The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-23

city and we reach by the gate of the tower Of the
Maceabees, incIOsiIg IL, the open held close 70
the serulcher Of the High Priest John, and by the
GenDoth gate TO the upper market between the
old palace of the Msccsbesn kings, and Herod's
ps'sce, SURPRISING even the feuIpis in splendor
and gorgeous msgniiceDce. The scene Is gate
animated here too; but the hustle Is by
no means ss lively as at the lower market.
Here everything is more quiet and arts.
toeTstic. This is the seat OF those mechanics
of the industrial city whom King Herod
especially pstronizes and protects. Here predomi-
nate also the productions of sculpt TORS skful hOr-
icultnrists, etc. Here goldsmith exhibits ter
pole that's to saw grapevine aristically wrought
out Of precious metals, and by his side potter
displays bis white and black esrthenwsre; there
the sweetest Jerusalem figs, raised at the rose
garden which Is MANFRED with blood flo wing from
the Temple. The old man yonder, dressed en-
tirely in white, and whose feet are incased 10
shoes which poor man. If he should find them
IN the street, would not pick up, is an Essene. He
looks aboutnquriDgy IN order to find somebody
that might show him the way to the house Of the
superior of his sect. The heat of the day be-
comes very oppressive, and old and young folks
crowd around the large cistern in the middle of
the market. From time to time the crowd falls
back in dismay TO open passage for one of the
dreaded officers of King Herod and the buyers
step aside even when one of the royal eunuchs
approaches. But young Galilesn, who has
spread squsre linen blanket on the ground, and
placed on il large amphora filed with Lebanon
oil. and a gigantic watermelon beside it, gszes
with a gay and rather defiant expression at the
motley crowd manifesting so much cowsrdce
and "Reminiscences. " Where do you come
fiom ~ said to him trembling little man, with
a very thin beard, 10 whom be gives some oil
IN hollow clay egg which serves him as mea-
sure. am from the city," he exclsims,
Lying like a free bird, on the crest Of
mountain !" He refers to Sepphoris. Seeing,
among the passersby man who has drawn
through one Of bis ear-lsps red and blue threads.
and through the other green and yellow ones, that
are TO show that he is dyer, and hos skillful he
is, the young Galilean bursts into loud laughter
al this very singular advertisement, and says to
the stranger, Master Tobias, can you dye red
(adom) white? " This was an allusion to Herod
the Edomite. One of Herod's police spies hsstens
TO the marketguari, and when, soon after, two
soldiers order the young Galilean to follow them,
he ressts them with such herculean strength that
they are unable to move him from the spot. A
large crowd assemblies around the group; the
soldiers get frightened, owing to the sudden con-
course of people so close to the royal palace,
and, while one of them seufiss with the G. Ililean,
the other runs his sword through the offenders
body. The Galilean. shouting, /" The Lord will
visit you in wrath, daughter OF Eiom, and uncover
thy sins " falls TO the ground, and bis blood
miDgles with the Lebanon oil of his amphOra,
which has been broken into thousand pieces.
Outbursts of indignation at the brutality OF the
soldiers and the infamy of the betrayer outbursts
OF despair at their ANONYMOUSLY shackled liberty,
outbursts of grief at the Infamous assassination of
the young martyr of freedom, rend the afr /; but,
as If by magican's wand, the furious cries
Suddenly give place TO a profound silence 10
consequence of the discovery, which passes
Immediately from mouth to mouth, that there
is approaching man who had just emerged
from the Gennoth gate, and with light, scarcely
audible step, turning his searching glances in
every direction, and holding a very neat
case in his hand walks across the aarket-pace.
