Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-03-14

The merriest festival Of the Jewish
year Purim is celebrated to-day. 1t
is founded upon an incident important
to the Hebrews, III the fact that Esther,
the beautiful queen, frustrated the
evil designs Of Haman, the ancient
Persian kings premier and favorite, to
destroy all Of the Jews. The festival
is to commemorate their glorious de-
.liverance from Humans wrath. The
event occurred in Shushan, the capital
Of Persia, some two thousand years
ago, when AhaSueraS reigned, and at
that point two days are occupied by
the Jews in celebrating the freeing of
their fellow. believers from the dire
persecution Of their murderous enemy,
and which 50 threatened their exist
ence.
The observance is on the first day
Of the twelfth month, Adar in He
brew chronology, and it is celebrated
as a day of increased JOY, when in the
olden time messengers were dispatched
throughout the country to proclaim
the festival, to clear the fields from
weeds, to repair the roads, that pill
grimS to Jerusalem might have an un-
obstructed path, and to collect the
temple tax.
A tradition prevails among believers
that whatever fate may be in store for
sacred writings the P~entateuch and
the book of Esther are to be preserved
by special providence. The latter was
originally written upon parchment,
under rules prescribing that if a sin
gle error we're committed the work
was to be rejected. The fact that the
name of God does not occur in the
text was at first an objection, but the
book has since become as highly es-
teemed as the law Of Moses. By the
Jews the work is naturally held in
high esteem, ~narrating as it does the
elevation of a Hebrew captive to the
throne of Persia, and the prsvidential
interposition Of a queen as virtuous as
she was beautiful, who had been select
ed from all the virgins in the realm
as the kings wife. In the eminent
place she in no way altered her attach
ment to her aged tutor and uncle,
Mordecai, nor her devotion to her
people, and she took the risk of pre-
venting the destruction OF her race
by appearing before the king unan-
nounced. an ofense punishable by
death. 1t is, therefore, quite natural
that so glorious an episode should be
properly celebrated.
The verse Of Racine, the French
poet has immortalized the event. The
chief ceremonies observed in its cele-
bration are, the reading of the
book of Esther in the syna-
gogues, from beginning to end,
in any tongue understood by
the congregation. At the men
ton Of the name MOrdecai the
entire congregation exclaims: BLESS
ed be Mordecai," and when the arch
rascal Haman is mentioned, they say:
MAY his name perish" These i'm
pressive services are interspersed with
choral exercises of an extra character.
After the church ceremonies close,
the time is spent in festivity, in giving
presents and aims, Gentiles not being
excluded.
Purim is the last festival of the
Jewish ecclesiastical year, and is next
succeeded by the Passover ofthe feast
of the unIeavened bread in commence
ration of the greatest event in the his
tory of those who observe it, and cor
responding very nearly to that of the
Christian festival of Easter.
AT the Hebrew synagogue, corner Of
Main and Exchange, this evening the
musical programme will be unusually
brilliant, and the services solemn, en-
tertaining and instructive.
Sugar-cured Pig Tongues.
CACEY & Co. At