THE ONYX MARBLES. 557 



veins of red aud sometimes of blue.'' Curzon, however, writing in 

 3892,* describes the tomb of Hatiz as having once had a lid of marble, 

 but which was carried away by Kerwin Khan and built into the tank 

 in Jehan Neniak, replacing it by the present sarcophagus made of yel- 

 low Yezd marble. Morier further says that the Haft-ten, a Persian 

 pleasure house erected by Kerwin Kahn at Shiraz, is w ainscoted with 

 the Tabriz marble, one of the largest slabs being 9 feet long aud 5 feet 

 wide, such wainscotings being often inlaid with gold. The college 

 called Medresse Shah Sultan Hassein, at Ispahan, also contains some 

 of the same material. 



Many Italian churches, ancient and modern, contain numberless 

 illustrations of the extensive use of these materials, and which, in 

 many cases, have been taken for their x^rt^sent use from the ruins of 

 still more ancient structures. The Cathedral of S. Paolo le Mura, at 

 Rome (rebuilt in 1853), contains two beautiful columns of the Egyptian 

 "alabaster" near the entrance, and four others in the canopy of the 

 high altar. These were presented, it is stated, t by the present vice- 

 roy of Egypt, and hence came, without doubt, from the valley of the 

 Nile. 



The use of the onyx in thin slabs for window i)anes in cathedrals 

 has often been reported in Mexico as well as in Europe. I am informed 

 by Dr. G. Brown Goode that a portion of the windows in the Cathe- 

 dral of Orvieto (Italy) are of a yellow-brown banded stone, which is 

 doubtless a lime carbonate from cave or sirring deposits in Italy, Alge- 

 ria, or Egypt. The Church of San Miniato, in Florence, has likewise 

 live windows of similar material. The adaptability of the Mexican 

 onyx for certain forms of interior decoration is well shown iu the col- 

 umns and arch about the entrance of the ark containing the manuscripts 

 of the pentateuch in the new Jewish Synagogue on Fifth avenue, JS^ew 

 York City. 



In modern times the Algerian onyx has been largely used by the 

 French for interior decoration, as in the grand staircase of the Parisian 

 opera house, aud in the uuiuufacture of tops for small stands, turned 

 columns, tables, lampstands, clocks, and similar articles for household 

 use and adornment. The same may be said regarding those of Mexico 

 and the United States. The native Mexicans utilize small pieces in the 

 manufacture of pajter weights and knives, penholders, inkstands, card 

 receivers, and plaques, which are sold to tourists. In the United States 

 the material has been utilized, in addition, in the construction of man- 

 tels and fireplaces, some of which are very elaborate. In some of our 

 modern hotels there is a lavish display, but m only too many cases, as in 

 the Auditorium at Chicago, most astonishingly poor taste has been 

 shown. The walls are simply sheathed with slabs, apparently without 

 any attempt at selection as to quality, color, or veination, but one laid on 



* Persia and the Persian Question. 

 t Baedeker, Guide to Kome. 



