The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-23
EGYPTIAN Archaeology.
A view Muscuw or Antiquities ut Cn,ro-s
nmw 20 the Y, rnmids.

The Egyptian Museum Of Antiquities. which
during Marielte's and Maspcro's admln,s,r,.
lions was located in the small iioulak pal,c.
and astcrward transferred by Mr.. Grcbcau J.,
Gizeh. has outErown its present home and 4,
TO be transferred once more. Mr.. Duurlgnon
French architect, has gone to Egypt to assum.
tho direction OF the work of construction In
collaboration with m inspector OF the Egvp,ia,
service. The funds needed for this vast cnto-.
prise had been appropriated last year. and worl
was about to begin, when Lord Crumirr had ali
the appropriations laid inside aud all the obtain.
able funds made available for the Dongola or.
petition. But now, after all, Cairo is going !.
have its new museum.
Such n building is very much needed SIM.
Mr.. Jacques dc Morgan arrived In Esypt. .
D!roc.or.Gcncral OF the antiquities service, 1,
has been his constant dread that all the invalu.
able treasures intrus.ed to his caro- Nigh, \.
come the prey Of fire. The Glzeh palace. whc,
the museum OF Egyptian antiquities IL now 10
Gated. is probably ono Of the most unsafe public
buildings In tho world. Its cost was cnOrmou,
sending to tho shade the extravaganza " ,hs
Albany Capitol. II was one OF tho last achicve
ments OF Khodive Ismail, when he was urcpa,
Ing Egyptian bankruptcy and his own downfall.
/ remember noticing. while visiting this palaca
large openings In the walls, through which
could be detected tho composition Of tho wall,
supposed to DO made OF stone. Instead OF corn.
pact and solid material. trunks OF palm tree,
logs Of wood. and rubbish OF all sorts could IA
seen. all covered up with a thin outside COATING
Of plaster most brilliantly decorated. a true pe
ture. In fact, OF modern Egypt. 1t was said. also
that the spaces between ceilings and floor. wer,
oiled up in a similar way with all sorts OF wooden
debris. The Gizch palace was in every respect.
perfect fire trap.
Then probings were made at Mr.. J. de Nor
gan's request, to show TO the comnissloa
the true condition OF things. and the absolut,
necessity for a now museum. erected In accord.
ance with the rules OF n modern f~ircproof build.
Ing. The commission and public opinion we,,
30 much impressed that the construction OF
new museum was decided upon. II is 10 b
erected at Cairo. with II frontage on the Mia.
where ~ will be OF easy access TO visitors. Thi
VIII facilitate the more economical transports.
tion by water OF tho heaviest materials. Ths
plans are simple and at the same time Vel
adapted TO the exhibition and safe keeping o.
Another item OF news that will be OF in'cres.
70 travellers in Esypt is that a privilce" has
the Belgian Tramway Company OF Cairo In -
tablish a line from that city to the Mems House
s sns 1sS Ginsh canal Py5aiin Viii b be f siRii.dfi@ %S, ' anti rad f,
contemplated that this will improve the sant.
tary condition of the city. There is nothing -
popuihT III NhlTO us ~ rue on the Olu TOll 70 thf
pyramids. Every one who has visited Egypi
has gone under the shade OF its stalwart trees
This old road has Il curious origin. II was bull,
a! a period OF Eeyptian history that reminds on,
Frcnchman had brought to the land OF the lhs
raohs n mighty sovereign to attend the Opening
or the greatest commercial waterway Of ihs
world. fully aware that the canal was not IRE.
Will to have II open in time. The ruler o; this
fairy-likc land invited his imperial guest toG
carriage ride 10 the GiZeh pyramids. No roa.
existed from Cairo to the desert, and yet whta
road Was built and planted with shady trees. Il
had all been accomplished in a few days.
Nothing is more interesting than a talk viii
bic Mariette days is willing TO entertain YOU Q.
this strange period. lie will tell how Verdi wM
called upon by a Khedive's caprice. and Aida"
written In q few weeks to retrace the old dan
OF Egypt. Nothing was spared to make a mois
Boy himself were the stage painters, and The
scenes We're copied from the genuine records;
while Nubia had 10 supply ballet dancers an!
her black cohort. Then the Egypt OF ID.
Pharaohs was revived at the will Of Its modem
ruler.
So we will soon have TO go TO the pyramids IN
a pain street car. In spite OF the majesty OF 10
souvenirs, the Memphis metropolis will beooms
g general, picnic ground. with Irritation and
lunch basket. But now that II Is going TO b
more accessible TO visitors, IL Is TO be hoped that
strict rules will be enforced for the preservation ,
OF It's MONUMENTS. Nothing Is more dcstructiv.
TO antique remains than tourists in their uncon-
trollable desire TO substitute the world-knowa
names OF Jones, Smith, ana Brown to the les
suphonic ones OF Keeps. Kcphren, and MycheH
base OF the pyramids free from debris accumu.
lated by aRes; by a judicious tolerance, p~rivilegs
should be given TO the tourists TO take II awSy
as mementos; and the task would be accom-
plished speedily.