Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-26
EphesUs.
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avg pro1ress I

Our party OF tourists rode into Ephesus
through the old gateway into a sort OF street
where our further passage was almost blocked
by fallen columns and fragments OF stone work.
which numbered the ground In every direction
This passage seems to have been one long col
onnade. The whole hillside is covered with a
confused mass OF ruins. where we could distin-
gulSn nothing with certainty; but our guide
pointed out theaters, fountains, aqueductS, tenn
pies. baths, palaces, everything just as we have
read OF in the most ancient histories detailing
the magnlhcence OF this once famous CITY.
The Austrian Consul had handed me small
testament. with several passages marked, which
he told me to read While at the ruins, and as
opened the pages think the truth of the Bible
never came so near to me as 1t did then /
seemed to realize for the first time that
there had been an Ephesus; that st. Paul had
preached there, and that here upon the over
thrown Idols was reared almost the first struc-
ture OF true religion; that 1t was here the multi
tude Knocked the Apostle, and shouted, Great
dropped from Jupiter
Ancient historians say that the Temple OF
Diana at Ephesus was 425 feet long and 900
wide, and that l27 columns, eacn a present from
king, supported the roof. Each column was
carved from single block of marble 60 feet
high. The interior was also said to be OF mar
Vellons richness, and that the ornaments of gold,
ivory and silver were OF the most exquisite
workmanship and finish. One can readily be-
neVe that, On looking even at the Wondering
stones That lie in confused heaps over such
vast extent of ground 1t took 22O years to
build this temple, and it was embellished with
works OF art by sculptors who hoped TO perpet-
uate their names The Emperor Constantine
took from this temple those columns that
Sophia, In ConStant1nople; and 1t seems that
every body who wanted a choice bit OF art came
and helped himself. The Romans appropriated
some, and the Turks and Saracens aided In the
work OF desolafiOn. In the reign OF Tiberus
EpheSus suffered by terrible earthquake. but
II remained city OF much importance for one or
two centuries after the Introduction of Christi
nrpaPhpd N no
Fer when the frauds OF the Oracles and all the
ccmpllcated machinery OF priesthood were laid
care, the deVotees transferred their devotion to
something else, and the Temple OF Diana fell
Now 1t lies in scattered fragments along the
slice OF the hill, and the marble that once echoed
the footsteps Of the vestalS OF old, and over
whose polished surface kings have trembingly
walked, lies covered with rank weeds, and the
silent Chambers reSound only with the CRY of
the Jackals and the hiss OF serpents.
sat On a fragment of fallen column and
iell 10 moralizing over the mutability Of human
thlDgS reading sermons In stones and all that
but gave 1t up with sigh for my own incompe.
tency, and another for the past glory that we
we might If we really could have seen 1t ali.
We look through telescope misty with the ac.
cumulated dust OF ages and we may possibly
rounding each object be little too vivid for
reality. but II so, it Is pleasing belief and we
]oyfully Imagine impOsSibly magnlflcence And
SO with these Wondering stones; with their
l0,
so beautiful, that the like never could have been
and when our Imaginary structure has been
raised, we Imagine it was Just so that the Tenn
pie of Diana looked In the old days.
Let any one read OF the decorations OF the tenn
pies as tradition and history have brought them
down. and they seem on a scale of marvellous
richness; and so they were, doubtless for those
days, but l am free to confess that prefer our
own more matter-of-fact times and things A
description OF the rich jewels and broad breast
plates OF gold studded With gems etc. sounds
very grand. but when you have seen those very
things dug out OF kingly tombs, and see ham
mered gold that looks like an old battered bras,
seem nothing but pebbles from brook you
think less of the description. And when the
leWelied gtrdles and the royal crowns are also of
DraSsy-looking. beaten gold. barbarouS In form
anu characterization, you lose another hallucina
ZION. we see all these things through the glim-
Iner OF age and romance and poetry, and we
Deautffy them accordingly; bat when we turn
about and think how we would like that sort
OF magnifcence, very few OF us would wish IL.
One 0roWnStOne modern mansion would suit
the majority OF the great world very much bet
Ter than the scantily furnished stone palaces of
the time when Diana was the goddess OF the
great temple, and necklace of diamonds from
Ilnany weigh heavier with matrOn than Cor
nelia's Jewels of price. And / think too, that
we would hate very much to give up our Diana
OF the present day, that beautiful centipadaI
affair, for the rougher, ruder amuSements that
TOOK place In the theater whose ruins are now so
interesting; and though the Temple of Diana
was great and the goddess powerful we would
rather SIT In cushioned seats and hear our oracles
nineteenth century is a great thing, and it Is a
great thing, also. to live In n. / thought as
sat among the ruins OF past ages thai I Was
rather glad lived nowadays.