'Egypt' is. Let me inform you that 'Egypt' is in Illinois, and our
'Egypt' is a country as large as thirteen states the size of Rhode
Island. Cairo is the Capital, and Alexandria, Thebes, and Joppa are
all near by. Tamm and Buncombe, and Goreville and Omega are also
among our promising cities of 'Egypt,' although you may not so
easily associate them with the ancient world."

"Well I know where Cairo is," Adelaide replied, "but if your 'Egypt'
is on the map you will have to show me. I know now that 'Egypt' is
in Southern Illinois, but how do you separate 'Egypt' from the rest
of the State?"

"We make no such separation," said Percy. "But to find 'Egypt' on
the map, you need only take the State of Illinois and subtract
therefrom all that part of the corn belt situated between the
Mississippi River and the west line of Indiana. The southern point
of 'Egypt' is at Cairo, the Capital, and it is bounded on the east,
south, and west, by the Wabash, the Ohio, and the Mississippi; but
the north line is not only imaginary, but it is movable. In fact it
is always just a few miles farther south, but I think all
'Egyptians' will agree that a sand bar which is being formed below
Cairo between the Ohio and the Mississippi is truly 'Egyptian '
territory. If you ever visit in the West do not fail to see 'Egypt.'

"I really hope I may, sometime," she replied. "We have relatives who
claim to live in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri, but I think
possibly they may all be 'Egyptians,' from what you have told me
about the vast area of that great fairy empire. I know I would
dearly love to go there."