richard Owen
and DR.. Birch and of which three coats or
washes were given with the greatest care
before the trunniOns and fastenings for the
final were placed around it.
There is another resort also in the natur-
al composition of this peculiar bed syenitic
granite that crosses the valley of the Nile
at the First Cataracts, and from the quar-
rleS at the small village of Svene from
which all the known obeiSks were cut
VIZ, the total absence of mica in the stone.
In all other GRANTEES this readily destruCt-
able material exists. Moreover. it must
not be forgotten the centuries that have
passed away since this ancient monument
was erected by the Pharoah Rameses II. at
at the main gateway of his great temple at
On, the HeEpohs of the Greeks There it
stood for eighteen centuries, and was
about twtnty-three years B. c. removed bv
order of Cleopatra to the palace
she was erecting at Alexandra for
her friend and constant visitor, julius
Caesar. The architect appointed by her was
Pontius, the father of P0ntius Plate. the
Governor of Judea The rounded corners
of the bases ofthe two obelisks had doubt
less been clipped off by The gatekeepers at
On and sold to the pilgrim visitors. Pom
thus Architante had eight bronze crabs
cast and placed them under the rounded
corners of the stones. and on the big claw
of one of the two crabs which alone re-
manned was, when the PEDESTAL was cleared
of its surrounding sand, found this in
strlptiCn: I'm the sixth year of Augustus
Caesar, !. Barberus. Perfect of Egyp. caus-
ed these obeIsks to be erected by Pontius
the architect" Since then another nine
teen centuries are passed and even this
3,1OO years of weathering has not eraced
one single portion of the hieroglyphes.
From an account of results of meteoroI-
ogical observations taken at various
stations west of the Mississippi, and com
inundated to the Washington Philosoph-
zeal society by Gen. A. w. Greedy, it APP
pears that the aridity of the far west has
been considered overrated, chiefly in con-
sequence of the fewness Of observation
stations at the date of the last census. The
Charting Of more recent observations has
shown that the area which receives only
five inches Of rain per annum Is compare
lively small, has diminished that which
receives less than fifteen inches by above 4
quarter Of million of square miles and
has shown that some spots which had been
credited with five inches or less Of precipi-
tation actually receives as much as sixteen
inches. Gen. Greedy believes. however.
that the rainfall Is increasing over The arid
region is correct.
The newest cocktail, the invention of
well-known club man. Is having a tremen-
dous go. 1t is prophesied that for some
time. at least. the new cocktail will super
sede even the oldest established appstizeTs.
And 1t Is simplicity itself. Put one drop
of red tabasco In the bottom of a sherry
glass and twIrl the glass so as to di tribute
the potent liquid over as large an Grea as
possible. Then ill the glass with a dry
sherry and put one more drop of tlbasco,
meeting and shaking hands, as It were,
under the midriff. a genI2! glow over the
entire system without cutting away the
lining OF the stomach. 1t Is claimed. as bit
tiers of all kinds do. Pale brandy with
double the quantity OF Jabasco Is said to be
even more effective to some tastes. But
the green tabasco must under no cITcum-
stance be used.
A young New York millionaire, who is
called Eugene Aram at the clubs, be-
caaSe he sits remote from all and m0pes.
frankly admits that ne takes no interest
In anything In the wOrld-Taces. base ball.
yachts and other matters that generally
engage the attention ST young men in good
health like himself. with q great fortune to
spend. He got tired of them long ago.
The truth IS, he SAYS, Il began life too 1
early. | have been cursed by too much I
money. ] wish had been born poor. /
The poison of riches has made me unfit for .
anything but an ennuIed and useless (.
creature. ] know my case would not AVIAN /
IN much sympathy. but | tell you SIT, its .
4 hard one.
The widowed Archduchess Valerie, Of I
Austria, Is at least engaged TO De remarked 4
her iaHce being the ArChduke Francis 4
son Of the Archduke Charles Sal /
rator. of Hap>burg- Lorraine. The emperor 4
aas refused to allow his daughter-In-law 10 4
accept the wedding presents which munich
pal councils all over the empire intended /
o vote for her.