Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-01-16

From conventional Boston comes
story of mystic evolution which, were
it not SO we'll substantiated, would be
looked upon as fctional romance.
But the woman and the facts concern
ing her career are known to many
ham, prominent as the American sec
rotary of the Egyptian fund.
A few years ago Mrs. Buchanan was
an unassuming little New England
woman Of only ordinary education and
everyday tastes and ambitions. One
day she was teaching a class OF boys
III Sunday school when the lesson
turned on the influence which the
Egyptians had on the lsraelites. AS
she dwelt upon the life led by those
learned and skillful ancients who left
on the banks of the Nile such endur-
ing testimonials of their skill and cum
ming, she became enthusiastic. The
grandeur Of the civilization of that
people and the sublinity Of their his
tory impressed her as they had never
done before.
She told her Toys that on the follow
ing Sunday they would take up the
subject again, and during the week she
read everything she could about Egyp-
tians. 1t all seemed strangely familiar
to Ter, although she was sure she was
reading much Of it for the first time.
Sunday after Sunday she took her class
Of boys deeper and deeper into the
lornob.ancient Egypt, and finally she
!: save up all other interests to study the
0ff inf CT
whose sun had set before history was
begun.
All the money which she could posi-
bly, save from other things she spent
! in buying books relating to the subject
| Every book dealer in Boston soon came
to know her and her tastes, and when
anything relating to Egypt or its his
| tory came into their possession they
notified Mrs Buchanan. The Egyptian
| department Of the Boston Art Museum
| became her favorite resort. Day after
day she appeared at the museum, STU
| dying and examining the treasures Of
the collection with patient zeal. So
| completely did she become absorbed in
| the work that many times the attend
ants were obnged to warn her that the
time for closing had come. Finally
| the museum authorities, learning of
her earnest work, granted her special
| privileges for carrying on her studies.
Gradually she assumed a semi-ofi-
| cial connection with the department,
| frequently acting as guide to visitors
| and explaining the meaning of the
queer hieroglyphics on the monu-
ments. Often she gave the meaning
| of emblems whose translation she her.
self had never been told, but on look
| ing the matter up later found that in
| every instance she had been correct.
! The Egyptian language, too, she en-,
| ed to acquire without any particular
effort or study. It seemed to come
naturally to her, and when asked how
| she managed to commit to memory
| the long selections which she has ever
ready she could not tell
THE language is so simple and mu-
| steal that one cannot help remember
| ing she says This has certainly not
| been the experience of others who
i have attempted to master the Egyp-
/ tian tongue
! From giving occasional talks about
the relics to chance groups OF visitors
! to the museum Mrs. Buchanan began
! to give the more formal and technical
| lectures which have been a feature Of
her work at the museum Last wear
! the course attracted more than usual
I attention. and the receipts were con-
tributed to fund raised by Ameri-