, 1870-12-25
a LEGEND OF ALEXANDER THE
GREAT,

(TraI sls.ed by Adersey cur.os1bhoy from the TIA
didon OF the Eastern S.psJ-teler.l
No hero except Solomon, perhaps, has 80
many wonderful adventures cfodited to hip,
BY the professional story-tellcr in the East "a
Alexander the Great. One Of these. which, |
am told il also to be found in the literature
Of the Hebrews, is not ouls entertaining, but
possesses some deep and EFcceful morals. Ire
translatlng it ! lxyo onIy in view 10 entertain
the 1caaerB Of the World for \ few minute.
at this most cheerful season. Tho legend
runs thua:
During The improbable march Of Alexander
in 3Ldia he came to lovely oasis, Masered BY
= elcar funcing stream. The great King
stretched Ills weary limbs on its banks, and
ordered from the ecsnty stock Of provisions
= few dried salted fshes for lis repast.
Clear wafer, served in = golden goblet, re-
placed tho cho,ce Lsabian in which the
ton.ehcd was the conqnctur when an unHc-
countably delicious ot1or nnd taste per
vadcd the water from this running atrpam
"sure]y," said Alexander, - a ri7er 80 full
Of rich properties must take It's rise in hap
sfstisuinE jonrnsy On foot @ % ia aaoat q tSs tSs
he4d-wate1B of the stream, tho king at last
came to what seemed an immenBe enclosure,
tho wills Of which were Of great height. Tie
WAS reaestlfed by finding. pair Of colossal
gates right before him. knocking loudly 1t
the postern he demanded entrance. A roics
not enter here; this is Paradise, and The
gates z1e tho gates OF the Lord"
u AIo, answcted Alexander proudly, stthe
eonqueros Of the earth why do you hasitate
to open the gates for mef"
NHere." said the voice, mo conqueror il
own desires. art thou TT, o Alexander, to
epterf"
The great conqperor felt that il aanitt.nce
to Paradise depended upon this law. he had 10
chance to effect An cntrance. "Giys mo-
said Alexander to the voico which spoke 10
him, ''hotne token, at least 80 that may chow
the Worfd that have boon to tho veEyRatea OF
Paradise. where, mill now, no mortal WAS"
A small Port-hole WIS opened, aud frcm 1t
Alexander received portion of q human
skull. Take this, raid the voice within;
- einglo look upon it may teach thee moro
wisdom than thou hast received from ali thu
masters and philosophers"
Alexander contempsuoualy took the gift,
and wended his way to his tont. Throwing it
| down in disgust, he said, 'And this ia tbs
present thai is given to the conlutror Of tho
vnn1di vurla; tsq!y, p = patty present from such
"Great Klng," eaid a sage who WAS pres-
| ent, .'to mo this gift possesses secret
meaning. Pray, put it into one scale, aad I'LL
the other NTH the finest gold"
| The king ordered it to hc done and 10 the
up tc.lo Of gold.
'tTlis III WONDER" sLd tho King.
| Larger sctles were brought, heaps Of gold
weso placed in one, and tbs human fragment
Of tho skull in the other, yet the bone out
i weighed them all.
The sage then ordered the ekull to be coy
lie own specific gr1rity-
"How remarkable is this" aaid Alexander,
"cau you give me solution :"
T. Great King answered the cage, " this
fragmont OF human skull is that part
which in lifo creased tho eye, The humau
eatikble aud unlimited in vision. THO mora it
] noesestea the more doea it dssire to pos,ess.
The treasures OF the earth fail to satisfy ita
continual longings. But when onco desesnd-
ed TO tho grave, aud covered With its mother
earth. il tindsa limit for all it. ouco bound.
OF what avail viii lily conaues,s and riches bo
when thine eyes arc covered NTH dust and
thon =leepest the slaep OF deAt13
"WhatT ctiod .Alexan3er, us fame
nothing, that thousands Of years 1lsnce peo-
PIC should spesk rnv nsue-a4y, be as fasnil-
Tyr with it "a my own leSi1nss Thou art y
grovel'ips pailoso paer, and has: no. tie soul
OF conlueror in thee+"
Needless Of tlie warning he had received at
tho "a: es Of Paradise, Alsxanie1 marched on
from kingdom to kingdom, loasinE deatruo-
tion, famine, misRzy, aud death hahind him.
1t last he came to the county governed hy
the Amazous. where women Gotegn and
light aud men do the household work.
Alexander summoned their chict city.
which WAS vailed in. to surrender. Tho ANA.