His costume is that of an Alexandria, rather than
that OF an inhsbitant Of Jerusalem /; his hair is
black, but It seems to have been dyed; his in-
gers are covered with sparkling rings. Upon
passing the stand of a scribe who keeps for sale
teiHin and all sorts Of parchment with verses
destined 20 exercise evil spirits, he casts a
glance at them, and exclsims: Why, yon rival
Dophantes " Such was the name of the scribe
who had forged letter purporting to have been
written by Alexander, the now imprisoned son
of Berod and Marianne, 10 the commander of
the fortress Of Alexandria, HON he asked in it
to receive him and surrender the fortress to him
"a tsoon as he had made away with his father
You do me too much honor" replies the old
scribe highly indignant at the comparison. The
dreaded man directs his step toward the densest
part of the crowd. 1t opened passage, aud the
bloody corpse OF the young Galiean became wis.,
ible. UnmOved by the heart.rending spectacle,
he exclaims in a shrill and dsagreeable voice
Friends, you act in accordance with the proverb,
Where the OK falls there are many butchers"
This man was TryphOn, the kings barber, who
intended to ingratate himself to-day more than
ever with his royal master by dint Of iutrgues and
cunning tricks. An honest old soldier, named
1eron, greved so much at the fate of Alexander
and ATistobulus tbathe almost went mad. He ran
about like a lunatic. aud called Heaven TO witness
that truth and right we're trampled under foot. At
length he gave vent TO his Indignation in the pre-
seDee OF Herod himself, and told the king the names
Of his numerous sympathizers in the army. II was
easy To foresee the consequences. He was now in
prU oned in dungeon OF Antonio castle, with his
son, who was friend of Prince Alexander. "G can.
not injure OF serve these two men any mOre,n said
Tryphon to himself; hence believe | am at
liberty to turn to account the msfortunes which
their imprudence has brought upon them.r So
saying he entered the portal Of the palace, 10
order 10 ascend the magnificent marble staircase
leading to the high platform Of the royal palace,
where be hoped now, between ten and eleven, or
as they said at that period, between five aud six,
to find the king; for last night banquet Of
hundred covers had been held az one of the large
dining rooms OF the palace, in honor of Nicholas
of Damascus; and the guests had continued their
csrousal to an advanced hour Of the night, and
called down the wrath of heaven upon all the
enemies Of King Herod.
The Swan sun grows more and more intoerable.
The crowds at both market places dispense. We
are likewise thirsty and some what hungry. What
will we drink, Median. or rather Babylonian
beer, or Egyptian zythum, or domestic cider
We need not ask for an ushpiza Qandlord) who
keeps these beverages. We saw on WoolcOmber's
street large jars standing in front of house on
feTment in the sun. We enter the house in order
to add to our knowledge of the country, even 10
eating ask il we can get dish of locusts whether
baked in -four or honey, or merely sailed. How
crowded and noisy it is here Before the land
lord answers our question 10 the affirmative cop
persmith, whom we recognize such by his large
eathern apron, holds out his goblet of wine to u.s.
and excaims, T" Fools to eat without drink
ing is to consume ones own blood" sol.
der joins Us, and, saying, " The strangers seem
to be scholars" he cnks glasses with the copper
smith, and then he shouts in a deafening voice.
CB0mrd ICechGje lefoun rdb5andn loetltdlrni
dehOn - that Is 10 say, drink 10 the health of
these scholars and their pupils" 30 you chdaOr"
(ass) exelaims another, !" what do you know about
scholsrsW Either the book OF the sword, as
tie old saying is" Two more quiet guests play
ing at negdShir (someihing like backgammon
offer us seats beside them. The noise in the sooty
room grows more and more deafening. We are
not long in discovering that the despotism of the
government has divided even the 10 west class of
the people into Herodans and Liberals. What
about Aleph and Aleph? asks one of the guests,
abiding TO Alexander and AristObulus. "Block.
head" replies his neighbor, shifting his face,
''Sienee is the best spice" "Who was the young
fellow at the upper msrket!" asks another. fra
lettnld de lob" (''Dust into Jobs mouth" that
is to say, Hush up your impudent mouth) says
tanner to him. what, you miserable swamp
MA h au1sa ill,