The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05
Continued From Page One.


from the majority OF visitors one sees
At the museum. They were neither
students nor foreigners; neither from
. the country nor the provinces. Their
dress and speech proclaimed them
London bred and belonging to the
. wealthy, leisured class, which, alas
. shows but a slight interest in the most
wonderful collection in the world. But
the ancient chief, who had walked the
earth before there were Pharaohs in
? Egypt, was still q comparatively re-
cent acquisition. and one that had ex-
cited general interest. No doubt he
was the object of their visit.
Doesn't he remind you Of a child
going TO bed with his toys?" I heard
the girl say with a soft laugh. Look
Rt the knives and pots buried with him.
II seems a shame TO have dug him up
after all these centuries and made him
q public show"
are all the dead Of bygone ages. whom
we have dragged from their last rest
ing place to satisfy our craving for
knowledge or our curiosity. II does
seem rather repellent, certainly, this
exhibition OF death in one form or an
. other, especially considering that the
Egyptians believed in the Immortality
habit the body"
The remark, being different to the
. remarks ! was in the habit of hearing
there, arrested my attention, and
turned to look at the speaker. He
was a particularly handsome young
fellow, of fine soldierly appearance,
and ] could not but sympathize with
his feeling. Though 1 know-none
better-how in the mad craving for
knowledge that may possess man he
will hold nothing sacred. yet, in my
. inmost heart / have never approved of
. This robbery OF the dead, knowing how
. they took every preoaution to guard
themselves against any thief Of the
graves"
not likely to come again in hurry
we may as we'll see what there is to be
seen" the speaker added. And he
moved round the corner out OF my
sight.
1T is a horrible place." the girl said
petulantly. Let us get out into the
air. 1t seems to smell OF death
She looked round restlessly, throw
ing up her head as though she found
the atmosphere oppressive. Certainly
81 was very warm, even considering
that it was midsummer. / told myself
that we should have a thunderstorm
before long.
Wait moment. Come and look at
this" he called back. And she turned
3 TO follow him.
\ssIsn't IL a fine specimen" 1 heard
him say. Doesn't she look alive? How
her face stands out from the othersr'
Then knew at what they were gaz-
ing, and unconsciously 1 put my note
book down and listened. I was always
interested IN any comments that were
made on this portrait. though not many
people passed round the quiet corner
where she stood behind locked doors,
and those who did but rarely looked at
her with understanding eyes. II was
not even a mummy. only the lid Of a
mummy case, showing the likeness OF
the woman who must once have lain
beneath She had been a Princess and
q priestess Of Amen-Ra. and on her
breast were representations of some OF
the chief gods Of Thebes and symbols
connected with the worship of Osiris
and Amen-Ra-
This man was an intelligent observer.
and ! waited. listening for some fur
ther expression Of opinion; but none
came How quiet II was and how
heavy the air, 1t was like the moment
before q storm when the earth holds Its
breath ] would gladly have sought
relief IN movement, and yet l did NOT
move. Then suddenly the thick silence
was cut by q suppressed By. cry that
n s-ad N 49, -saui& SASa e>@A n