The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-03-04
AMID THE RUINS OF EGYPT
PROFESSOR ID. CADY EATON's LEG
TURE IN SHEFFIELD HALL.


Something of the Character of the Modern
Egyptian-Trials of the Missionary-The
Collossi the Most Interesting of the Ruins
of Thebes-Many of the Tombs Were
Known to the Romans.
Professor d. Cady Eaton delivered
an interesting and instructive lecture
on Egypt; the Ruins of Karnak, Luxor
and Thebes," in the Sheffield Scientific
hall, Wednesday evening BY way of
Introduction to his remarks on the ruins
Professor Eaton gave a short descrip-
tion of modern Egypt and Egyptian
characters. Passing to the ruins of
Thebes, the lecturer said;
From Benz Hasan to Luxor is about
$50 miles, and it takes the boat about
three days to go the distance. Be-
tween Benz Hasan and Luxor the three
regular sights are, the ruins of Tel ell
Amarna, about twenty-five miles from
Benz Hasan; Abydos, little more than
ndlI way TO LuhOI, dIlu DClldCldli, VII
~ about forty-five miles from Luxor.
The boat generally stops for two of
them going up, and for one coming
down, or vice versa. The passengers
on this particular boat this evening will
not occupy themselves with ruins till
they reach Luxor and will then devote
themselves to them with the serious
ness and the concentration of purpose
which the task-for it is a task-de-
mands. OF the many modern towns be-
tween BENZ Eaasan and Luxor Assiut,
Girgeh and Keneh are the largest. At
these three, in the order mentioned, the
boat .hauls up for, the night.
The landing place at Assiut is more
animated than the landing place at
Benz Hasan; for Assiut is place of
commercial Importance and the resi-
dence of the governor of upper Egypt.
1t has about 10000 inhabitants, and
both an English and an American vice
consul In the hills back of Assiut are
any number of tombs, which have been
SO defaced battered and ransacked by
Christians and Mohammedans that
climbing may stop at point from
which a view of the town and of the
Valley dll oOOuI may nv hetN' iiSh y,
away from the nauseating smells and
disgusting sights Of the streets of AS
slut. you might almost imagine yourself
looking over some peaceful New Eng
land city on the banks Of the Connec-
ticut, or the Merrinac.
OF course you will be taken to the
American school; have it's aims, prin-
ciples and practices explained; and its
peeuniary claims advanced and empha-
sized The vast question of missionary
enterprise will be unrolled anew.
Should the modicum of good there must
be in every religion be accepted as a
foundation, and building be commenced
thereupon? Must not the Christian mis-
sionary say no? Must he not COM
mence by informing the Arab that his
prophet was a false prophet, inspired
by the devil, if inspired at all; and that
his teachings We're wrong and vile? He
must not knock the poor Mohammedan
all to pieces to begin with, and then
endeavor to build up new man with
the fragments? IF, on the other hand,
the missionary drop the role of spiritual
reformer and guide, and accept the
minor role of secular teacher he will
church at home. Moreover, what can
he teach? The elements of Anglo
Saxon education and civilization are as
vague and valueless to the Egyptians
as to the savage redskins of the Rocky
Mountains. The Egyptians manner
and method of thought, the springs OF
his intellectual and moral being. are so
different from those of the Anglo
Saxon. that there is no common ground
of approach. 1t is difficult to realize
that human beings can think, feel. act,
and talk in ways so opposite that mu-
the fact becomes more evident, the bet
ter races are studied. What the result
might be. could the Egyptians be forced
for a generation. or two, to be clean.
to honor women, and not to break
daily the whole Jewish decalogue, is a
fair subject for speculation. Unfortu-
nately, to-day's politics are opposed to
applying force to the unspeakable
Turk, or to his remote subjects. Nor is
the policy of logging the wicked into
sound religion and profitable piety any
longer in vogue, alas! even in Connecti-
cut. As to morally persuading, or pi-
ously teaching, an Egyptian to become
an upright, civilized. Christian gentle
man of Piccadilly or of Fifth avenue.
you might as well try to educate a
monkey for the presidency of q rail
road or to persuade u hyena TO feed