The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-01-27
4 Legend Of Alexander the Great.

~ hSiO " SASCpu AcOlohlous
so many wonderful adventures credited
to him by the professional story teller in
the East as Alexander the Great. One
of these, which / am told is also to be
found in the literature of the Hebrews,
is not only entertaining, but possesses
some deep and graceful morals. The
legend ran thus:
During the Improbable march Of AL
exander in India he came to lovely
by clear, running stream.
The great King stretched his weary limbs
on its banks, and ordered from the scan
ty stick of provisions a few dried salty
fshes.for his repast. Clear waters served
in a golden goblet, replaced the choice
Leshfan in which the great King SO Of
ten isdulged. Bat how astonished was
the e-snqueror when an unaccountably
deli, sBs:s odor and taste pefvaded the
water from this running stream!
"Surely," said Alexander, "a river so
full Of rich properties must take its rise
in happy land. Let us explore its
source"
After fatiguing journey on foot in
questsof the headwaters of the stream,
the King at last came to what seemed an
immense enclosure, the walls of which
were of great height. He was reassured
by finding pair of colossal gates right
before him. Knocking loudly at the pos
tern he demanded entrance. A voice
from the interior answered,
"Thou canst not enter here; this is
Paradise, and the gates are the gates of
the Lord"
"I3am," answered Alexander proudly,
the conqGeror of the earth why do you
hesitate to open the gates for me2'
"Here," said the voice, mo conqueror
is acknowledged except he who can con.
quer his own desires. Art thou fit, o
Alexander, to enter ?"
The great conqueror felt that if ad-
mittance to Paradise depended upon this
law, be had no chance to effect an en-
trance.
"Give me-" said Alexander, to the
voice which spoke to him, "some token,
at least, $50 that I may show the world
that ! have been to the very gates of
Paradise, where, until now, no mortal
was.p
A small port hole was opened, and
from it Alexander received portion of
a human skull "Take this" said the
voice. within; ga single lookupon it may
teach. thee more wisdom than thou hast
received from all thy masters and phi
losophers."
Alexander contemptuously took the
gift, and wended 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,a pal
try present from such source as Para
disc"
"Great King" said sage who was
present. 'to me this gift possesses se-
cret meaning. Pray, put it into one
scale and Gil the other with the finest
gold"
The King ordered it to be done, and
10! the piece of human bone outweighed
the filed,np scale of gold"
"1his is WONDER" said the King.
Larger scales were brought; heaps o.
gold were placed in one, and the frag
ment of the human skull in the other,ye
the bone ou.weighed them all.
The sage then ordered the skull to bt
covered with earth. and behold it only
weighed It's own specific gravity.
"How remarkable is this" said Alex
ander, "can you give me solution 7"
"Great King answered the sage
"this fragment of human skull is tina
part in which life encased the eye Tht
human eye, although hemmed in, is nev
ertheless Unsuitable and unlimited in Wis
ion. The more it possesses the more ii
desires TO possess. The treasure of :h'
earth fail to satisfy its continual long
ings But when once descended to tn,
grave, and covered with its mother earth
| it finds limit for all its once boundles;
wishes Learn, O grest King, wisdom
Or what avail will thy conquests ane
riches be when thine eyes are covered
with dust and thou sleepest the sleep o
death ?"
"What" cried Alexander, sis fame
nothing, that thousands of years hence
people should speak my name-ray, b.
as familiar with it as my own legions
Thou art a groveling philosopher. anc
hast not the soul of d conqueror il
thee"
Needless Of the warning he had receiv
ed at the gates of Paradise, Alexande
marched on from kingdom to kingdom
leaving destruction, famine, misery, ant
death behind him. At last he came t.
the country governed by the Amazons
where women govern and fight and mel
do the household work. Alexander sum
moned their chief city, which was walle'
in, TO surrender The Amazons sent hin
a deputation, who thus spoke to the grea
King:
"Great conqueror, if thou intendes
war with US, thou undertakest mos
fruitless task II thy arms prevail ,tho'
wilt not add jot to thy fame bv havin
conquered kingdom of women. But a
all wars are doubtful, and battles not a
ways to the strong, thou mayest be beat
en-; and then behold the ignominy Wit
which thy name will be branded forever
The conqueror OF the world was beate
by women"
Alexander felt the force Of this ar2u
ment, ,snd abandoned his undertaking, ,ol
ldering an obelsk to be erected, with th
following inscription:
"I. Alexander, until nov foolish an
uain, haze learned ,oisdom from women.
| Somewhat subaued in his desires, h
marched in uortherIy direction, an
reached the small but happy kingnom {
Burinapoor. The native king, KNOWN
his own weakness atiainst the might
: hosts of Alexander, received him and b
army Hospitality. He sent messengers
invite Alexander to his modest palac,
} and prepared a banquet. When the COZ
queror was seated, he beheld singul;
spectacle. Instead of the usual fish an
flesh, and fowl and bread, all that vs.
placed before him was either of gold, 81
yer or precious stones. Thus, instea
of the soup, there was a plate of eme
aids. The goblet Of wine was represel
ted ny goblet of pearls. Birds, arti
tieal.y made of gold, we're served up
him, and silver loaves were there to rel
resent the wheaton loaf.