IONS sent hun 1eputstion, wao thus spoke
to TIC great hlns: Great eonquero5, il
most fru.tlcs= tack. II thoy arms prevail
thou wilt not add jot to thy fame by having
conquered kingdom of women. But AZ al
WARE are doubtful, aud battles arc mot alway,
to the strong, thou nayest ba beaten: AT
then behold TIC irnoniny with which til,
naro Will be branded forever: Tho couqac1e
Of theworld wak b:aten by wonoa"
Alexander felt the forcs II this argument
and abandoned lis undertaking, crdainins Al
olcliel to be erected. with tho following IN
ecEiriion:
]. alexander, until no.e foolish and rain
haze learned trisdont iron. .conses,
Scmewhat tubGued in bi. desires. h
marched in . nortles!v direction, aud reachc
the small but happy kirgdom Of Buriaspoos
Tho rAtiya King, knowing his own we1kucs
sgainst the mighty hoats Of Alexander. II
ceiycd him and his army Hospitality lie sen
palace, and prepared q banquet: When th
cor4ueror wa1 se4ted hs beheld eingula
spectacle. Instead Of the usual fab ant
tlcsh, aud fowl and bread, all that wae p1acs
:. | before lin WAS either OF god, silver. q
precious stones. THUS, instead Of the souI
, vino wes represented by goblet Of pearl!
: Dl1as, Itistically made Of gold, vero ser7e
, 1 up to him, and silver loavea Wero thcrc I
, 1eprest Mt the wheaton loaf.
''Do you eat gold and silver 1nd drin
, pearls in your land :" A>kea Alexander. astor
, ishea. IF
, "Can 1bclicve, ssid tho native King, til,
! you, the great conquerer Of the world. wh
I has left your own land TO sabdus the remotes
! Kingdoms Of the eArtt-can I think that sc
can feel satisfied to be fed from the usn,
: productions OF the land like other mon
Surely. OF grain, meat, aud wine you has
j. plenty in your oHa country, Your roamin
a and conQueata can have no other object bu
s siclen and power. Here there is gold, silve
and precious stones. Eat and drink then
i and chow ua that you are more than con
), | mon mortal"
= Alexander, who conl1 1t times a2pseci.t
j. stem truths. kindly answercd, My, fsiens
IA have not come to conquer nor to rob vo1
d Kingdom. 1wish simply to iafo1m myself {
v your habits, ynur customs, And your laEs."
rnee sss naas'Fs Raets ss s:ns 81 Il
"A knowledge should all adopt your plan, l
III bringing an armed host along with them
ia learn the customs 4ud 1Awa OF distan. land
there would be little OF either left after Il
,y 'dep.f3tnzs q such = body Of phiilosoph
l
=. oaity Of ny g1eat guest." Chipping his han'
-. he demanded Of the attendants whether II
~ c1ueeA or lawsuits were At that moment
fore the great EAte OF the palace: and, ia
e ing that there we're, LIT the suitots cor
- before me-" sid the native King.
=, Two villagers theu appeared befors 4
hirg.. Tbs dzst one addressed him thus: :
d. have bought smsli piecc Of ground fro
ha this my nctghbor- Digging upon it for =
y suddenly discovered hidden tre.za1
h: which forth*ish took to my neighbar. telti
I'd him that although bought the fAni did =
ed buy gold and eilver from him; therefore t
to treasure belongs to him
or The secord villaEer said. "Msy it pies
e. The King, when sold nv neiShbor tho Ian
IN felt that I had DO further right nor title to
Oh how then can accept the treasure which
,a The King. strokinE his long bcard. AL
y whether the eontcnding parties had childs
oe s "ies. ..s she reply. "we both hare *
"Tell, then e.id The Kiee, "mr il
ts, mary Tie son OF the other, and Tho treas
.ss | be given as a doxry."
The villagers thanked the King, And left
sh iolcipg,
=. AleSsnder, who bud littenea to this sts.1
tho suit, and 10 the kirg's decisIor, could
I've c1tctal bis aetCnishment-
les Hsa ny decision failed to ott.ia your
ax probation, domanded the native kt1S
Gle Alexander. How would sou, in your q
an country, IN case like .hlr, hare decided
hix - In ny county, said Alexander, the =,
In: crst ard conque1or speaking In e1o.y "
md "a Treasure found In tho bowels Of the q.
ing 70 matter who tie owner OF the surface
, In be, helcnge 10 the King; and would put
wn instant death any su6isc ct Of aiuo Who, {
/ \ Ing treasure. should dase to conoeal Of
10 deliver II to the authorities Hiihin
IA day."
rfu1 Thn native King, much aasonished, and l;
ati- Tag 1t Alexander attsu&ivelJ, 1t Last Z,