The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-06-27
"The Mystic SEVEN"
CPuJHehed by request Of the Hickman Litcra-
~ C2u6.l
BY MISS DORA nELLyEE.

4
/ i'm mediately launch forth into the impor-
tance of the number. Square is said to
| be divided by trian giles and squares; the
combination Of these figures forming the
perfect seven.
We term seven an odd numberl being
incapable of division but by itself and
unity.
The oddity of its application has made
it to the ancients and moderns q signih-
cant and sacred figure. Although un-
wieldiy aud incenvenient to use. still the
number seven is EN- ployed in an arbitrary
manner with regard 70 division. The pO-
sition il occupies in astronomy and as
/ trology is the principle cause of its pref
/ erenoe to other numbers. For these sci
enccs were the chief studies Of me an
cionts; and we're the directors of their
| destinies.
The seven planets Mercury, Venus,
! Mars. Juipier, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
had influence upon thaseycn days of the
week. Each~day being GedIcated TO Z
respective planet, in which, all manner
! of feasts, ald religious ceremonies were
| conducted by those who believed them to
! be their guardian spirits. Thus the mum =
| Der seven was held in the highest respect
/ by the Hindoos and Persians. In fact, all
/ the ancient nations of the Orient, regarded
the number seven as the type of all holy
ness.
From Heaven we have its proclamation,
/ the Bible Is replete with sevenal distinc-
! lions. The Jews who were the chosen
/ people Of the Lord observed strictly the
/ sanctity Of the figure seven. The 9TH
! day Of the week, they consecratcd to Jeho-
/ yah in accordance with his command, that
/ il should be his day. day Of rest from
( the vast creation OF innumerable things
| from nothing, day Of praise for his stu
pendOus achievements.
Every seventh year, was the jewish sab
! bath year. Seven times seven years was
their jubilee-year. Their festivals were
arranged in the order Of seven. Many
/ of the utensils in the Temple were seven
/ in number for example the seven dishes
used in the sacrifices; and the seven
I lights burning in the candle arbrium On
| the altar. Also, seven lamps Illuminated
/ the Hebrew dwellings, on the Sabbath.
| Sacred history informs US, seven clean
! animals entered the Ark. After seven
/ days Noah sent forth the dove. Jacob
/ served seven years for the hand of Rachel,
/ and the same length of time for that of
| Leah Abraham cent seven lambs TO
/ Abrumelek in testimony Of oath. Pha-
/ raoh saw in dream, seven lean and sew
en- fat kline, seven full and seven empty
/ ears Of corn. Seven times Jacob bowed
| before Easaw, in mark Of respect. Seven
( pIlestS went Tounu inc Wills OF JeTlCot
/ blowing in the seven trumpets. Seven
/ months the Ark of the Covenant was de-
/ tailed in the land of the Philistines.
! Seven years David did reign in the
! land of Hebron; seven times day offer
/ ing praise 10 God.
! Cain shall be Tevenged seven times.
Not seven times shall thou forgive thy
! brother, but seven times seven.
/ The Apocalyps speaks Of seven church
! es; seven arch-angles; seEcn thunders;
seven stars; seven plaques in seven vials;
, n lamb with seven horns and seven eyes
! that shall break the seYen seals Of the
/ BOOK.
/ The freouent reeerrence Of the figure
/ seven in The Cae10lic church, has ever
/ been regssg, - as q mystery. Seven ss.-f
ra-,s14fT Ems a5S DSS"iesnfi-l psa1ITr -Irtues:
seven spiritual and corporal virtues. IN
olden times seven portals to the churches;
and seven Cardinals appointed.
Seven weeks after Easter (which feast
is observed seven days. the Christian
world celebrates. Witsuutide. or the de-
scent of the holy Ghost upon the apostles,
who received the seven spiritual gifts
The Lords prayer has seven requests,
ProGane history tells of the seven years
employed in building the temple of Jeru-
salem; Of tho seven kings of Rome,
seven gates TO the city of Thebcs. The
seven towers of the Turks. The seven
provinces of the Netherlands. The seven
years war.
Seven cities were rivals for the birth
place of Homer. The pyramids Of Egypt,
the hanging gardens CT Babylon, the stat
ue of Jupiter Olympus, the temple Of
Diana at Ephesus, Mausolem the Pharos
of Alexandria, the Colossus of Rhodes,
are enumerated as the seven wonders of
the world.
Thales, S5lon, Chilo, Pittacus, Bias,
Cleobulus, and Periander, were the seven
wise men of Greece. Seven wise sayings
inscribed on the 0racular fame at Delphi
are attributed 10 them.
Mythology too has a tendency TO honor
the number seven. In Greece seven was
sacred to Apollo. Sacrifices were offered
him seven days after each new moon.
Pan formed his musical Pandeen pipes as
syrinx of seven reeds, into which his lady
love had been metamorphosed.
Agamemon presented Achilles with
seven tripods, as mark of distinction
| An ancient Hindoo deity was surround
ed by seven rays Of the sun, driven in q
chariot drawn by seven green horses.
/ The ancient Persian believed in sew
I en- polar stars, where dwell their Gods;
! in seven planets the abode of the departed,
earth spirits. No doubt this NEUROLOGICAL
| Paradise, they designated to be the seven
| Pointers or Great Bear, which to US is
/ the true guide to our one polar star.
| A beautiful little legend is told Of the
early days of Christianity. Under the
prosecuting reign of Decius, seven Ro
man youths fed to the mountains for
refuge from the tyranny of the Emperor,
| who wished to compel them to worship
the heather Gods. In a cave in the
mountain they fell asleep-a sleep of 29t
years. When they awoke, one brother
went into the city to purchase food at the
market, every thing was new to him; and
he appeared most antiquated to the citi
zens. The coins he offered were of pas
centuries.
Theodosius, being informed of thi,
strange man, went with all the church
dignetaries to see the brothers in thu
cave. When It was made known to then
that they were living in q christian age
rejoicing locked in each others embrace
they sank TO sleep to wake no more OIL
earth. Such is the legend of the "seyeI
sleepers."
! Literature be it prose or poetry i
classed in seven distinct styles. In pros
we have the dry style, the elegant style
the fiorid style, the simple style, the 10
bored style, the concise style, and tn
, nervous style, In poetry, the hpicI tn'
Dramatic, the Lyric, the Elegiac, the Pas
toral, tho Didsctic, and the Satrica
verso.
From literature l would turn to science
The seven colors of the prism, red, orang
yellow, green, blue, indigo, and viole
are the rays of light that beautify ou
/ world.
What dark, gloomy abode, this woul
, be without color. When God called ligh
: into existence, He painted with one touc
His grand masterpiece.
\ The seven Ionian isles, arc bright wit
: sunny howers. The waters of the placi
n Ganges, mystic Nile and picturesqu
, Danube, flow to their seven mouths riI
pling through sunshine and shade.
Before leaving this slight touched upo
o geographical seven, l will mention th
d seven zones of the ancient Hindoo map
cl