The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-07-08
ron III [OLZ7yZ4ZV

ion. abaster of various hues, mother
Of-pearl, malachite, gold stones and
tiger stones. Rubies. sapphires and
emeralds. if ever they were really
used. have long since disappeared. for
the Tai has been ransacked more than
once. the Jats denuding it of most of
its riches. including the massive silver
doors which originally barred the en-
trance.
Shah Jehan was deposed by his son.
Aurungzeb-that mischievous vandal
who wantOnly destroyed so many of
midas architectural beauties, and
left but one Indifferent building, the
mosque at Benares. to bear his name
to succeeding generatiOns-in the year
1858. and imprisoned in Agra Fort un-
til his death eight years later. 1t is
said that it was Shah Jehan's inten-
ton to have erected a companion mon
ument of black marble, but of less
magnifcence, on the opposite shore Of
the Jumna river to receive his own re-
mains. If this be true. by the usurpa-
ton of the throne great work of art
was lost to India: thus, also, was Aur-
ungzeb's evil influence felt, not only
in the destruction of works his father
had actually accomplished. but of
those he might have accomplished. AS
we drew nearer to the shrine, the
riches that lay embedded in its walls.
arches and spandrels revealed them
selves to view. They emblazOned it's
facade with floral designs and scrolls
and with precepts from the Koran.
and each opening admitting light and
air was of delicate fretted marble We
went through a gateway pierced in a
traceried marble screen. thence
through another beyond into the in
most recesses of the Taj-the Cham
Der of the TOmbs. 1t was long before
the eyes, blinded by the reflected
glare of the setting sun. became &C
custOmed to the gloom; but as vision
slowly penetrated it, there emerged
from the shades an octagOnal filigreed
screen of exquisite workmanship. a
filmy floral web of marble, which, as
the darkness melted, became Opales-
SShl Will StCutS vi Ble
and liveliest of Colors. Silently we
passed through the clasp of this en-
DrCidered girdle-mOst precious of
such forms of ornament in India-and
stood before the cenOtaphs, embedded
with inlays in floral wreaths and clus-
tiers. of Queen Mumtaz and the faith
full consOrt for whom she had waited
here so long. These. however, We're
but the show tOmbs, for there are
somewhat similar. but palmer. cask-
cts in vault below, level with the
ground. where these royal lovers. unit
ed in death. rest side by side in the
deep sleep of All Eternity. And now
the chamber was flooded with a soft
and mellow light. in which every de-
tail of its establishment was distinct
ly to be seen.
What skill and art, that could tenn
per the fierce glare of the Indian sun.
by filtering it through double screens
of deliCately pierced marble, placed
far apart. to this dim, religious twi-
light. There are four such openings,
one on each side of the building. fac
ing the cardinal points: and there are
four smaller ones above them. This
central chamber, so it. or so in height.
is thus illumined with an indescribable
sOftness and beauty. Its repose and
tranquility are overwhelming One
scarcely dares TO move: TO speak
would seem sacrilege. Every move
ment made, every sound breathed.
awakes the quavering echOes-the
echoes of the Tai Mahal, most Won
derful in all the world Even as one
whispers the slightest sound ones lips
can frame, that whisper is repeated
a myriad times. ascending higher and
higher from wall to wall until it trem-
bles away through the trellised open
ings of the marble grilles above. And !
when the Waterman, who had been /
standing mOtionless as a statue in the |
shadows, chanted few notes in rich |
tenor, what countless other voices |
sprang to life. 1t was as if the very |
walls were singing. For long the |
voices quavered in the vault. till at .
length, like the last trembling dimin- /
uendo of beautiful song, they fol- !
lowed the whispers through the mar |
bic tracerieS TO the heavens above.
Again that awful silence. the silence /
of the tomb. But who shah tell with |
justice OF the Tai Nahal? /