The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-29

said that its age was either 6 or
80. Tt sounded more like &c.,
but the general appearance Of the
animal seemed to back up the ft600
theory. AS we approached Zenobia
opened one eye and took hard look at
the party, and then made low wailing
sound which doubtless meant "More
trouble for me. The venerable
animal creaked at every joint as it
slowly rose into the air on the install
ment plan, a foot or two at "a time.
We had come thousands Of miles to
see the pyramids, and for the next ten
| minutes we were SO busy hanging on to
those .undulating ships of the desert
| that we overlooked even the big pyra-
| mid, which was spread out before us $50
feet wide and $50 feet high. Riding a
camel is like sitting OH high trestle
! that is giving way at the joints and is
about to collapse The distance to the
ground is probably ten feet, but you
soon as we could escape from the camels
VIC walked AROUND and gazed in solemn
silence at the Sphinx and the three
pyramids and doubtless thought all Of
the things that were appropriate to the
| time and place.
The great pyramid Of Cheops has
been advertised SO extensively that
doubtless many people will be surprised
to learn that there is a whole flock Of
pyramids on this plateau along the edge
Of the Libyan desert. !, There are pyra-
south, five groups in all, sixty, of them,
and they vary in size From q stingy lit
tie mound looking like an extinct lime
kiln up to the behemoth specimen
which is photographed by every Cook
tourist.
Why do these pyramids vary so
| greatly in size3 Each was built by
some royal parsonage as an enduring
monument to his administration and the
last resting place Of his remains. The
most eminent students of ,Egyptolegy
these pyramids is fair measure OF the
length of each king s reign. The rea-
son that Cheops has the biggest pyra-
mid is that, he held office longer than
the others. Whena king mounted the
throne if he was feeling rugged and
1 was what an insurance company would
call "preferred risk y he would block
out the Foundation OF. a pyramid tomb
| that would require, say ten years for
A he was still feeling in good physical
condition and confident of lasting a
while longer he would widen the founda-
lions and put on additional layers up
to the summit Labor was free and
materials were cheap, and he kept
everybody working on his tomb as long
as he lived. Finally, when the court
time was limited, he would begin put
ting on the outer coating of dressed
stone aud arrange. Yessthe Inscriptions.
The ruler who lastea only three or four
years was buried in a !, squatty little
pyramid, which soon became hidden
under the drifting sands of the desert
Cheops kept piling up the huge blocks
for thirty years, and that is why his
pyramid holds the record If Me
would have been compelled to put UP 8
tomb probably mile and half high
and about eleven miles around the base
Ina revolutionary South American re
public the ruler would probably get NJ
further than laying the corner stone.
We did not climb the pyramids. Mr.
{ Peasleys said he would postpone goins
up until they inaugurated lift service
The view from the top is said to b
0 who are boosted and lugged and hauled
4 up over the angular blocks Of stone ar,
], so.5exhausted when they arrive at til,
s top that they cannot see anything
Q We decided q go to the interior an
Z. look at the tomb chambers. An cas-
g incline led up to a sort of grotto en-
y trance, and we thought that going in
I see these chambers would be somethin
l. like strolling into a rathskeller. LIE
us quote Mr.. Peasley s own words, tina
the reader may. gain some idea Of tn
horrible experience awaiting anyon
q who undertakes the journey.
| sr
. ~ ~ i. I.
IS ttThree men with bushy whiskers an
j. white Mother Hubhards got hold of m
$, and dragged me up to this hole in tn
/ rock, - is the way he told it to grou
ID at the dinner table. :" I told 'em
a. didn't need any help, but they keI
Is hold Of me, and the next thing I kne,
,e we were in rathole as dark as pitc
n I1InlIl n nit nav IAN