Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-01-20
A LEGEND OF ALEXANDER THE
GREAT,

No hero excepe solomon, perhaps. has
80 many wonderful adventures credited 10
him by the professional story-teller of the
Est as Alexande9 the Great One of
these, which am told IS also TO be found
in the literature of the Hebrews, is not
only entertaining hut possesses some deep
and graceful morals. .tfA
Euring the Improbable march Of Alex
alder in India he came TO lovely oasis
vatered by a clear running stream. The
great king stretched his weary limbs on
ITS banks and ordered from. the scanty
stock OF provisions few dried salted fishes
for his repast. Clear water, served in o
golden goblet, replaced the choice Lesbian
in which the great king so often INDUCED.
But how astonished was the conqueroE
when an accountably delicious odor and
taste pervaded the water from this running
stream Surely" said Alexander. !" a
river so full of rich properties must take
its rise in a happy land. Let us explore
its sources.h After fatiguing journey on
foot in quest Of the head-waters Of the
stream, the king at last came TO what
seemed an immense enclosure, the walls of
which were CT great height. He was re-
assured by finding pair of colossal gates
right before him Knocking loudly at the
postern he demanded entrance. A voice
from the interior answered, Thou cans't
not enter here; this is Paradise, and the
gates are the gates Of the Lord
81 ann answered Alexander proudly,
the conqueror of the earth why. do you
hesitate TO open the gates for me IN
81 al
is acknowledged except he who can con-
quer his own desires. Art thou fit Alex
ander, TO enter 20
The great conqueror felt that if admit
tance to Paradise depended upon this law
he had no chance to effect an entrance
"Give me" said Alexander TO the voice
which spoke to him, " some token at least,
so that may show the world that / have
been to the very gates Of Paradise, where
until now no mortal was"
A small pert-hole was opened, and from
it Alexander received portion Of
human skull. "Take this" said the voice
within; single look upon it may teach
thee more wisdom than thou hast received
from all thy masters and philosophers"
Alexander contemporary took the gift,
and wended his way to his tent. Throw
ing it down in disgust, he said", "And this
is the present that is given TO the eonQue-
ror Of the world truly, paltry present
from such a source rs Paradise"
"Great king" said sage who was pres
ent, "to me this gift possesses a secret
meaning. Pray, put it into one scale, and
fill the other with the finest gold"
Tba Etror orIaraI ~ 20 Ia Iova ~rd L.
the piece Of human bone outweighed the
filed Up scale of gold.
"This is aHSnder,n said the king. 4
Larger scales were brought, heaps ofgold
were placed in one, and the human frag-
ment of the skull in the other, yet the
bone outweighed them all. "a
The sage then ordered the skull to te
covered with earth, and behold it only
weighed its own specific gravity.
aHow remarkable il this,n said Alexan-
der, scan you give me solution 7''
'Great king answered the sage, I" this
fragment of human skull is that part
which in life encased the eye. The human
eye, although hemmed in, is nevertheless
Unsuitable and unlimited in vision. The
more it possesses the more does it desire.
The treasures of the earth fail to satisfy its
continual Iongings But when once de-
scended TO the grave, and covered with its
mother earth, it finds a limit for all its
once boundless wishes. Learn, o great
king, wisdom! OF what avail will thy
conquests and riches be when thine eyes
are covered with dust and thou sleepest
the sleep of death ifiH
q VUIo@ o-;aJ Aiax.pda.
nothing, that thousands of years hence
people should speak my nane-nay, be as
familiar with it as are my own legions 2
Thou art grOyelling philosopher, and hast
not the soul of a csnqueror IN thee.n
Needless of the warning he had received
at the gates Of Paradise, Alexander march
ed on from kingdom to kingdom, leaving
destruction, famine, misery, and death be-
hind him. AT last he came to the country
governed by the Amazons, where women
govern and fight and men do the household
work Alexander summoned their chief
city, which was walled in, to surrender
The Amazons sent him deputation, who
thus spoke to the great king: Great con-
queror, if thou intendest war with US thy
arms prevail, thou wilt not add a jot to
thy fame by having conquered a kingdom
of women. But as all war Is doubtful, and
battles are not always to the strong, thou
mayest be beaten; and then behold the
ignominy with which thy name will be
branded forever: The conqueror Of the
world was beaten by women
Alexander felt theforce of this argument,
and abandoned his undertaking, ordaining
an obelisk to be erected, with the follow
ing inscription: ss;4.
/, Alexander. until now foolish ind vain, have
learned wisdom from women.
Somewhat subdued in his desires, he
marched ON. N northerlY direction and