Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-03

be used upon me-a long piece Of iron bent
asa hook. A sharp and pointed blade OF
stone. and several vases filed with per-
fumes for my embalmment,
Thethmosis. taking in his hand IN in
strument of bent iron, pushed it violently
up one of my nostrils until IL seemed 10
touch nv brain. The pain was frightfui.
lost all consciousness; was real death
coming TO my aidy :,
When regained my senses saw that
was no longer in the chamber where the
Nasamons had carried me. Such daylight
as could struggle through small circular
window showed me that was in low"
coilinged cellar, and that my body, with
the exception of my head, had been
plunged into an oblong bath filed 70 the
! brim with nltre. For, how long had been
there? Would death have naught to DO
| with me, or was this after punishment Tor
the faults of all my lief? Terrible mys-
teryl Perhaps was indeed dead.
Suddenly voice broke upon my ears
and | could hear the opening of a door.
Ha! ha! Bv the divine Osiris, but ne
| makes splendid mummy" chuckleu
yhethmosis, as he examined me; a hne,
dry skin, muscles like cords--it is time TO
think OF the body cloths"
wRArPED IN FLAX.
The bantering manner in which the old
embalmer spoke exasperated me to SIN
Pular degree From the hooking express
sion Of HIS lips ] suspected that he knew
well that was living and the victim of
villainous trick on the part of the Princess.
| They land me once more upon gianite
| table. 1 had remained unconscious
throughout seventy days, for such ] knew
was the length of time mummy Is lett 10
soak in nitTe. ] was embalmedl
Thethmosis and his assistants wrapped
| r. l.. Aa,. 4. .,fN
/ with gum. and soon J. was completely
shrouded in several thicknesses Of linen
cloth. A strange thing happened, and one
which was a serious departure from the
usual Egyptian custom. Instead OF envel-
| oping my mummy in three distinct cover
| ings. ThethmOsis lard me in an open box
and simply covered my face with mask OF
gold, with openings pierced for eyes ana
nose and mouth.
Then the embalmer lett me to the care
of his slaves, giving them the one order.
Garry him TO his Pyramid Again saw
the noble streets Of Memphis with their
| crowds and animated hustle: then. by de-
grees. all signs Of city life were left behind.
Soon | found myself III my last resting
place, close TO the mummies Of my ances-
tors: the doors of bronze were closed ana
| was cut OFT from the living world.
Death would have been q blessing.
was mummy. and yet alivel Was ! to
remain thus for all time. corpse or had
j in reality ceased to exist.
Through the dim light | could look
down corridors lined on both sides with
grinning parchment skinned faces OF mum
mics all that was left of proud Pharaohs,
builders of the pyramids. bold warriors,
and wise rulers!
The centuries ran on
lived throughout the time.
At intervals the bronze doors would
creak upon their hinges and slowly open,
the daylight would stream in and two hu-
man beings enter. carrying new mummy.
Ny descendants lay beside me III q goodly
low.
TIME GOES on.
At times nv former life, its pleasures,
lows, and troubles passed before my eve.
] could see again the fair waters of the
Nile, the palaces upon ITS banks, and the
golden light Of day: could taste the pure
air once more and scent the perfume OF the
flowers. Soon. however, the reality of my
sad condition would reassert itself and
force me TO remember that was buried
under q mountain of stone, polluted WITH
the nauseOus bltumen.
Sometimes loud voices would reecho
through tho corridors. A hurricane OF
fame would sweep across the desert sands
and drive them like oceans pillows against
the tomb of all the Pharoahs.
Century succeeded century; slowly, slow
". Long time had now elapsed since the
bronze doors had opened.
A tar-On rumbling, such rs precedes
tempest, struck upon my ears, ceaslnF Tor
n moment. only to commence with double
force. Surely some awful upheaval OF Ma
ture Was it the very end OF alIy
Silence once more, and still more territy-
ing Su tHde I've t the metal-doors are rabey
thrust asunder. Men of strange aspect and
still stranger customs penetrated the tomb,
torches in hand. They examined the. sar-
cophagi and mummies, expressing their as
constituent in a strange tongue. =,
They lifted me and bore me from the
Pyramid at last | was TO see my native
land again
Alas! what mournful sight met my
view! Egypt overcast with gloom and
desolate: ruins and decay on all sides A
strange race living on the banks of the
Nile, speaking a language which knew
not! Priests, warriors, where are they
all? What has befallen my fellow-citlzens
of Memphis? Has all Egypt perished!
DOWN THE NILE.
lam placed in an enormous vessel and
descend the Nile; but how changed is the
sacred stream Its banks are deserted and
laid waste. Memphis. my birthplace. has
the ruins of its palaces. Here and there
stand solitary obelisks, broken trunks OF
columns. fragments of portlcoes!
Time has destroyed everything.
The strangers look with curiosity on the
bands which encircle me; one OF them
raises the mask of gold and shows my
features to his companions. Then they
lay me in the depths OF the vessels hold:
e NH II nnn
more see the daylight, find myself in the
strangest of places. and vainly seek to I'M
derstand what | see around me. am
placed standing upright III sort OF chest
having transparent walls, and in whatever
direction my looks are cast they fall upon
some relics of my country; images OF gods
are mixed with tools of husbandry. can
also see multitude of sarcophagi, tablets
Of heroglyphics. enamelled breastp.ates,
mummies Of the ibis. the crocodile, and
the cat. :.
At this moment it seems as if life were
again about to take possession or my BODY,
a tremor runs through my veins, my right
arm breaks suddenly from my side, and,
striking upon the transparent wall smashes
il with loud crash.
THE AWAKENING.
And awoke with start. in q state OF
dire confusion. / have been unfortunate
enough to break glass case in the Egyp-
tan Museum. An attendant admonishes
me very sharply, and informs me that the
museum is not dormitory; nay, am o.
most convinced that the fellow growls, out
some reflection upon people who have
taken too much wine. But myself, still
in state of bewilderment, seize my hat,
and having paid for the damage l have
done hurry of homeward, registering
mental vow that on the next occasion
when I wish TO dream will choose some
other spot than the interment hall in the
Fryptian Museum of the Louvre.
GENERAL BEEkMAN DUBARRY,
Tho New Brigadier-Generai and Com
missary-G General of the United