The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-09

TN the western section of Cairo, lit
 tie to the south., stands the famous x citadel of the Sultan, from whose be,eht the tourist can view the Egyptian citv with It's swelling domes and gilt tering minarets, and the curiously lrre- gular surrounding country. He will nat urally look across the Nile, to the west as far as his vision may penetrate the rray-like ether, and will see the pointed tops of the pyramids of Ghizeh. Later he will visit them. He will find that the pyramids are located In groups, those of Ghizeh, as well as the many south of these most famous ones. He will also discover, that, while all the tombs Of Egypt's ancient worthies are not located on the west of the Nile. the pyramids are There are ruins of splendid ancient tombs on the east of the sacred river, hut T do not recall even one pyramid so located.
 The tourist will also find in the group of Ghizeh pyramids, little to the east of the second pyramid, monument older than any of those near it, be they ever so old. This is the Sphinx. It is recum- 
 long It was hewn out of rock which was evidently natural eminece. Between the folded forelsgs. there are steps leading down to a room or hall. discovered by removing the sand, but which very soon refiiIs the excavation. All the pyra- mids are built with their corners dis closed to the cardinal points of the com cass. but the spinx's face Is turned tow ards the point of sunrise. Carved out Of rock On the west of the Nile, 1t faces the river and the great east, whence comes the light of day; its back is turned upon night and the setting sun, as if 1t sconed both. For thousands or years, in storm and calm, In youths sculptured perfection, as well as with al the lines, seams and disfgurements of old, old age, the gray Sphinx has been looking towards the sunrise.
 As far back as the time of the old Greek tragedians the figure Of the Sphinx has suggested mystery, and riddle. "You are a Sphinx," means that you speak In mysterious language or in riddles. All that the Sphinx stood for In those far Away ages when 1t was cut out of the mountain spur, no one can say. That 1t had some reference to the Nile, is un- doubted; but that 1t meant more than this is certain.
 To me it stands for the gracious habit, which it would teach the race of man. kind, of always looking towards the sun- rise, towards the happy, sunnyside Of life. Battered by storms, scared by the elemental wars that have ragged about its uplifted head, still does 1t look tow ards the light It has witnessed the decadence' of dynasties; and has seen the kingdom of Egypt rise to an un- paralleled splendor, and has seen that splendor pale away and vanish like a cloud; it has looked down upon alien armies triumphantly marching over Egyp- tian plains where 1t crouches; 1t has seen the crescent of the Moslem glint in the Egyptian air, and heard the slogan There is no God but Allah. and Maho- met is his prophet;'' and yet it has heard hymns sung to the Christian 's Christ at its very feet Still those very lips, between which a man might stand 70 vast is the figure. move not nor dc the eyes look elsewhere than to the east where the roseate dawn throbs and where the ruby splendor of morning brightens into the diamond-like glory oi day If disappointed because of clouds today. still watches the Sphinx for ths sunrise of the morrow.
 Of. course, the Sphinx is without voli tion in the matter. but as 1t has beer used metaphorically, in one way or an other throughout the ages. choose ts