The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-11-23
From a Traveller.l

lie Lay MdHdl. VHde d HoAuS "
memories these two magic words con
jure up to anyone who has been fortu
nate enough to view the structure which
bears the name. Memories fraught with
certain poignant sadness, to be sure
for one seems invariably to experience
this feeling when gazing upon anything
extraordinarily beautiful, but at The
same time it is very closely connected
with that of an exquisite pleasure, anc
it would be difficult to determine where
the one ended and the other had its be-
ginning.
knowing the history of the concep-
ton and building of the Tai adds much
to the general sentimental effect that
the finished work produces; for is it not
the outward and visible expression of a
truly great love? One, in fact, which
was all the more remarkable, when it is
remembered that it existed at a period
when it was the custom for men to love
woman collectively rather than individ-
ually.
Yet, here we have the record of an
all-powerful monarch who, contrary to
tradition, singled out his one queen, and
loved her exclusively until the time of
his death,
What wonderfully attractive woman
must have been Mumtaz-i-Mahal: attrac-
tive both physically and mentally, for
such a combination must surely have
beer essential to hold the undying adora-
ton of the great Shah Jehan. An adora-
I ton which remained on with him, after
his pride of the Palace" died in giving
birth to her eighth child. Then it was
that the grief stricken husband deter
mined to have erected, in her memory,
and as lasting monument of his great
love, tomb that would remain without
rival, on through the ages.
So, for twenty-five long years, thou
sands of slaves toiled increasingly, their
only recompense being the food required
to keep them alive. Huge blocks of the
purest marble were transported many
miles, precious and semi-precious stones
were gathered together from all parts of
the world, and finally there arose struc-
ture so overpowering in its beauty, that
person viewing it for the first time
is simply held spell-bound. A structure
also which possesses the unique charac-
terlstic of never having been unfavor-
ably criticized, for no person has been
heard to intimate that the Tai Mahal is
not beautiful; and to please all men,
through all ages, is indeed wonderful
record. However, the creating of very
remarkable and lasting things, in this
world, is rarely accomplished without
causing pain and even death, to some of
those connected with the consummation,
and we would rather forget the stories
of the suffering endured by the slaves
engaged in the building of the Tai, as
we'll as that of the poor architect, who
was blinded in order to preclude the
possibility of his ever being able to de-
| sign another structure to compare with
or rival his first masterpiece. Especially
| do we wish to lose knowledge of any
thing associated with sorrow or pain,
when experiencing the joys of beholding
this wonder-work for the first time.
One enters the lovely gardens, that
surround the platform from which the
tomb rises, through massive gateway
built of red sandstone, and it is from the
top Of this, that one Of the most attrac-
tive views is obtained, especially towards
midday, when the tropical sun is shining
down from almost directly overhead and
every detail stands out clearly drawn
without shadow.
The Tai itself, whether seen at this
time, in the early evening Or after night
has fallen, is always a pearl-pure and
white; but the setting varies with the
changes of light. At midday it is a
pearl surrounded by carved emeralds
with wonderful turquoise sky as back
ground, while at night, it is a pearl in an
emerald and sapphire setting And al.
ways the subdued musical plash, plash,
plash of the water in innumerable foun-
tains falls pleasantly on the ear.
A long line Of these fountains, inter
rupted in its centre, by a miniature lake,
in which one may see the Tai reflected
like some fairy vision, extends from the
main entrance up to the platform which
supports the beautiful mausoleum itself.
This platform, three hundred and thir-
teen feet square, is made of marble also,
and rises some eighteen feet from the
surrounding beds of flowers and greer
shrubbery. At each of the corners
stands graceful minaret, one hundred
and thirty-seven feet high, white shaft
piercing the turquoise sky, while in the
central space between these outlying
towers. the tomb, which measures 18t
feet on each side, rises majestically to a
; height of some two hundred feet.
What master-mind the Italian archi-
tect, in whose brain was conceived the
plans of the Tai Mahal, possessed. Thu
huge central dome being flanked by fou
|