The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-09-09
NOTED TOMB'S lamp
Tribute to Lady CuTzon's Memory
Hung In Tai MahaI.
or RARE ORIENTAL DESIGN.

Placed by Order CT Former Viccroy Of
India Above the cenotaphs of Shah
! Jehan and His Queen In Msusoleun
at Agra-Made by Skilled Egyptian
! Workman.
! tribute TO the memory Of Lady
Curzon. who was Miss Mary Letter Of
Chicago. swings in the magnificent
marble mausoleum, the Tai Mahal. in
Agra. India 1t is lamp of rare
oriental workmanship of bronze inlaid
with silver and gold.
1t was placed there Immediately
above the cenotaphs of Shah Jehan
and his queen. the builder Of the Tai
and the consort. at whose death the
beautiful structure was erected, by
Lord CurZon as a silent memorial to
Lady CurZon.
The story Of the love Of the fifth
mogul emperor of Delhi which In
spired the Tai and of the placing of
the new lamp in the old tomb by the
former viceroy is told by Ella Wheeler
Wilcox.
Installed After Evening Prayer.
"Not many months ago America and
England had occasion to feel more
than an artistic interest in this won
derful monument TO a constant love"
writes the author. Just after even
ing prayers had been said in the
mosque and while the suns last rays
kissed the shimmering minarets and
the shadows fingered in the grounds
above the Tai the lamp was installed
with fitting ceremonies by the lieu
tenant governor of Agra"
OF the event Lord CurZon. who had
been a frequent visitor of the Tai
Mahal with his American wife, is
quoted as saying:
Il had often been struck by the abb
sence of any lamp above the ceno-
taphs of Shah Jehan and his queen.
1t was clear that at an earlier date
such lamp had been suspended from
the dome found that the most suit
able mofsl would be lamp that once
hung in the tomb of the famous Sui
tan Beybars H. / learned that there
were only two workmen in Egypt ca
pable of carrying out work Of so
much deIicacy. aud one Of these. To-
dros Badir. was intrusted with the
commission.
"i'or the inscription, which runs in
belt about the broadcast part of the
lamp. l purposed to have in Persian
script only the words Presented TO
the Tomb of Nfumtaz Mahal by Lord
Curzon. Viceroy OF India. 1906 | am
assured that no such lamp has been
made since the period of the original
many centuries ago"
World Understands Gift.
Lord Curzon is silent regarding the
tender and beautiful meaning under
lying his gift" the writer comments,
but the whole world understands and
the centuries will preserve the poetic
Significance of bis offering.
Unborn generations who pass up
the marble stairway and under the
lighted lamp will breathe a prayer for
the soul of the fair American, together
with that of Delhi's youthful empress,
for always the mind of romance
must associate the names of these two
young beings who were absorbed into
the life absolute. crowned with youth,
beauty and enduring love"
Shah Jehan's favored wife died in
1000. The Tai. dedicated to her re-
quired twenty-five years in the build
ing. and the cost is yariously estimat-
ed from S9OO0,O00 TO S60000.O00 1t
was erected when Delhi was in the
zenith of its magnifcence and is one
of the architectural wonders of the
world = Cosmopolitan Magazine For
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