The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-03-21

THE HEBREW FEAST OF PURIM COM
menced last Monday evening at sunset and
continued until sunset Tuesday. 1t com.
memorates the deliverance from death of the
Hebrews during the reign of ArtaXerXes,
the monarch of Persia. The narrative of these
events is graphically told in the Book of
Esther. Ahasuerus, or ArtaXerxes, took as
knowing to which nationality she belonged.
Mordecai, her uncle, made his appearance
daily near the palace to inquire after her
welfare. Human, the Kings Prime Minis
ter, who required every one to bow the knee
and do him reverence as he passed into the
palace, was indignant upon obs CRYING that
Mordecai, the Jew, would not yield to him
the obeisance he demanded. M0rdecai was
commanded to honor the naughty premier
according to the manner in which he desired
to be honored, but Mordecai as obstinately
refused. Haman then decided that the most
feasible plan of Kidding himself of Mordecai
was to slay on one given day all the Hebrews
residing in the provinces ruled by Artazer-
xes, and which then embraced two hundred
and seventy provinces. He communicated
his project to the King, who, after consider
| ing the matter, thought the idea a brilliant
one. Lots were drawn for the day on which
Mordecai and the other Hebrews in the king
dom were to be murdered, and the four
| teenth of Adar was decided as the day, and
an order to that effect promulgated. Nor
| decai, however, heard of Haman's Intentions
and the Kings PRONUNCIATION, and clothed
in the garb of distress appeared in front of
the palace from day to day, for the purpose
of gaining an interview with his niece,
Esther. He gained all audience at last, and
asked her to intercede before the King for
her people. She consented, and unfolded
Haman's plans to Ahasuerus, confessed her
creed, and entreated that her people be-
| spared. 1t SO ha opened that on the subse.
quent Light Artaxerxes, after writing num-
erous letters to his subordinates, became
sleep!ess, and had read to him certain mat
tiers that had happened during his reign
It was then discovered that Mordecai haG
saved the Kings life on one occasion with
out receiving any reward. On the follow.
ing day Ahasuerus not only granted Els
theirs prayer, but decided to make Morde-
cal his Prime Minister and to hang Hamar
on the scaffold which he had erected fol
Mordecai and his son. ArtaxerNes revoke
his first order, and the Hebrews were provi
dentially saved from utter destruction
There was then Joy and gladness in III
places in which Hebrews resided, and an
nually ever after the festival has been ant
is observed in commemoration OF that even
by their defendants.
The observance of this event is hailed b.
the Israelites as season Of pleasur
and in accordance with this time-hon
ored custom, the Hebrew citizens of on
city gave the children of their sabbat
school joyous festival at the Rooms Of tn
''Home Circle,'' Tuesday night. Many {
the little ones appeared in fancy costume
and masks, whilst some few of their senior
were similarly arrayed. Plays and marcht
by the children, and dancing by the grow
people occupied the time until about t.
o'clock, when elegant refreshments wei
served, after which the merriment was n
sumed, and kept up until late hour. Oh
middle-aged and young, were equal partic
pants of the pleasure, and seemed to meet
common ground, where the distinction
, years was thrown aside and universal fe
lowship reigred.