New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-27

ment's existence. In its place before the Temn,;
in lleliopois, Moses may have seen il before be
led the lSrselites from Egypt II was there still
when Cambyses, the Persian, CONQUERED ard a. i'
oated Egypt: when Homer sang when Jerodo,ms
visited Egypt, and when Alexander's generals
became the rulers.
Cleopatra TRANSPORTED it from the ruined Temple
to her own palace in Alexandria, where il NAV
have been inspected by Augustus t'ooeor anJ
where it stood at the dawn of the Christian era.
Ii outlved the fall of the Roman Fmnira &c :,
had the rise and fall Of the Grecian and Paroan ~
republics During the long period OF tbe Cr,.
sades and the Made Ages it was forootten
Nap0eon's visit TO Egypt and the new Interest
in Egyptian history taken by European nationS
brought tile Obelisk once more before the yvarid
Finally it was transported thousands of miles over
the ocean to country unknown 20 the Epyptians
to a later and greater Republic than those il had
been associated with in the past, and whose de-
yeopment will make another page of its bistorv
Many Suggestions have been made ana are con-
SANITY being received by the Park authorities
as to the best means Of preserving the Obeli,k
II was proposed originally to place il in the
main hall of the Metropolitan Museum Of Art
That would have been one of the best means OF
caring for 1t, as 1t would then be protected alb
solutely from storms and irosts. Others have adj
vocated that it should be place.: under great
glass case. Any number Of theorists and owners
OF patent prcserNatlVes have desired 10 experiment.
on the Stone and have guaranteed 10 preserve 10
for all time Under the present direction, the
Obellsk Will be inspected yearly by competent
persons appointed BY the Department, and the
at once attended 10. The main objection TO plac-
ing the monument under cover is its great size.
To place II within a building would it is thought
by some, be homogeneous.
The inscriptions are still in fairly good
ditOn. They lave all been translated and copies
Of them are preserved. Now il Is simply ques-
ton, Professor NewbeTy says how long parlfine
and other pTcspTVaflYcS can fight of the climatic
attacks. If strictly care for the inscriptions
may be retained in good condition for century
or longer. Ten years of neglect however, would
probably destroy them beyond Iepair. The granite
of the shaft VIII crumble III this atmosphere. III
the same manner all other stone used for build
ing in the city. Sudden, extreme changes Of
heat and cold are most destructive agents. The
water absorbed during rain il frozen suddenly
by fall in the temperature, ana the surface 0I
the stone begins at once To crack. ln addition 10
these forces, there large quantities of sui
phuric and carb0nic acid gases in the atmosphere
Of the city, which maintain a continuous effect
on ali stone. lirOwrsOne buildings, after twcnty-
five or thirty years in this city, begin 10 crumblc:
marble limestone and granite structures with
stand the climate somewhat longer. and brick,
when cared for. appears 10 be more lasting than
any. Dr. Newbcrry states that siliciOus stone Is
the most durable. but that no rock viii long out
last the combined attacks % acidulated water,
as physical and chcmcal agent. The parailinc
absorbed by the surface of tie Obelis< prevents
the water from entering the pores Of the stone,
and is also eiiectual rs long n II lasis against
the atmospheric gases: but on 81 large q surface
continually exposed, il will be difficult 70 prevent
the weather from making. from time 10 time. some
cucrOachmentS, and the ODcllsk. when IS now IN
n healthy old age Will be obliged, like every
thing else, to sUccumb at last.