20 
PARK AND C£M£TE:RY 
stones which became the great characteristic of the 
style of the Moguls after the death of Akbar,” Every 
spandrel, each angle, and almost every architectural de- 
tail in the Taj is beautifully inlaid with jasper, blood- 
stones, agates, and other stones. Relieved by the pure 
white marble this scheme of decoration is a revelation 
to those who are unaccustomed to the glories of the 
eastern tomb. Nor is it used lavishly and indiscrimi- 
nately ; though in evidence in all parts of the build- 
ing it is apportioned so discreetly that it never ob- 
trudes itself. Indeed, the decoration of the Taj speaks 
volumes for the 17th century Indian architects. 
England’s leading humorist, Clement Scott, once 
visited the Taj, and subsequently conveyed his impres- 
sions to the public through the medium of a daily 
paper. Though he described this beautiful monument 
as a “miracle in marble” — speaking of the Taj as if it 
were a conjuring-trick, he clothed his ideas in lan- 
guage which was — in the main — sensible and appro- 
priate. “I did not,” said he, “at all understand the 
artistic beauty of marble until I visited India.” Thanks 
to the efforts of American monumental sculptors, the 
possibilities of marble have been demonstrated in the 
best possible manner, but if among readers of this 
paper there are any who care to journey so far afield 
as India, an examination of the Taj Mahal must have 
the best possible influence on their work. “Into the 
fair body of the Indian marble,” he adds, “* * * 
“are worked designs and arabesques borrowed from the 
Persia of ancient history, and flowers of exquisite hue 
and symmetry, suggested by the more advanced and 
civilized Florentine artists, who were tempted over by 
the well-filled coffers of Shah Tchan.” It was the orig- 
inal intention of the Emperor to build for himself a still 
more magnificent tomb across the river, and to cause 
the two to be joined by a bridge of silver, but fate and 
circumstances,” remarks Clement Scott, “decreed that 
this should not be, so in the Taj Mahal rest side by 
side these married lovers under a milk-white canopy 
that is the admiration of the whole civilized world.” 
His description of the building is equally happy — 
<<* * * the marble made into delicate lace-work, 
by exquisite carving ; the screen of marble as light as 
gossamer ; the tomb of white marble encrusted with the 
most precious colored marbles in the world, and studded 
with unconnected jewels.” 
The photograph gives no idea of the glories of this 
matchless monument; nor would a competent painter 
succeed in doing it justice. The wonderful whiteness 
of the marble; the blueness of the pale Indian sky; 
the green of the trees and the deep purple of the clus- 
tering bourgainvillias — all combine to make a pic- 
ture to depict which is, probably, beyond the skill of 
the greatest artist. Several have attempted the task, 
but the best result is a failure — a complete failure. 
The Taj must be seen — in the full glare of the noon- 
day sun, when the air is clear and the garden sweet 
with the scent of the roses and lemons ; of an evening, 
when the marvellously rich Indian sunset forms a fit- 
ting back-ground, touching in color the domes 
and the tops of the minarets; and at night against the 
inky blackness of the sky. One should also see it by 
moonlight — the beautiful tropical moonlight — when, as 
one of England’s minor literary geniuses once said in 
a rare moment of inspiration, “the color is all spent, 
and the Taj, transformed into a peerless lily, stands 
erect in its garden to receive the cold embraces of the 
moon. On the principle that “a prophet has no honor 
in his own country” the educated blacks have neither 
admiration nor veneration for the Taj : some of them 
live months in Agra without once going near it. Nor 
do Anglo-Indians appreciate it at its true worth; half- 
drunken, haft-caste subalterns in native regiments 
furiously drive there after a guest-night at mess, and 
white men and women use it as a rendezvous for their 
flirtations. Vulgar brutes picnic in the garden and 
yell banal patriotic songs to a banjo accompaniment, 
and the soldiers from “cantonments” think it a feather 
in their caps to scratch obscene remarks on the walls 
with the stump of a “coffee-shop” pencil. But if this 
exquisite “Dream in Marble” — as a French traveller 
has so aptly described it — is not appreciated by the 
native and Anglo-Indian element, it is a lasting delight 
to every one of the hundreds of travellers who have 
journeyed to Agra specially to judge for themselves of 
its beauties. George Cecil. 
TWENTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE ASSO- 
CIATION OF AMERICAN CEMETERY 
SUPERINTENDENTS. 
The local committee of arrangements for this con- 
vention has set the dates: August 21, 22 and 23, and 
has selected the Hotel “Cadillac” for headquarters and 
place of meetings. 
The committee feels that the most vital and prac- 
tical part of the proceedings lies in visiting and in- 
specting the various cemeteries and parks, and will, 
therefore, in formulating its program, endeavor to 
combine reading and discussion of papers, visiting and 
inspection of cemeteries and parks, business and en- 
tertainment in a way to obtain the best resqlts for 
the limited time of the meetings. 
While some papers have been promised, more are 
wanted, and the committee here desires to plead for 
volunteers to prepare short papers. 
The committee fully expects to have further infor- 
mation and the complete program ready for publica- 
tion in May issue of Park and Cemetery. 
Inquiries will be cheerfully answered by 
FRANK EURICH, 
Sec. Local Committee, 604 Union Trust Bldg., De- 
troit, Mich. 
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