Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-02-04
A Legend Of Alexander the Great.

A Legend Of Alexander the Great.
No hero except Solomon, perhaps, has
so many wonderful adventures credited to
him by the professional story teller of the
East as Alexander the Great. One of
these, which I am told is also to bc found
in the literature of the Hebrews, is not
only entertaining, but possesses some deep
| and graceful morals. In translating it l
have only in view to entertaia the readers
THE WORLD for few minutes at this
most cheerful season. The Legend runs
thus:
During the improbable march of Alex.
ander in India no came to q lovely oasis
watered by clear running stream. The
great king stretched his weary limbs on its
banks and ordered from the scanty stock
of provisions few dried saltcd fishes for
his repast. Clear water, served in COB.
let, replaced the choice Lcsbian in which
the great King SO often INDUCED. But
how astouished was the conqueror when an
unaccountably delicious odor and taste
pcrvadod the water from this running
stream! "Surely," said Alexander, J." a
river so full Of rich properties must take
its rise in happy land. Let us explore
its sources" After fatiguiug journey on
foot in quest Of the head quarters of the
stream, the king at last came to what
seemed an immense enclosure, the walls of
which were of 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 It
not enter here; this is Paradise, aud the
gates arc the gates of the Lord"
II am," answered Alexander proudly,
"thc conqucror Of the earth; why DO YOU
hesitate to open the gates for me 2"
Here" said the voice, "no con1ucror
is acknowledged except he who can con-
qucr his own desires. Art thoufit, O Alex
andcr, to enter 2"
The great conqucror 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"
GA small port.hole was opened, and
from it Alexander received u portion of q
human skull. "Takc this" said the voice
within ga single look upon it may teach
thee more wisdom than thou hast received
from all thy masters and philosophers"
Alexander contcMptuously took the gift,
and wcnded his way to his tent Throwing
it down in disgust, he said, "And this is
the present that is given to the conqueror
of the world truly, pal,ry present from
such source as Paradise"
"Grcat king" said sage who was pres
cnt, "to me this gift possesses secret
meaning Pray, put it into one scale, aud
fill the other with the finest gold"
The king ordered it to be done, and 10
the piece Of human bone outweighed the
filled up scale of gold.
"This is a WONDER" said the king.
Larger scales were brought, heaps of
gold we're placed In one, and the human
fragment Of the skull in the other, yet the
bone outwcighcd them ALL
The sage then ordered the skull to be
covered with earth, and behold it only
weighed its own specific gravity.
How remarkable is this" said Alex.
auder, "can you give me a solutiou?"
"Great king" answered the sage, "this
fragment Of the human skull is that part
which in life cncascd the eye. The human
eye, although hemmed in. is nevertheless
Unsuitable and unlimited in vision. The
more it possesses the more does it desire to
possess. The treasures of earth fail to sat.
isfy its continual lougings. But when
once descended to the grave, and covered
with its mother earth, it finds 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 sleep.
est the sleep Of death?"
"What" cried Alexander, "is fame
nothing, that thousands Of years hence
people should speak my name-nay, be as
familiar with it as are my own legions
Thou art a grovelliug philosopher, and hast
not the soul Of conqueror in thee"
Needless Of the warming he had received
atthe gates Of Paradise, Alexander marched
on from kingdom to kingdom, leaving de.
:truction, famine, misery, and death be-
hind him. At last he came to the couu.
try governed by the Amazous, where
women govern and fight and men do the
household work. Alexander summoned
their chief city, which was walled 10, to
surrender. Tho Amazons sent him dep.
utation, who thus spake to the great king
Great couqueror, if thou iutendest war
with US, thou undertakest most fruitless
task. Ifthy arms prevail, thou wilt not
add jot t. thy fame by having conquered
kingdom Of women. But a. all war ID
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 conqneros
OF the world was beaten BY women
Alexander felt the force Of this argu.
ment, and abandoned his undertaking. or.
daiuiug an vbelisk to BE- erected, with the
following inscription
| l. Alexander. vaki noau fnoli,x r,1