Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1879 — THE OBELISK FOR NEW YORK. [ARTICLE]

THE OBELISK FOR NEW YORK.

Something of Interest Concerning the Great Needle. . (Interview with Gen. Loring in St. Paul Pioneer.] “ Who is the American citizen who is furnishing the money to move that obelisk from Alexandria to New York city ?” “I am told that it is William H. Vanderbilt, the railway king. That obelisk is the true Cleopatra Needle. The one that England got was never known in Egypt as Cleopatra’s Needle. While I am glad our country is the fortunate recipient, it appears to me an outrage on Alexandria and Egypt.” “What is the Khedive’s motive in making such a rare present ? ’ “I think he was courting the favor of the United States. His fortunes as a ruler were waning, and, - believing the United States was an enemy of England and the most powerful one, he imagined that onr friendship might avail him something. He lpid always been anxious for her favor.” “How is that obelisk regarded in Egypt?” “It ißthe only object of great historical interest left in Alexandria, and it won’t be there long. It is the first object yon see in approaching the eity from the sea. The obelisk that went to England has been buried for 100 years in the sand some thirty feet from the ono standing. Both were brought from Heliopolis by Cleopatra, and placed in front of the palace of the Ctasars. The New York obelisk is much better preserved than the English trophy, aud the writing on it is more distinct. It is one of the oldest obelisks in the world, and was constructed during that splendid era of art of the Twelfth Dynasty, 1,000 years before Joseph. Not a man in Egypt could realize that the Khedive had given it away. They were all wonder-struck. W'hen England was removing her obelisk there was general rejoicing iu Egypt when tho rumor came back that it was lost in the sea.” “What is the color of our obelisk?” “It is the color of a brown-stone front on Fifth avenue. It came from the famous quarry 000 miles abovo Cairo. I think it is about seventy feet high. The granite, fresh from the quarry, sparkles like jewels. The grandest of all obelisks is still sacred iu the temple of Karnak. It is 100 feet high, and is the most beautifully cut and engraved" of all known obelisks. Tho one in Paris was in this temple, and is the second in height in the world. There is one in the quarry like the one in Karnak. The New York obelisk is 1,000 years older than either of the others. The most interesting one, historically, is stilt at Heliopolis. It was cut 3,064 B. C., and preserves all the style and grandeur of the finest sculpture of that brilliant epoch of Egyptian art. It is the only object left of the splendid city of ‘On.’”