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Edwards (EDWARD IRVING United States)

EDWARD IRVING, United States Senator, was born in Jersey City, N. J., December 1, 1863. He studied at New York University, 1880-2, but went to work at the age of nineteen in the First National Bank of Jersey City of which he became president in 1916. From 1911 to 1917 he was State Comptroller of New Jersey, and in 1919 was elected state senator. In 1920 he was chosen governor, retaining that office until January, 1923. In In 1922 he was elected U. S. Senator for the term 1923 to 1929, after a campaign in which EGYPT RESEARCH he took strong ground against the enforcement of the 18th Amendment. SEARCH. Egypt has always held a fore- SEARCH. Egypt has always held a foremost place in the field of archæological labors by reason both of the high anteresting and richest rewards for their labors by reason both of the high ancivilization, whose monuments and reccivilization, whose monuments and records have been preserved in many cases matic and other conditions. Modern scientific research began with the attempts of European scholars in the sixteenth century to decipher the mysterious hieroglyphics or "sacred-sculpture" writ- ings in pictures and symbols found on the tombs and monuments of the country. In 1799 the key to these was found in the famous Rosetta Stone, carved in three languages - Greek, demotic, and hieroglyphic-a discovery which led to the solution of the sculptures and greatly added to the interest felt in Egyptian monuments and other antiquities. Achæological work became organized, first first by European governments interested in Egypt, and later by numerous private societies. The socalled Egyptian Exploration Fund was founded in 1882 (American branch, 1883) to explore and excavate ancient sites, all discoveries made to be divided between the National Museum of Egypt and certain British and American museums. Among the most important of recent expeditions have been those of seum of Art, which in 1920-21-22 made extensive excavations in the vicinity temples, pyramids, and tombs and and bringing to light many intimate pictures of Egyptian life and art and manners. The "Hekanakht Letters," written about 2000 B. C. and describing many details of domestic and agricultural life at that in existence. Other explorations are at present being conducted by the Egyptian Department of the University of Pennsylvania, as well as by other institutions. A very important discovery in Egyptian archæological research was announced in December, 1922, as having been made the previous month by Howannounced in December, 1922, as having working on the so-called Carnarvon concession in the Valley of the Tombs of Kings, adjoining the Metropolitan concessions. Following a search of many years, the tomb of King Tutankhamen was discovered, dating from the fourteenth century, B. C., a period thought by many ELEMENTS students to have marked the height of Egyptian art and splendor. Only a limited number of the chambers of the tomb were opened by the explorers in the first the outer chambers have been found a vast collection of royal palace furnishing of the treasures so far found. In the outer chambers have been found a vast collection of royal palace furnishings and personal effects, accompanied refined and artistic workmanship, musical ating almost every branch of highly ings, thrones and royal chariots illustrating eries and delicate jewel-work, down to common personal and household articles and mummified foodstuffs such as ducks, pected to yield information of high value.

Sixty-one tombs have thus far been pected to yield information of high value. found in the same valley, probably the richest situation in the world in its is sunk in a plateau 1,300 feet above sea level, unvisited by rain and devoid of is sunk in a plateau 1,300 feet above sea vegetation, the dryness playing an im- portant part in the preservation of all objects from disintegration and decay. portant part in the pre objects from disintegration and decay. the kings from the Eighteenth to the A practice recently inaugurated is to leave the mummies and other objects of lighting the interiors by electric lights.

In general, the private research parties work on concessions from the Egyptian government, the latter receiving a share of all discoveries.