The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-05-19

blem of she ari of healing. and If the di- vine physician ever appeared on earth m visible shape. snakes was the form which he might be expected to assume. .Aiexander's Macedonian purchase, which was of enormous size. was now about 10 be utilired. He had tanned and trained |, until II would coil about his body and remain in any position which he desired. He had made human face for II. out of linen: had painted the mask cleverly. and had made contrivance of horse hair. so that the mouth would open and shut. The creature had grown used 10 ,h.s mask. and wore il wi;hou, objection. The prophet now provided himself with a goose-egg. blew out the contents. and placed inside small snake. lust born. covered up the cracks in the shell with wax and white lead. and concealed the egg in a muddy pool in the foundations of the new temple. Mex, morning he rushed into the markel-plaoe. aimoS; naked. and in state of frenzy, girdle of golden tissue about his waist. his hair streaming, his eyes flashing, his mouth foaming. and the Persers falchion whirl- ing about his head. An excited crowd gathered around him. Blessed be this town he cried. and blessed be the dwellers in il. This aay the prophecy is fulfilled, anu God comes to take his place among us. Then he made an oration h an unknown tongue-some said in Hebrew. others in Ph,enician-the only dis,inguishable words being the names of Apollo and Esculapius; then set up the familiar psalm of the sun-god, and, followed by the crowd, singing the cho- rus. moved to the temple. where he of- fered prayer to .Esculapius, and. call ing for a bowl. scooped the egg out oi the mud. .Esculapius is here." he said. solemnly, as he broke the shell. aud the delirious crowd saw the tiny creature twisting about his fingers. He bore 1t back in his bosom to his dwelling, fol- lowed by the triumphant population. There was a judicious pause of few days. during which the news spread with electrical rapidity throughout the whole Black sea region, and multitudes fiocked to the birthplace of .Esculapius.
 Alexander was ready for their reoep- ton. He had erected booth with door at each end, railed passage leading 1 from one to the other Behind he rail- in-. in subdued light. he sal. the great serpen, wrea,hed ahou. his neck. ,hc coils gli;;erins amidst the folds of his dress, the tai playing on the ground. The head was concealed, but oecas,on- ally the plophe; iifei hls am. ard then appeared the awful face. the mouth nov ng and the iorked tongue daftns iu and as... Tie rapidity wl.h which sals ener- nous creature had grown up from the thy snake found n the ess. far from eN- citing any suspicion, was accepted as an additional proof of the m'raeie. kiak worshipcrs came with valuable gifts
 and those who gave most lberaliy were permitted 70 touch the creature. Images of the god were made m brass and silver, and circulated by thousands. All Asia Minor heard and reloioed over the good news that the gods still lived. and in the darkest hours of the old faith had wrough, this miracle to confute alike ,he christians and the philosophers. At length II was told that the deity had proclaimed itself Glycon, the swee, one. third in descent from Zeus. and the ligh, of the world; and the temple having been completed. with proper accommodation tor .fsculapius and his prophet-priest
 public announcement was made that the god for a 1t consideration. would answer any question which might be put 10 him. There was al first some doubt as to the tariff 10 be charged. Amphiloohus. who had emigra,ed from Thebes to Cilicia. and had been prophesying there for a thousand years, charged two obals-or six cents-for each oracle, bu, money had fallen in value and god could no, af- ford 10 make his direc; communications so the price was fixed at twenty-five cents
 Days and hours were set when inquirers would be received they were 70 send in their names beforehand and Io write their names on a paper or parchment, which they were at liberty to seal as they pleased Alter a day, or sometimes two days, the packets were restored with the answers attached. The seals were apparently un- broken, but the packages had been opened by passing heated knife blade under the wax or an impression in collyr- ium was taken and a new seal made
 Most of the inquirers asked about their health, and Alexander was doctor enough to be able in most cases to read in their faces what was wrong. He had a special panacea of his own--a harmless plaster of goats fat. The names of the inquirers being known, information was obtained from slaves or companions by the pump ing process resorted to by the wizard in |" Hudibras." Shrewd guesses were re- garded as miracles, and mistakes were forgotten In cases of difficulty, the prophet could give an opinion couched in magniloquent but ambiguous phrase ology. To lovers, to aspiring politicians, to expectant heirs, the reply was returned that the a,es were undecided and that
 everything depended upon faith in Esculapius and the intercessIons of his prophet.
 The business done was immense. Each question was separately paid for and many visitors asked ten or fifteen. An army of munihoensly paid disciples found occupation as servants, spies, man. ufacterers of oracles, keepers of seals or interpreters, for the gods answered the people in their own languages, to their overwhelming admiration Emissaries were sent throughout the