Evening star., 1923-05-27
Egypt Brought to Shrine
In Making Garden of Allah
Star Scenic Feature of Convention Repre-
sents Careful Study of ancient Archi-
tecture--COlOrs Reflect Nile Country.

When the many thousand of Mobiles
of the Mystic Shrine come to Wash
ingtou they will find that Egypt has
been brought TO them.
So faithful and well have the coll
umns along Pennsylvania avenue, be-
tween 18th and 18th streets been re-
produced. that they make one think
that Karnak and Philae are surely
here in the nations capital.
IF the Shrine cannct go to Egypt
Egypt can be brought to the Shrine"
has been the motto of the committee
that is responsible for the creation
of The Garden of Allah" along the
avenue between the streets just men
toned.
Much thought has been given TO the
creation of this feature Of the Shrine
festivities, and those who have stud
led the garden" even in its present
unfinished state. are unanimous In
their contention that this Is TO be the
star scenic feature of the convention.
From the Nile Country.
Beside the erection of the Egyptian
columns. the grandstands within the
Garden OF Allah" have been con-
Egyptian. Also. the bright colors
used in obtaining the general effect
are identical in hue to those found
among the temples in the Nile coun-
and sphinxes. and grand and most
lavish assortment Of hieroglyphics.
There will be, too, Egyptian sun
gods and many other objects, all of
which will go toward creating most
amazing and interesting spectacle.
1t is the opinion of those familiar
with the details of the Shrine feature
that the principal interest in the re-
production of the Garden of Allah
lies in the two lines of columns.
Four large ones OF the karnak de-
sign have been erected at either end
or the Garden" Two stand at op-
posite sides of Pennsylvania avenue
at 18th street, and two at 18th street
The first two are to serve as entrance
gates and the latter are to be exit
gates.
There is a group OF four small coll
ums erected at the four corners of
Madison place and the Avenue. and
four of a corresponding size at Jack
Is of karnak design, while those at
Jackson place are of palm columns
Of "Philae" design.
AS these twelve columns are actual
reproductions of the ones in the Tenn
pie of Ammon at karnak and the
Temple of Isis at "Philae," the orig
inators of the general scheme antici-
pate much interest on the part of
Shriners and the general public in
the history of their origin and the
meaning of the various markings
and colors and also the hieroglyphics.
Instead of decorating these columns
after the fashion of stage scenery
merely to give the effect of something
Egyptian-the committee has been
most careful in every detail. Each
marking and color. and picture re-
produced has a distinctive meaning.
Authority ON Architecture.
F. d. Owen of the Office of public
buildings and grounds is chairman OF
the committee responsible for this
remarkable feature of the Shrine
celebration. However 1t has been
due to Mortimer Clarke, a recognized
authority on Egypt and Egyptian
architecture and history. that the de-
tails of the garden" are being so
faithfully and correctly reproduced.
Besides being a student of things
he has personally drawn the many
and varied designs that are being
used
Great pains have been taken by the
committee in the work of transform
ing that section of the avenue, and
nishing something that will be edu-
cational as well as picturesque.
The presidential box has been con-
structed in the center of the large grand
stand on the White House side Of the
Avenue and at regular distances on
either side of that box, eight others
have been provided for the use of the
various high ranking officers of the
Shrine. These boxes are in the form
Of balconies and are being ornamented
in truly Egyptian fashion. An attrac-
tive Egyptian canopy, such as was used
by the Pharaohs will serve as a top for
the Presidents box and directly above
where the President will sit, is to be
placed a large winged sun god.
A small space has been left open on
the other side Of the Avenue, directly In
front of the Presidents box, and within
that space are to be erected two
obelisks. At the base Of each is to be
placed a sphinx. In the center Of this
open space will be hung a gigantic
Shrine emblem, containing the word
"Almas." the name OF the local Shrine
Temple.
The original plan to erect in La
fayette Park tents and columns and
sphinxes and other things suggestive
Of Egypt was aba nfop cd
eSgIilillE, ,.t,sIlf,.ItN Mr.