The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-06-02
Beiskaasar'e Feast.

fS::adise, lest become so snamored Off
thas shaL lose oil desire to reach the
heavenly" No marvel was 1t, that with
o deep Sigh he turned his back upon this
gem OF the East.
Babylon, one of the moot magnificent
cities that ever existed, Has tho capita,
OF fertile Chaldea. The alleged frat kim
Of the world, NitErod, Is supposed TO have
founded this city. It was bull. in au
exact square, each side being fifteen miles
long, consequently embraciGg au area OF
two haadred aud twenty.fives square milea
The modern world will never cease to
wonder at the vast proportions of that
gigantic wall which sncircled the city
Ihis structure was three hundred and
hits feet "a height aud eighty.seven Ii
thickneas-broad enough for six chariote
to drive abreast. y. 5,.',;s ~ ~
The iiidstriou5 Nebuchadnezzar made
thls city the most magnificent in ., the
world Ita.ianging gafdens constructed
under bis natchless hand have meyer
ceased TO be the wonder "a we'll as ahare
the. admiration Of mankind. Even the
artistic Greek reckoned them one OF the
"seven wonders Of the world."' In these
gardens the largest trees grew at an ele..
vation OF three hundred aud fifty feet.
The temple Of BeluB vas anrpassingly
magnificent. Tho craven images ard
vessels Were of massive gold. The tenn.
pie, probably built on the foundation
OF tho tower of Babe, tho most eIeva.
ted structure ever reared, being consider.
ably higher than the loftiest Egyp-
tiSn pyramid. Lavish us was the expen.
ditnre in erection and adornment Of the
tempie; i!satreasures besides amounted
TO more than $I00,000,000. ,as ri
Nebu6hadnezzar's palaces were not
surpassed by his neutrality-suspicious. works.
The old, one Was four miles in circumfer.
ence, the new, eight. A subterraneati
pasBage Beneath the channel of the river
afforded means Of secret Communication
between these. two mammoth buildings.
An endless variety of animals we're repre-
eented In life size, on the walls Of these
palaces, and at each entrances Wero mag
nifcent gates, made Of brass taken from
pillaged Jerusalem. = 2T' "a
But the time was approaching when
the "golden city" should be, "brought
low.p The mandate had gone forth from
the Most High that when Nebuchuezzar's
SONS son" should sit upon the throne
this proud, wicked city should fall. The
beginning :of ite decline dates from the
aBcenBion to the throne of the wicked and
inefficient Belshazzar. Cyrus the Great
besieged the city and during two years
constantly challenged Belshazznr to nae at
him In ON open combat. But the BABY.
lonians, who had been the of all
nations, now cowardIy shut themaeIyee
within their walls, The king having
collected a twenty yenrs supply Of provis.
ions and believing bis wall iimpregnabie
felt that annnes ne latter Cyrus wonld be
forced 70 raiao the siege. He therefore
In the pride, md arrogance of his heart
gave himself up with hi9 courtiers TO
every species Of ,revelry and voluptuoua-
ness for which this city was famed.
But there came night the record OF
which has come down through all the
ceutuFie5. u singular train OF circum.
Btan5zzss t~sszs coiispiEinE, 10 bring about
one of the moat tragicaf events known ia
the annals of history. The whole cits
was plunged ;nto festivities, and Joy and
mirth ruled this hour, for tho king would
do honor to O thousand of his lords.
The city presented o-Gsamatic
scene. AS the contending hosts of Cyrus
eDgirdled the city, O queenly moon ap.
peared to be presiding goddess why was
nhe, too, not In commotton7 But che
threw o soft, mellow glamour oyer che
peerless city, rendering it moro enchan.
ting, even, than by day. Lovely ripples
on the Euphrates danced and auiyered
Figures Enthusiastically arrayed now con.
cealed in shadows, again emerged into
light. Everywhere bright lights CLEANED
out ever the city, while the Kings palace
was all ablaze with my1iads of many col.
o!ealighta. Rnt for Il hqit 'erous sounds
Of merriment, 1t woulu lot have been
difficult 70 imagine this ecene in fairy
land, and that the distant strains ofmusic
floating out on the bosom of the night
were the beWitching notes Of syrens.
Tho interior of the palace Ves maze
of gorgeouBness. No description could
convey IN adequate idea Of it, for euoh
diaplays Of regal pnmp as were made by
the kings Of the East are unknown &c
modeEns. Belsbazzar, his wives. lord,
aud attendants we're all agiitter viii,
richest oriental gems. There the sump,
tuous banquet was spread. No Wand va,
wanting which might tempt the palate q
king. Again and again the ruby cur
was replaced. And ga If his own drink ins
vessels were not massive enough. th;
Ling ordered the sacred temple service
which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from
Jerusalem. TO be brought immediatelv r.
this banquet. Made all the more iovou
by quaffing wine from yessels .dadicstod
to the God of Heaven they praised thei
gods, the workmanship OF their owr
hands. All was merry ia midnight rev
el. But, behold tile 'kihgis sg6ant. hiI
eyes etare, bis whole frame tren,bles. a,
II sosv,a DAMN He'd ea;oaJ s,nor L;'