Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-03-29
IN EGYPT.
Visit 10 The pyramids I'D the Sphinx
Letter Number y.


cosres.xnaenee Richmond Pallasium.
JERUSALEM. palestine,
February 20. 1900.
4 seven-mile carriage ride brought
US to the Great Pyramids. We hrst
90 to the great bridge across D
Nile. then following close to the river
some distance urn across another
stream and 20 directly TO the pyra-
mids. driving the whole way between
two rows of acacia trees, whose
branches smeet over our heads, thus
giving us a canopy OF leaves. we
me with lnnumerabIe cameis ana
donkeys, bearing burdens to market,
and It is astonishing that there Is
never a moment when large numbers
OF native people are not IN slgnt.
The distance seems greater than II
is. because the Pyramids are contin-
uaIfv in sight, and il seems 70 take
so long to reach what is already seen.
Away to the south we e clearly the
Pyramids of Sakkareh, but we We're
not permitted a closer view.
With me there was no sense OF dis
appointment, when at last we were
before the Great Pyramids or Pyra-
mids of Ghlzeh. They were all I had
expected, and became even as |
examined them further. l am sur
prised that not more emphasis a
been given to the Temple OF the
Sphinx. for il was to me the most
marvellous of all the structures. The
Sphinx itself was more interesting
than / had expected, though [ heard
some express disappointment at its
lack of prominence. Those who have
not seen it should note that it IS on
ground much lower than the pyra-
mias, though not far away, giving 1t
such lack of prominence as scarcely
to be seen from the Pyramids. The
pictures that give it prominence are
not false however, for they are only
taken from below the Sphinx, q
make it prominent, just as a man
near the camera would appear proml-
nent in front of a house one hundred
feet away. Especially are the face and
arms and hands interesting to OBJ
serve. the latter being constructed
in pieces fitted skillfully together. 1t
is also interesting to observe the IN
scription on the breast, though one
cam read a word of it.
But the Temple of the Sphinx
shows marvellous skill. Large square
pillars, six in number each way, no
longer supporting that fer which
they were built, still stand three and
a half feet square and fourteen feet
high. and so true that their surfaces
still present a perfectly straight line.
Then imagine great blocks of stone,
some of which are six feet by six by
twelve in size, with all the surfaces
made so smooth and SO true that they
fit perfectly tight against each other
without a particle of mortar. Now
do not mistake as many have. 1t is
the Temple of the Sphinx that IS sc
skillfully constructed. The Pyramids
themselves are constructed of rough
but squared blocks of stones laid in
mortar.
We added glory to our lives by
climbing the Great Pyramid, two OF
US. | was certain before going UP
that | could go alone without any as
sistance. | was glad before | was
half a up that | had two stout
Arabs to help me. Landing upon the
So ~ , .sRi en- as.s me view -.
While here, a guide exhibited I
recommendation given him by a gen
tleman from Kentucky. 1t reads as
follows: "This fellow is a good stout
fellow to help you up the Pyramids,
but lookout, he'll be into you before
you get down" This refers to back.
sheesh" which they undertake to get
by pressure, when one is away up,
and willing to give in order to be
helped. But we had no difficulty on
that score.
ELLWooD .. ELLIS.