The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-12-13
Thesseven sIeopers-Th. Legend Ea
p!nined.


p!nined.
For moro than ono thousand years
the legend OF the Seven Slecpers has
been told in pious song and story.
Who were these Seven Sleepers? Is it
only monkish legend, nm invention
OF the ''dark ages?" Or IS the story
true, or has it at lenst historical
basis?
It was i'll the year of our Lord $50
that Decius, the most inhuman Of all
the Roman Emperors in his persecu.
tion of the Christians, in making n
tonr through his provinces, arrived at
Ephesus, in Asia Minor. Christianity
had already obtained focthold here,
although the great majority OF the
people still adhered to the heather re-
ligion. Upon his arrival. the Empe-
ror ordered sacrificial festival to be
held in honor of Jupiter, Apollo and
Diana. In this festival, every one was
commanded to take part, under pc
nalty Of incurring the imperial dis
pleasure in case of refusal. Among
the Christians Of the city wore seven
youths, descendants of noble families.
The names of six of them were Maxi
milan, Malchns, Diouysius, Joannes,
Scrapio and Conysius. These deter.
mined to die rather than to obey the
mandate. AS coon as Decius heard of
their determination, he commanded
them to be brought before him.
"Go, " said he. land procure incense,
that you may offer to the highest
powers" ''The Highest Power, they
replied. ''has His throne in the
heavens. and is the living and AL
mighty God, who hath created Heaven
and earth. Him we worship, Father,
Son and holy Spirit, and We can never
again bow down to dumb idols that
are nothing"
With terrible glance, the Emperor
measures the youthful confessors.
Then suddenly changing his manner,
he endeavors to win them by his pro-
misses and his arguments. Failing to
attain his object by threats and pro-
misses. he tells them that he will gra-
clously accord them time to consider
their resolution until he shonid again
return to Ephesus, aud informs then,
OF the terrible consequences if they
should still continue their stubborn
resistance. With calm courage, the
young men departed from the pre-.
sence OF the Emperor. By the citi.
zens OF Ephesus. they were pro.
scribed; BY many. however, secretly ?
admired. Determined not to renounce
their faith, they, however, decided to
avoid the monster as much as possible.
With this object. they betook them.
selves TO range Of mountains in the
neighborhood OF Ephesus. There
they discovered cave, the entrance to
which was concealed with thick foliage.
In this cave they hid themselves and
one Of their number, Malchus, the one
least known in this city, WAS appointed
to supply them with food.
The day OF the Emperor's return ar
rived. One Of the first questions wa,
concerning "the stubborn youths. u
''They have escaped" was the reply
But their concealmcnt had been dis
covered. Spies had followed them,
and purchased the Emperor's favor by
revealing the place Of ooncealment
Decius, knowing we'll that he ooulG
not hope to change the purpose OF tht
youths, gave command to CLOSE The
month OF the cave with wall, and thus
close them In tomb. No sooner sale
than done. There was one man, how
ever, who. though still heathen, hae
heard the Gospel, and was not far from
the kingdom OF God. Desiring tha1
further generations might know whose
bones rested there, he took roll Of
parchment, and, writing on it The
names OF the youths and an account O
their COURAGEOUS beaYinn enclosod /,