The Brookhaven leader., 1886-08-19
TALNAGE'S SERMON.
a Rural Sermon on the Babylon
ian Midnight Revel
The Handwriting on the wsII Interpreted
Cnder Modern Ligh'-Death an In
truder at the Feast; Death
Also at Our Feasts.

Rev. T. De witt Talmags addressed an
immense thTcng on a recent Sabbath at
Mon ma, a rural suburb OF Madison, Wis,
taking for his subject the Babylonian
nj iuight reveL 1he text was:
In tat NIGHT was Belshazzrr the King OF
the Chaldeans slain Daniel v, 30
DR.. TaImsge said: Fsasting has BEEN
Euovn in all ages. It was one of the mos:
exciting times in Ergli>h history when
Queen EliTal eth visited Lord Leicester at
keniIworth Castle. The momert OF her
arrival was considered so importan. that
all the clocks OF the castle were stopped,
so that the hands nigh point to that one
moment as being the mos, sign floant of
al. She was gree ed at the gate with
floating islanls, AMI torches, and the
thunder Of cannon, an frew wJrks that set
the night ablaze. and a great burst Of
music that lii Ell the whole scene into per-
feet enchantmert. Then she was in'ro-
iuced into a dining-hau the luIu-ie' Of
which a~tonish=i the wnrll; four hun lred
servants waitjur uron the guests; the en-
tsytainmen' cost SjO0O each dav. Lord
Lei"es e. made that great supper in KEN
aworth Casle.
Car iiual Woisev enterta mel the F~ench
enha- sailors at Hampton Court. The est
cooks in sll he land prepare for the ham
q1et; pLryeyors went ont an Travelled all
the kingdom over t. fnl sr9ils for the
table. The time came. The auests were
kept during tie Jay hunting in n Kings
park so 'hat their apueti e might he keen;
aDi hen in the evening, TO the sound Of
tie truupatars. thev were Introduce into
"a hall hung VIII six and cloth OF gold,
AMI there we're Ia les a-lj.ter with i'm
pe-tal plate. AMI laden with the rar-st OF
meats and a lush with the cas Les wines;
ard when ne second course e the feas.
came it W fun thai the articles Of
oil 4 I.ecn fa ~hione1 into h shape Of
men, i~ds mi beasts. and groups dane
in p, and jausting parties riding against
each q. her with lances. Lords and princes
and emha ssaior-. u. Of GUS fi'la1 to the
lin, drank h health, frs of the Kin~ot
ENGLAND. aud next TO the K n of Frenr
Cardinal WolSev prepared that great
supper in Hampton Court.
Bu. my tax' takes Us to more exciting
banquet. Night VS. about 70 come down
ny n Tahvlon. The shadows of her .5f
towers legan 70 len the0. TIE Funhrates
ri q IN tou bed h7 thc ferry splendora Of
tic sat-ing sun. SD gates # frass, burn
ished and glit ering. opened and shut like
joors Of fame. The hanging gardens Of
Babylon. wet with heavy deF. began
10 rorr from starlit flowers and dripping
Leaf a fragrance for m nv miles around.
The streets end squares were lighted f"r
dance and fro'ic and promenade. The
theatcrs ard ra'lories Of srt invited the
wealth and pomp and grandeur Of the citv
to rare en'er' 5nmen's. Scenes Of riot
and wassail wee min lei in every street
and goddess mirth and OUTRAGEOUS excess
ari splendid wic'.e 'un-S cane 10 the
Kinr's palace 10 do their mightiest deeds
# darkness. roval fast to-night at
the Kings palace, Rushing uo to
the gates are chari5ts upholstered
with Tgaci7us cloths from Deoan and
drawn V fre-rved horses from Togarm h
that rear AMI neigh in the "rasp OF h p
cbari0teers; while tbeusand lords dis
mount, and women dres ed in all the
sprcndor Of Svrjan emerald and the color
blrndn- of acate. nn1 the ChaSfeness Of
coral. and the somher lorv of Tvrinn pur-
pie. and rrircelv emlroideries brought
from afar nv rnplS across the desert and
vilp the Gates nd lo' the nuoe's come in,
Tha chambrrlairs and the Cuo-l earerS are
all reodv. Hark 70 the rustic Of the silks
and 10 the carol Of the music! See the
tIaze Of the jewels! Lift the banners.
Fill the curs, Clap the cvmla ais! Flow
the trumpn.s! Let tha ni~ht ~ hv with
s-np an1 dance and ovation: aud let that
Babvlonieh ton~ua he pal siei that will
not say: "Oh, King Belshazzar, live for
ever"
All. nv friends! T. was not any COM
mon harqret to which these great people
Come All parts Of the earth had sent
their richest viands 20 that table. Rrack-
etS ard chandeliers fashed their il III nm
on tankards Of burn ished gold. Fruits,
rine and luscious, in baskets Of silver en-
:wined with leaves, plu"ked from rovsl
conservato,i les. Vases irlaid with empr-
aId and ridged With exquisite traceries,
filed with NUS that were thrcehed from
forests Of distant lands. Wine BROUGHT
from the rovnl vate, foamin~ in the decan-
tcrs and huhflin7 in the chalices. Tufts
Of cassia anl frankin"enee waiting their
sweetness from wall and table Gorgeous
banners uufoldinr in the hreeze that cana
with the perfume Of hanoing gardens.
Fountains rising up from Enclosures of
ivory in iate Of crystal, TO fall in clattar-
ing rain of diamonds and pearls. Stat
ues Of mi htv men looking down from
inches in the wall upon crowns and
shields lron"ht from the suhdued en-
piree. Idols of wonderful work standing
on pedestas Of precious stones. Embroid-
cries drOnping about the windows and
wrapping pillars Of cedar, and drifting on
door inlaid with ivory and agate. Music,
mingling the thrum Of harps, and the
closh Of cvmb9ls, an the blast of trum-
pets in one wave Of transpo t that went
ripplng along the wall and breaking
among the garlandi, and pouring down
the corrid ,rs and thrilling the souls of a
thousand banqueters. The signal is given,
and the lords and ladies, the mi"htv men
and women of the land, come around the
table. Pour out the wine! Let foam and
bub' le kiss tha rim! Hoist every one his
cup and drink to the sentiment: so, King
Belshazzar, live foraVer!" Bestarred
headband and carcanet of royal. beauty
CLEAN TO the uplifted chatices. as again
and again and again they are emp
tied. Away with care from
the palace. Tear royal dignity
to tatters. Pour ont more wine! Give US
more light, wilder music, sweeter per-
fume! Lord shouts to lord, captain ogles
to captain. Goblets clash, decanters rat
tie. There come in the obscene song and
the drunken hiecough. and the slavering lip
and the cuffaw of idiotic laughter, burst
ing from the lips of princes, fushef, reel
Il. Ill