The Washington herald., 1909-05-19
WASHINGTON CHAT.
D. THE sPECTAToR.

ms compliments his book on the EXca-
vstions in the Tomb OF the Kings It Is
a large volume covered IN green linen,
published by Archibald Constable &
Co, Leicester square. London. and Il
handsomely illustrated with colored plates
by z. Harold Jones The letter press Is
by Mr. Dayis. CASTOR Maspero. and Ed
ward Ayrton. with q catalogue Of the
objects discovered by George Daressy
The type IS large and clear, the paper
heavy and handsome and altogether It
is delight both TO the lover Of books
and the Egyptologist. for whom Il con-
tains much new material.
From studying the subject IN rather a
dille,ante way. as a young man. the
hidden treasures OF Egypt have becoms
the passion OF Mr. Davis life He has
spent millions on his excavations. and the
greatest part Of his time Is passed In the
Land OF the Nile. while his beautiful
estate az Newport IS left tenantIess. save
for few months each year. but II is kept
in beautiful order, and Nr. Davis has
recently built there magnificent, fire.
proof stable, which cost in the neighbor-
hood Of Si0o,0o0. the plans FOR which were
made BY firm Of Washington architects.
OF which his nephew and namesake.
Theodore Davis BoaI. is a member.
IN preparing this account Of his exea-
vations Mr. Davis has been most fortu-
nate in having II. Maspero coIIaborate
! with him, a fact he gracefully acknowI-
1 edges in the preface n Maspero was
for several years in the early SOS OF ihe
last century director Of the Boulaq
/ Museum. where he succeeded Marietta
Bey. and since 1888 he has been in Gizeh
as director Of excavations Born in 1s4s.
! this noted savant was educated at the
/ Lycee Louis le Grand and al the EcOle
/ Normale, and when he was barely tWen-
/ ty-three held the chair Of EgyptolOgy In
I the ECoIe des HaUtes Etudes and later
Z taught the same subject in the College OF
/ France; but since ne resumed the direc-
/ ton Of the BOulaq Museum he has passed I
/ most OF his time ia Egypt. and his work
\ there has received recognition all over
\ the world. and mis- books are widely read. /
/ for they are not so abstruse as 10 be
I unintelIgible 20 lay readers. With a
! common object IN view il is not strange
/ that the American millionaire and the
I
7 warm friendship. and TO NJ Masperos \
suggestion and sympathy Mr. Davis owes
I much
Inc monograph that VI. Maspero has
| written for M Davis latest book is on
l King Siphtah and Queen Tauosrit The
/ tomb Of the former was discovered by Nj
I Davis in 800. and was so beautiful that
/ its uiscoverer says: II Siph1ah did no
I great deeds during his reign ne would
! seem 20 have possessed extremely good
/ taste in the decoration Of his tomb. and
/ causing 10 be made for himself d beautiful
| alabaster sarCophaEus. fragment OF
which only remains But in an unnamed
/ tomb discovered IN Iea5, the most Inter
! esting knowledge respecting the relations
I OF .,etui II. Queen TauosrIt and Slphtah
Was found. which definitely established
/ the period Of their reign. This tomb con
/ tanned a wonderful and unique collection
/ OF gold and silver jeweiry 3G3 years
/ old. practically IN as good condition as
l the day on which Il was made. The pieces
I Of this collection. which Nr. Davis has
I caused 10 be reproduced IN col0rs. are
| extremely beautiful. so graceful simple.
| and suggestive in design they should
| serve as inspirations and models 10 the
/ jewelers. Of our day.
! The decorations Of the tombs are also
reproduced in colors, and carry one hack
/ thousands Of years into the past 10 the
I days OF Isis and crisis. indeed, 7
! whole book Is So fascinating that it makes /
/ any one who reads It long 90 ly from the (
commonplace and HE 10 the land of the 1
pyramids
Il is pleasant 10 chronicle in this con- /
nection that we have IN America one OF /
the most noted EgyptoloEists in the (
world. an American born by The way 4
and not an importation from the other I
side Prof. James Henry Breasted. who 4
has been connected with the University 4
OF Chicago since 1884. and has held the f
chair Of EgyptOlogy and Oriental history 4
! IN that institution for the past four years d
Prof Breasted IS a young man 10 have +
accomplished 50 much. but on graduating /
from the Northwestern University he took 4
up his chosen work with such enthusiasm I
and devotion that he soon forged 10 the 4
front and is now quoted as one or the 4
leading authorities. not only on EgyptOI-
ogy. but on Oriental history and the Sc
metic languages To judge from the
printed list OF his books it would seem
that he had done nothing all his life but
write. he has. however, taken an active
interest II the excavations. and been 4
frequently on the spot. Travelled hither and 4
thither through Europe searching its rnu-
seUms 20 collect and prepare Egyptian
documents for the Imperial Egyptian Die
tionary. taught and lectUred incessantly.
and yet had time for the writing OF
books and the playing OF tennis. which
is a passion with him.
a prophet is not without honor"
however. Il is told OF a young Ameri-
can student that. feeling he had ex-
hausted all that America had 10 offer, he
took himself 10 Europe, 10 the British
Museum, where he consulted that emin-
ent authority. Prof Bulge. the keeper
Of Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities. as
10 how best 70 continue his studies
You have not come 10 London 10 ask
me that7 " Queried Prof Bulge
But I have. replied the young
student, thinking he had tickled the pro-
fess0r's vanity
Why didn't you ask Bressted?~ de-
manded the savant.
oh he's so young answered the
youth
Well he knows as much as any OF US
and you'd better go straight back and
ask his advice"
FOREIGN POLICEMEN.