New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-29
WHO owns THE SPHINXESf
THIS IS THE QUESTION THAT IS DISTURB
ING THE PEACE OF WEST IsLIP CITIZENS.

THIS ia THE QUESTION THAT IS DISTURB
ING THE PEACE OF WEST IsLIP CITIZENS.
1t appears upon further inquiry and investigation
that the marble Ions which were reported TO nave
been abducted during the weary v!gils OF the night
from the property OF william Zegler down at West
Isp. Long Island. were not lions at AL, put
sphinxes For years these examples OF ancient
Egyptian sculpture have been standing guard at
the door OF John b. ireland and OF his wifes father
before him. Mr.. Z!egler has just purchased the
property from Mr.. Ireland through q third party,
with whom also. II appears there Is connected In
some way still another party to the sale.
Marble sphinxes ara mysterious form OF art
Wherever they are found, sooner or later there Is
bound 10 be trouble. A pair OF marble sphinxes
were once presented to one OF the well-known uni
versi,ies OF the country by some philosophical
citizen They were mounted with due ceremony at
each side OF the approach TO the college library
From that moment the trustees OF the college were
never without trouble. Whenever the college ath-
lctes were victorious the college turned out en-
masse and painted those sphinxes red. No sooner
had this coat been sandpapered off by corps OF
college attendants than some class would celebrate
as classes wont to do. and the sphinxes would
again appear respondent from the efforts OF the
class artists Then followed more sandpapering
Over and over again this process was gone through
with, until II became necessary for the authorities
to keep force of men constantly on hand to scrapo
the paint of the sphnxes.
A special committee OF the faculty was appointed
to act as guardians OF the sphnxes. Upon the
slightest suspicion OF an outbreak on the part OF
the students n platoon OF police was sent for to
protect the sphinxes from gratifying the artistic
inclina TONS OF the students. The picture OF the
public minded citizen who presented the sphlnxes
TO the college was turned toward the wall and his
wifes name scratched of the calling list OF the
trustees wives. From the almost constant appllca-
ton OF sandpaper the marble sphnxes were
duced to less than half their original size and the
total Of the items charged up to the account care
OF marble sphnxes' the college ledger would
have purchased new dormitory.
Mr.. Ireands marble sphinxes have never been
submitted TO the indgnity OF red paint but they
are at the present moment proving the cause Of
end OF trouble. As result OF the sale OF the Long
Island property. there several citizens ord-
narily OF peaceful disposition. who strutting
around with wild looks In their eyes and segment
OF cordwood upon their shoulders. Mr.. ziegler says
that he does no, know anything about any sphlnxes
being on the place He never saw them. lie says
sent man down there with orders not to let any
within lie Insists that no one had any more rgh
to take anything away. from the place than he
remove article OF furniture, and that Il any
ore has removed property belonging to his new
that II is returned He said he did not buy the
properly from Mr. Ireland, and DID not know him
q. Prague No. a Liberty-si.
Mr.. Prague rs an architect and builder When
seen he said that he had made n trade for Adam
T. Fisher, another architect who occupied the same
offices with him. The Long Island property had
been exchanged for piece OF property uptown.
before making the trade he had made contract
lie said that The sphinx affair was the result OF a
misunderstanding. The sphinxes were Of no par
ticular value anyway not worth more than $50 or
$40. and 1t would all be Strengthened out satsfac-
torily.
John b. Ireland was seen and said that the
father was one OF the oIgners OF the Declaration
Of independence. The property in West Isip Long
Island had been his fathers before him. and
when he had sold It to Mr.; Fisher through Mr..
rrague. u mad been understood that he reserved
TO this understanding he had witnesses. The fur
nture and the sphinxes were Ills wife's anyway,
and he had no more right to sell them than he had
70 sell anything else that did not belong to him
He said that he had sent man down to Long ISL
and to get the sphlnxes. and they were now.
their way to Babylon where they would continue
to watch his doorway they had in the past in
Long Island, and that any effort made to get pos
session OF them would be vigorously contested by
him Thus 1t seems probable that the sphInxes will
question OF their ownership Is fully established