The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-24
0N sGHIlEss SITE
William {. Curtis Writes of
Historical Spot.
WAS ONCE A ROYAL CITY
Story of the Kings and Qneens
Who FeIIThere.
1commercial Advertiser ervice.l

Alexandria. Egypt. Jan 23.-Nearly ev-
srybody who comes to Egypt skips Al
exandria which is great mistake, De-
cause it is one of the finest ports on the
Mediterranean, and is full of historical
"reminiscences Some one has said that
Alexandra is a city of sites instead or
sights. which is a clever epigram and al
most true because you can only see the
places where the great buildings stood.
Nothing is left of them except here and
there q column or a piece of carved mar
Bile which has been utilized in the con-
struction Of modern building. Alexan-
drfe is purely modern. 1t is difficult to
realize that it is the famous capital of
Alexander the Great, the scene Of the
splendcrs and sensuous luxury of Cleo
patra and the Ptolemys VINO reigned in
the garden age Of Egypt 1t looks very
much like Bordeaux, Marseilies, Havre,
and other French seaports and for that
reason tourists hurry through from the
docks to the railway station without stop
Ding to think OF the memories that might
be awakened during a visit of a few days.
You will remember. perhaps. that Alex
asdria. after Antioch. was the headouar-
teys OF the Christian church in early
aines, and St Mark lived and preached
here for nearly half century. Here, too,
occurred the great theological controver-
pies which split the followers of Christ
Into sects;z here was the center Of intel
aectual culture for six hundred years,
and the great libraries brought together
The most eminent inte1lects Of the age.
Here, too. was the southern capital of the
witnessed some of the most brilliant pa
gesnts that ever astonished the world.
Cleopatra and Marc Anthony lived here
In the grentest splendor. Julius and Au-
gustus Caesar, Trajan, Hadrian, and
Constantine the Great were all residents
Of Alexandria from time to time, and
zenobia Queen of Palmyra, lived here
entfroned :Iom 26s to 215. Volumes have
been written 10 tell the history of which
Alexandra has been the scene from the
DAYS of its founder Alexander the Great.
TO the departure of Ismail. the dethroned
khedive. for Naples in 1879, with three
hundred women from his harem and
four shiploads of treasure which he strip
ped the khedival palaces.
In the middle of the city is great
square. the center OF the European quar-
ter. the focus of business and commercial
activity. 1t is surrounded by banks, the
Offices OF the steamship companies and
shipping firms, the consulates. the prin-
cipal hotels and shops, and is appropri
ately named after the founder of the
present khedival dynasty. the same Me-
hemet All whose splendid figure, mount
ed upon an Arabian charger of bronze,
stands in the center. 81
Visitors who are aware of the teach
tngs of the Koran are naturally surprised
to see statues of famous Mohamnnedans
in Egyptian cities, because their religion
forbids the making of images Accord
ing 10 a strict Interpretation a statue, a
portrait in oil. a photograph. an engrav-
ing. or even a head upon coin or model,
is violation of one of the fnjunctions of
the prophet. Mohammedans believe that
any man who makes a likeness of the
human form will be compelled to endow
1t with a soul on the day of the resurrec-
ton or forfeit lis own chances Of para
disc. But vanity prevails in Islam just
as IT does everywhere else among human
Kind and this statue and those in Cairo
and other parts of Egypt were ordered
by Ismail as ornaments TOR his cities and
as tributes to his ancestors. Before he
could put them up. however. he lost his
throne His successors dared not risk
the religious resentment Of their subjects.
so the statues were allowed to remain in
packing boxes until the English 'occu-
pied. the country Then they were taken
out and placed upon pedestals. the infidel
officials assuming all the risk of losing
their identity in paradise
There is excellent railway service be-
tween Alexandria and Cairo as good as
any in Europe or the United States. and
except for the sand and dust, which can
not be avoided in crossing desert, the
journey is quite comfortable.
About half way is a bridge spanning
one OF the arms of the Nile, which fifty
years ago was the scene of a most extra
ordinary tragedy. Isman Pasha. the
younger son of Ibrahin. had no prospect
of reaching the throne. although he con-
sidered himself much more competent
30 administer the duties of ruler than
his uncles and cousins, who had proceed
ence in the regular order of success
sion. One of his intimate friends and
confidential associates was an Armenian
adventurer. known as Nubar. who had
lived on the family for many years. be-
something 10 oblise Mehemet Ali. placed
him in a position to levy blackmail. Nu-
bar was superintendent Of the EGYPTIAN
government railways. and when special
carrying the brothers and sons of TIE
khedive was going from Cairo to Alex
andria TO attend some function. one Of
The draws of this bridge was mysterious
IL opened. The train plunged int the
Nile and everybody was drowned. leaving
the path to the throne clear for lsmsil.
who was expected to accompany the
party, but at the last moment excused
himself because of illness. The investiga-
ton which followed did not determine
who opened The bridge. but Nubar was
held responsible and was temporarily dis
graced, but as soon as lsnail became
khedve he was restored TO favor and
became all powerful az court. He was
the evil genius Of his royal master and
the cause of his fall.
Alexandria had the first lighthouse ever
erected for the benefit of shipping. Along
the coast of Syria and Palestine. Italy.
Greece and some OF the other countries
in southern Europe ST frequent Intervals
are watch towers which in ancient times
were used for the purpose CT communi
eating by signals. bu; the Pharos Tower.
a pile Of masonry near-y 9n feet high.
and OF the seven wonders OF the world.
was erected by Ptolemy Softer. who be-
came King OF Egypt after lMeNander's
death, 30 Il. c. 1t was intended as n
guide and warning to mariners, and bed
con fires were kept burning on its top at