The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-29
Prom the 1ufialo Literary Messenger.


To illustrate the power Of fanaticism o.
yer the mind of man, no better example can
be adduced than Mahomet. file was artful,
insinuating and inventive--and succeeded
in gaining that ascendency over his fellow
men which few ever attain. He was born
at Mecca in the sixth century after Christ.
Two years after his birth his mother died.
leaving him in the care of his father, who
also died two years after, thus leaving Ma
homet an orphan at the tender age. entire
| ly dependant on an aged grandfather for
instruction and support. Two years again
succeeded, when the grandfather was called
by death to recommend his iniantle charge
| to the care of an uncle, flourlshing mer-
chant in the city of Mecca, who gave him
common school education, in contradic-
ton to the assertion that he could neither
read nor write. His uncle in educating
him for the occupation Of q merchant, nc
customcd him TO traverse the country in all
directions in company with other Neccans,
who transported their merchandise across
the deserts by means of caTneIs. Thus he
early became acquainted with the situation
of the country and the manners Of his conn
/ trymen. At the age of fourteen Years he
| left his uncle and enlisted as soldier in
! the war which was waged by his own g.
gainst nalghboring tribe--here he remain
ed till twenty. undistinguished by any act
of bravery or cunning. At thus time he lsif
| the war and resumed his former occupation.
in the service of rich Meccan widow Ut
the name OF Kadijah. Such was his won-
derful business tact, that in the short space
of eight years he doubled the rich widows
wealth. Her heart seemed 10 have mcrea-
sed with her money, for shortly after she
yielded herself and her splendid fortune to
the youthful and beloved clerk, who recei-
we'd her with all the rejoicing that yonns
man of twenty three could be expected tO
welcome bride Of forty. This was an ira
! in the life of Mahomet. lie suddenly
emerged from the cloud of poverty that OBJ
scured his early years, into the broad = laro
of mercantile prosperity, and lived twelve
years in kingly opulenco and splendor. Tie
ranked high as a merchant, but nothing rel
alive to his subsequent course occurred GU
ring this period. When collecting his books
to retire to a cave few miles from the city,
he gave no indication Of his design to any
one, till returning after few days, he told
his wife that it had been revealed TO hiEi
the night preceding that he was an inSpir-
ed prophet. The worthy Kadijah believing
her husband to be only good money MA
ker, treated his important communication
with derision--but SO firm was he in his
purpose that he returned to his cave where
he remained longer than before, under the
pretehce of more important revelation. tie
now pretended that the angel Gabriel had
appeared to him, and told him thai he was
the Lords prophet, ard that he mast CELL
municate his revelations TO the world. lis
fascinating words so wrought on the imag
ina ton of his good wife, that she Ecce'nc
his immediate convert, and seconded all bis
plans TO impose his superstitlons on the
world. Soon after one of his slaves becam"
converted, whereupon he received his free
dom--and II afterwards became an inpcr-
tant principle in his religion that every slave
who embraced Mahommcda nism should iEi-
nediately be set AT liberty. GLOW lamen-
table that disciples of Him who came to st
the captive free, should be in the rear Of an
impostor and his followers y His converts
increased so slowly by private effort, tina:
he wished to declare his doctrines publiciy,
and for this purpose made a sumptuou<
feast TO which lie invited all the chief men
of Mecca-but being thwarted in his de
signs, he persevered and made auother,and
succeeded in declaring his wonderful reve-
lations But they met with so much APP
probrium from his own class, that he com
menced preaching to the common people
here also he met with the fate he so richly
merited, and fed from the city in disgrace.
and secluded himself at country seat,
where he remained devisiDg new expedients
till twelve men came from Medina, who pro
fessed to be his disciples, and invited him 10
preach at that city. He joyfully took the
slide at ''the flood" and it led him son tn
| fortuae" lie was met at the gates of the
city by an escort of citizens, hailed by tho
crowd as the mighty prophet inspired by
Heaven. Such unexpected applause so IN
hated his vanity, that MS Koran, which had
hitherto expressed nothing but meekness'h n-
mility and measures of peace, suddenly
changed its tone, abounded in warIke ex-
pressions, recommended nothing but force
for the propagation of his doctrines. Short
ly after hearing of a caravan that was pas
sing through Arabia, he collected an armed
band and went to conquer them; but their
nuinDeT Deuis SuPOiioi, NC iS'ui"NHN
and mortified, but not discouraged from
making second effort; and increasing tho
number of his men, he made direct attack
on another caravan, which Immediately sent
to Mecca for assistance. Nine hundred
well armed men came out and riding OIL tho
other side Of Mahomet and his men, COM
pletely encircled them. Mahomet foresee~
ing the disgrace consequent on defeat
threw up cloud of dust and commenced
praying to God to send down legion ofar>
gels to overthrow his enemies; his follow
ers blinded by superstition, thinking thez'
saw the heavenly warriors in the cloud, be-
came furious, obtained the victory, and re-
turned to Medina crowned with honor
Such is the effect Of fanaticisu. After this