East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-03-14
Most Beautiful Building
in the World.

tAlbNu NAANA4 dppAlNu " AlldA
matchless gem of architecture, the
Tai Mahal.
Shah Jehan, the builder of this
"dream in marble" as it has been
called, ascended the throne as en-
peror of the Mogul empire in 1927.
He was noted for his taste in build
ing, and for the fabulous sums of
money that he spent in his love of
display. At a fte given to celebrate
the first anniversary of his reign, he
was weighed against gold, silver and
precious stones, and then scattered
them broadcast to be scrambled for
by the eager crowd. This entertain
ment cost about SS,OOO,OO0.
Notwithstanding his lavish expen-
diture, he conducted the finances of
the country so judiciously that the
treasury was in a better condition
when he relinquished than when he
received it. and this without excess
sive taxation or oppression of his
subjects.
He is said to have ruled his people
like a father over his family" and
historians agree that the Mogul dy-
nasty reached the zenith of its glory
during his reign.
We are not apt to look for conjugal
affectation in the harem of sultan,
but the love of Shah Jehan for his
beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal was so
deep and pure that, in that land of
multi-marriages, he remained faithful
to her, and at her death his own life
was despaired of, so intense was his
grief
1t is gratifying in a country where
women are despised and degraded, to
see a few isolated instances where
they are held in reverence and es-
TEEN.
Eastern poets were never weary of
singing praises of the beauty, talents,
and virtues of the lovely Mumtaz, but,
in fact, very little is actually known
of her. 1t is sufficient, however, that
in her secluded life she was so great
ly loved by her husband that he de-
termined to rear for her a monument
more elaborate than had ever been
inspired by love, or executed by the
hand of man.
With this in view he consulted all
the most celebrated architects of the
East and finally accepted the plan of
Isa Mohomed. The work was COM
menced in 1880, and for % years 2O,-
900 workmen toiled increasingly un-
til when completed, at an outlay of
sec, 100000, it stood the most beau
tiful and costly mausoleum ever pro-
duced.
Upon the banks of the Jumna, in
Agra, one of the capital cities of
Hindustan, lies a beautiful walled |
tains throw their crystal spray high |
into the air, cooling the atmosphere, !
while a pr6fusioh Of luXuriant flow
ers fills the air with perfume. Cur
iously paved walks, shaded by orange,
lemon and other tropical trees, inter-
sect the grounds in various directions,
while the broad, central avenue, lined
on either side with stately cypres
trees, leads to "the Tai"
The terrace upon which it is built
is of pink sandstone, in the center of
which is a platform of white marble,
IS feet high and 800 feet square, with
an exquisite marble minaret, 200 feet
in height, at each corner.
From the platform rises this in
comparable structure.
The entrance is a Saracenic arch,
so feet high, resting upon two mas
sive abutments of red sandstone, or
namented with texts from the Koran
in black upon white marble.
The building is octagonal, $50 feet
in diameter, and the central dome,
$50 feet high, is surmounted by a gol
den spire.
From base to summit all is of the
purest polished marble of dazzling
whiteness.
Impressive as is the exterior, the
interior is marvelously beautiful.
In the center of the rotunda are the
tombs of the empress and her "lover
husband" so exquisite as to defy de-
scription. on the white marble, so
pure and lustrous that it resembles
the finest satin, is inscribed the name
of Mumtaz Mahal, the date of her
birth and death and her many vir-
tues, with texts from the Koran in
graceful Arabic letters composed en-
tirely of rarest jewels. Surrounding
these are leaves and flowers of inlaid
gems. so true to nature that one can
scarcely realize that they have not
just been plucked fresh from the gar
den A single leaf of a carnation
shows 80 different shades Of carne-
llan, and in one flower can be counted
300 different stones, all beautifully
blended.
Enclosing the tombs is a screen of
marble lacework, delicately sculptur-
ed and inlaid with wonderful mosaics
of precious stones.
Every province in the empire and
the most famous mines of the East,
contributed their costlest jewels to
perfect this labor of love.
The vast dome is so arranged as to
produce the most exquisite echoes.
The softest strains of flute or guitar
played in the vault below reverberate
through the arched alcoves, making
music that seems almost celestial.
II was the intention OF lisa Mohomed
TO erect a second TAI" on the opo-
site side of the river as a tomb for
the emperor connecting the two with
a bridge of fairy-like workmanship,
but before this was accomplished
Shah was dethroned by his son, and