376 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



MAY 89, 1930 



MISCELLANEOUS 



LETTERS FROM THE EAST. 



BV A LADV OF NEW YORK. 



(Conclu.ied.) 

 The next finest point of view is in tlie centre of 

 this great haU. Every way you turn, you perceive 

 here is a fine perspective. To the west, tlirongli 

 the gate-ways, the distant mountains of Lybia bound 

 the view. Through the opposite entrance to the 

 hall, the eye rests on the sad ruins of the ancient 

 temple. On every side is a forest of massy col- 

 umns, the largest of which are twelve feet in 

 diameter — the whole number about ]50. 



The architecture of this hall differs from any- 

 thing T have seen in Egypt. In all the other tem- 

 ples, T have observed that the columni which sup- 

 port the roof, are of equal size and height, conse- 

 quently the roof is level throughout with the side- 

 walls of the building. Hero, you perceive, it is en- 

 tirely otherwise. The two rows of gigantic col- 

 umns which run through the centre ot the liaJl, are 

 nearly 70 feet high, while the nine rows on each 

 side are only 40 feet high. The platform or roof 

 ■which the centre colonnade supports, is consequent- 

 ly aboDt 30 feet higher than the roofs on each side 

 of it. Short columns, which stand on tlie low roofs 

 reach up to the level of the higher roof and support 

 its e.xtremities. Between these short columns are 

 immense stone w indow frames, through which light 

 and air were admitted to this vast area. 



When I first saw this peculiar construction, I 

 was forcibly struck with its perfect resemblance to 

 . the Gothic cathedral-style of building, in which 

 the nave is always nearly twice as high as the aisles, 

 ■with windows above the roofs of the ratter. Thei-e 

 can be no doubt, in my mind, that the Saracens 

 took their idea from this very liall, and on which 

 the Gothic builders (who employed Saracen arclii- 

 tects in Sicily and Spain,) improved, hy reducing 

 the diameters of the columns, and supporting from 

 their summits the aspiring arches. This hall, no 

 doubt, served for a promenade for the priests, shel- 

 tered from the scorching rays of a tropical sun by 

 the heavy stone roof The cool breezes entering 

 by the ample north windows above ; while to the 

 south, curtains or awnings keep out the sun. I 

 doubt if these windows were ever glazed ; for as 

 it is never cold nor ever rains here, there was no 

 necessity for such protection. The whole interior 

 appears once to have been stuccoed aad highly or- 

 namented. 



Observe yon tall cdhimn, which presents the most 

 extraordinary feature that I have ever beheld among 

 ruins, in any part of the world. It is broken off 

 near the ground, and leans over, supported by its 

 neighbor, at an angle of at least thirty degrees from 

 tlie perpendicular. This, in a shaft of one single 

 stone, would be nothing remarkable, for hundreds 

 are feen everywhere in a similar position in every 

 important ruin. But this column being composed 

 of numerous blocks in layers one above the other, 

 with no cement or central pins to bind them togeth- 

 er, the great mystery is that the centre does not 

 give way, and the whole mass fall to the ground, 

 being only supported at each end. 



The other day we pulled out from between two 

 stones a wooden cramp, or anchor, which had been 

 used to keep the joints together. It has the saw 

 marks upon it, showing th it the use of that instru- 

 ment was known four thousand years ago, at least. 

 Some have endeavored to deduce proof from the 

 employment of wooden cramps in buildings, in sup- 



port of the very silly and unscientific theory that 

 iron was unknown to tlie ancient Egyptians. It 

 has always been the received opinion of every phi- 

 losophic mind, Uiat without the knowledge of this 

 all-important gift of anallwise creator, nations could 

 not have been civilized. Besides, I have some- 

 where read of a civilized people being deprived of 

 it, relapsing into barbarism. The Egyptian archi- 

 tect knew too well the value of this material to em- 

 ploy it wastefully ; for the soft sand-stone froi 

 which we took the wooden cramp, was of a weaker 

 texture than the wood, and gave way before it when 

 force was used to sejiarate them. Finally, will 

 these visionary theorists inform us how the hard 

 graiiite and Seyenite was separated from the moun- 

 tain rock, worked into huge obelisks and columns, 

 elaborately carved, without the best of steel made 

 I from iron ? 



The sun is setting — let us hun-y tlirough with 

 a few more of the important features of this place, 

 before we are driven from it by the night. 



Passing out of the east entrance of the hall, we 

 enter upon the most appalling field of desolation 

 that the -world presents. 



Hold ! we can proceed no farther unless we con- 

 clude to bivouac here for the night. We will from 

 this elevation take a rapid glance over the sad re.- 

 mains of the principal temple and courts of Karnac, 

 and endeavor to imagine ivhat they were 

 " Three thousand years a^o, 

 When the IMemnoniuai was in all its glory, 

 And time iiad not begun to overthrow 

 Those temples, palaces, and piles stupendous, 

 Of which the very ruins are tremendous." 



Around us are tall obelisks still erect, while 

 others are prostrate and broken. In the mass of 

 confusion before you to the east, can easily be trac- 

 ed the foundations of the great temple which once 

 covered the sanctuary built of granite, yet perfect. 

