PROSAIC PROFESSORS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17702, 2 March 1923, Page 7

PROSAIC PROFESSORS.

HOW LUXOR DISCOVERY MOVED , TBEM. LONDON, February 19. How.even proßaic antiquarian professors were moved ,to emotion by their first view of Tutankhamen's catafalque is described by Professor Jean Capart, a distinguished Belgian museum conservator. He related how the American expert, Mr Mace, shepherded him carefully into the tomb, pointing out various objects, at which his admiration was boundless. These included a glimpse of something gold blended witb "that wonderful Egyptian blue which harmonises so well with gold. ! "Finally the American guide said: I 'Now turn round,' I could not refrain from a cry of surprise, and even now feel choked with the emotion which I felt at the sight of what lay before my eyes." Professor Capart professionally emphasises the importance of discovering a tomb from which, nothing has been taken and where nothing has been displaced 'for 85 centuries, hut when he starts to describe it, emotion overcomes im. '.'lt was a moment," he said, "in which one tries to- take in everything ak a glance as if. one was about to die, iand the present might be the last; minute one had to live. "Practically all we previously had of Egyptian art ia merely trumpery rubbish io satisfy the vanity of people who wanted their tombs to Jiave the appearance of royal splendour." Tie famous American Egyptologist and historian, 'Professor Benstead, describes the four loveiy goddesses guarding the shrine as being "as exquisite as anything in Greek, sculpture," and as I "rivalling the greatest art of any age." | He Bays the discoveries generally are! "the greatest revelation of their kind in ! the entire history of archaeological discovery in any land." Another Anwican, Mr Machy, who is a mere tourist, was deeply impressed. As it was the anniversary of his wedding with Mrs Machy, he forthwith wired "a donation of 27,000 dollars (£5400) to the Metropolitan Museum of >iew York.