The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1908-07-11
2OY III IOLZyZI4l7T

'T[IZ I'LL I CG/9 INV
ion, abaster OF various hues. mother
of-ptArl malachira, gold stones and
tiger stones. Rublcs. sapphires and
emevads, if ever they were really
used, have long since disappeared. for
the Tai has Aeen ransacked more than
once, the Jats denujiug it Of most of
its riches including the massive silver
doors which originally barred the en-.
trance.
Shah Jehan was dcposed b. 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 senerations-in the year
1893, 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 a great work Of art
was lost to India; thus, also, was Aur.
nngzeb's evil influence felt, not only
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 its
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 gateway pierced in F"
traceried marble screen, thence
through another beyond into the in
most reCesSes of the Ta1-the Cham.
Der of the TOmbs. 1t was long before
the eyes, blinded by the reflected
glare of the setting sun, became ac-
CustOmed to the gloom but as vision
slowly penetrated it, there emerged
from the shades an octagonal tiligreed
screen of exquisite workmanship, a
tilmy floral web of marble, which, as
the darkness melted. became opales.
cent With inlaid stones of the richest
and livelies of cOlors Silently we
passed through the clasp of this en-
broidered girdle-most precious of
such forms of ornament in India-and
stood before the cenotaphs. embedded
with inlays in floral wreaths and clus-
ters, Of Queen Mumtaz and the faith
full consort for whom she had waited
here so long. These, however, were
but the show tombs. for there are
somewhat similar. but palmer, Cask.
cts in a 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 TEN.
per the fierce glare of the Indian sun
By filtering 1t through double screens
Of delcately 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 #. or 50 in height,
is thus illumined with an indescribable
softness and beauty. It's repose ard
tranquility are overwhelming One
scarcely dares 10 move, TO speak
would seem a sacriege Every move.
ment made. every sound breathed
awakes the quayering echoes-the
echoes of the Tai Mahal. most won.
derful in all the world. Even as one
whispers the slightest sound ones lirs
can frame, that whisper Is repeated
myriad times, ascending higher and
higher from wall TO wall until 1t trem.
bles away through the ,rellised open
ings of the marble griles above And
when the Waterman, who had been
standing motionless as a sta1e In the
shadows. chanted few notes 10 a rich
tenor, what countless other voices
sprang 10 life Il was as II The very
walls were singing For ang the
voices quayered IN the vault till at
length, like the last trembling dimin.
ueudo Of a beautiful song they fol
owed the whispers through the mar
bile ,-accries to the taayeas above
gain that awful silence the sIlerca
If HI. tomb Eat who shall tel Will
justice Of The Ia. MaIal'