The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-03-30
THE cRUsADERS IND TIE S1R1
GEMS.

GEMS.
The two armies, eLcamped within 9
few miles of each other, and about 10
engage in battle, were the representa-
tives OF two faiths. The one. the army
of Islam imbued with vigorous living
enthusiastic faith in the camel driver OF
Mecea the other, the army of the cross.
having scarce enough of the ancient
faith TO entitle them to the christian
nane; looking TO the wood with su-
perstiti9us hope that it might have some
virtue, but utterly oblivious now Of Him
who's ath for their salvation il typi.
| fed, Is leaders of the two armies
nress:t ID terrible contrast in character
oo5sf j. cross was not. re-
sNlzm ,.,.l me Of tic one, .wlle
lfk2ess king and a periured
knight, nor was Islam to be credited
with the nobleness of the other. GUY
was an exceptional disgrace to chris
tianity. Saladin was an exceptional
glory to Mobammedanism.
The greatest soldier and the purest
monarch OF his age, man the like Of
whom has been rarely known in this
world, was Eusef Salahed-Din, or rs his
name is now commonly written, Saladin.
A devout Mohammedan, constant in
prayer, brilliant in featso of arms, the soul
of honor, accustomed to victory but
always self restrained, stern and tremen.
dous in battle but gentle and pitiful as a
woman to the conquered, unrelenting in
Justice but merciful beyond prudence,
ever ready TO forgive injuries even the
most foul, true rs truth, know no more
resplendent character among the heroes
of history. Scenes in his life are full of
poetic beauty. His ever open hand and
purse, filled again and again with the
spoils of conquest, were emptied in char
ity. a christian mother whose babe had
been seized by Saracen and carried into
the hostile camp, rushed in frenzy across
the lines and made the air ring with her
walls Saladin heard heI, called her TO
him, found the child, paid the ransom to
his soldier, and sent the mother back
rejoicing and safe. When Jerusalem fell
into his hands November, ll87), the
terms of the capitulation were fxed that
the christians should pay ten dinars
ransom for every man, five for every
woman, and two for every child, and
those who could not pay should be
prisoners and slaves TO the conquerors.
The,clemency OF SaladiA was unparalleled.
He discharged free large numbers un-
solicited. Then two of his generals OBJ
tanned the liberty Of 1900 Armenians,
alleging that they were their country
men, and only pilgrims. Thousands of
poor christians remained unransomed, OF
= n many were women and children.
selttsd-D Din, brother of the sultan, said
TO him, 81 have fought well: give me "A
thousand slaves" "IYhat will you do
with them ~ said the sultan. "What
see fit" The sultan approved his
brothers intent, gave him a thousand,
and they were at once set free. Then
the patriarch went to him, and the
sultan gave him seven hundred and to
another who begged them, five hundred
more, all of whom went free. 'Now !
will give my own gift of charity" said
Saladin; and opening the gates, he
directed that all the poor, known abso-
lutely to be too poor to pay the ransom,
should have free egress till sunset, and
thousands thus went out free Then he
opened his purse and poured out actual
wealth on the widows and orphans Of the
christian knights that he had slain in
battle. And when the great companies
of the christians went TO the part Of the
land still in christian possession he sent
troops with them, charged to take such
care of the sick and feeble, that these
Saracens, imbued with the spirit of their
leader, put the women on their horses,
and walked, carrying the children in
their arms 1t was not strange that
when Re died the morning Of the Mosems
of Damascus was greater than before or
since for any other khalif. The account
of his death, given by Ben-Sieddadi, his
biographer, who was with him to the
end, is exceedingly simple and touching.
Lying in the delirium of fever, as the
last night wore on, his faithful physician,
who says the historian, remained by his
side to direct, if it might be, his wander
ing mind toward God, to read aloud now
and then passages from the koran.
Toward morning, as Abou-Sjalarus read
the words, "He is God, and beside him
there is none other" The face of the
dying monarch grew resplendent, lie
murmured, 'Gtism most true" and 50 died.
Abulfeda says, ''He let in his treasury
nothing save forty seven pieces of silver
money and one piece of Tyrian gold, out
of all the spoils of Egypt, Syria, the
eastern regions, and Arabia Felix; so
great had been his liberality. He trans
nitted neither house nor land to any
heir" Such was the leader Of the
Saracens, who, as his name, Salahed-Din,
implies. was the hope of the religion,
the defended of the faith. - W. c.
Prime IN the Holy Cross.