 Beyond, are the remains of two other large tem- 

 ples connected with the principal one. Their cor- 

 ridors are supported by colossal caryatides instead 

 of columns. And finally, the propylon seen at the 

 end of the perspective, terminates this series of 

 temples and palaces, which in length between the 

 grand western propylon and the one at the eastern 

 extremity, is a quarter of a mile of continuous build- 

 ings, which it -n'ould require a week to examine 

 even in a very superficial manner. I have not per- 

 mitted you to glance at the sculptures innumerable 

 which cover the storied walls and columns, both 

 inside and out ; for months would not suffice to fol- 

 low up the histories thereon engraved in characters 

 which will last to the end of time. 



The last trembling ray of the setting sun is just 

 tipping with gold the highest projections of the ru- 

 ins. As to the chaos below, " shadows, clouds, and 

 darkness rest upon it." 



Take now your last farewell look upon this aw- 

 ful " wreck of matter," and tremble at the mighty 

 earthquake which produced it, 



" And shook the pyrsmids with fear and wouder, 

 When the gigrantic Meninon fell asunder." 



THE EVERGREEN. 

 There is a plant whose hardy form 

 Unshrinking meets the wintry slorm, 



And lives beneath the drifiiiig snow; 

 It seeks no mild favunian air, 

 But ever fresh and ever fair, 



Its gretn, unfading branches grow. 



I've mark'dil on the mounlain wild. 

 Where once I rov'd a careless child ; 



And with its leaves aJorn'd my hair; 

 And still, to aid the wreath I twine, 

 For friendship's pure and holy shriue, 



The evergreen shall flourish there. 



My friend, this little plant shall be 

 An emblem of my love for thee ; 



It caunol boast a rich perfume — 

 It hears no bright, attractive flower, 

 To grace awhile the summer bower, 



Bui only claims its constant bloom. 

 Baysidc, 1S39. H. C. C. 



Spring and Poetry.— The ei\lox o{ the Cincinnati News 

 has had his imagination exalted by the poetic influences of 

 spring, and thus pours out the tide of song ; 



" And now the merry ploughboy 

 Whistles his morning long 

 Along the dale and through the vale 



'Tis echoed loud and long ; 

 The farmer's flocks are roving free, 

 And oa the budding shrubbery 



His spouse's 1 



Cowses 

 Browses : 

 And the martins have returned and found 



A welcome to our houses ; 



And the little niggers run aroB id 



Divested of their trousers! 



Something .Veto. — A steam ferry boat which plies 

 on the Alton (Illinois) ferry, having more power in 

 her engine than is required, the proprietors have at- 

 tached a pair of burr mill-stones to her, with which, 

 the Telegraph says, while crossing the ferry and 

 running off steam, she is enabled to grind about 

 one hundred bushels of fine meal per day. — Ameri- 

 can Sentinel. 



Strawberries are selling in the New- York market 

 at two dollars per quart. 



Tulips, Ranuncnluaes, Aneinonei, Aurlcnla>, Car- 



NATIO.N-S, PlCOTEES, PiNKS AND GEaANli;.MS 



H. GROOM, of Walworth, near London, England, by ap. 

 pointment Florist to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, begs re- 

 spectfully to call the attention o( his friends and the admir- 

 ers of flowers in America generally, to his extensive collection 

 of the above flowers, which from his having been very suc- 

 cessful in their cultivation this season he can ofler at very 

 moderate prices. He would particularly recommend to those 

 persons about commencing the growth of the Tulip (which 

 in England is becoming very fasuionable) the under collec- 

 tions in beds, as it is by far the cheapest mode of purchasing 

 them. 

 Tulips arrauged in beds with their names. 



First Class. 

 A bed of SOrows containing 210 bulbs including several of 

 the newest varieties, --.... £13 



A bed of 45 rows, - £21 



A bed of 60 rows, 25 guineas 



Second Class. 

 A bed of 30 rows including many fine sorts, - £lO 

 ' Abed of id rows do - - - £14 



A bed of CO rows do - - - £17 lot 



Tulips not arranged. 

 100 SuperSne sorts with their names from £7 7s to £l3 

 Superfine mixtures, from - - - 7s 6d to 2U 



Ranunculuses- 

 100 Superfine sorts, with theirnames from £3 3s to £5 St 

 Superfine mixtures, from - - - 5s to 21s per 109 



Anemones. 

 100 Superfine sorts with their names, - - £3 10( 



Superfine double mixtures from lOs 6d to 2ls per 100 



Auriculas. 



25 Superfine sorts with their names, - - £3 13s6d 

 Catalogues with the prices of the othw articles may k< 

 had on application. 

 Orders received by JOSEPH BRECK & CO. 



No.v. 1. eow. 



THE NEW KNGL.AM> FAKBIBR 



Is puliHshed every Wednesday Evening, at $3 per annum 

 payable at the end of the year — hut those who pay wilhm 

 sixty days from the time of subscribing ate entitled to a de- 

 ductionof 59 cents- 



TUTTLE, DENNETT AND CHISBOLM, FRmTFRS, 



!7 gcSOOL «TWti;T....,B0STO> 



