Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-09


of birds; and then with his fishing apparatus
he went down to the stream to bring up the
denizens of the deep, and plunged into the
forest aud found the rarest specimens of
flowers; and then he came back to his study
and wrote books about zoology, the science
OF animals; about ichthyology, the science
of fishes; about ornithology, the science of
birds; about botany, the science of plants.
Yet, Notwithstanding all his wisdom and
wealth, behold his wretchedness and let
him pass on. Did any other city ever be-
hold so wonderful a man? o Jerusalem,
Jerusaleml
But here passes through these streets, as
in imagination see him, quite as wonder
full and a far better man. David the con-
querer, the king, the poet. Can it be that
that l am in the very city where he lived
and reigned? David great for power, and
| great for grief. he was wrapped up in his
boy Absalom. He was q splendid boy,
judged by the rules of worldly criticism.
From the crown of his head to the sole of
his foot there was not a single blemish. The
Bible SAYS that he had such a luxuriant
| shock of hair that, when once a year it was
shorn, what was cut off weighed over three
| pounds. But, notwithstanding all his
| brilliancy of appearance, he was bad boy,
and broke his fathers heart.
He was plotting to get the throne of
Israel He had marshaled an army to over
throw his fathers government. The day of
battle had come. The conflict was begun.
| David, the father, sat between the gates of
the palace waiting for the tidings of the
conflict Oh, how rapidly his heart beat
with emotionl Two great questions were to
be decided: the safety of his boy, and the
continuance of the throne of Israel. After
awhile, servant, standing on the top of
the house, looks of, and he sees some one
running. He is coming with great speed,
! and the man on the top of the house an
nounees the coming of the messenger, and
| the father watches and waits, and as soon as
the messenger from the field of battle comes
within hailing distance the father cries out.
Is it question in regard to the establishment
| of his throne? Does he say: Have the
armies of Israel been victorious? Am l to
continue in my imperial authority? Have
1 overthrown nv enemies?" Oh, no. There
is one question that springs from his heart
to the lip, and springs from the lip into the
ear of the besweated and bedusted messen-
ger flying from the battle field-the ques-
ton: SIS the young man Absalom safe?"
| When it was told to David, the king, that,
though his armies had been victorious, his
son had been slain, the father turned his
back upon the congratulations of the nation,
and went up the stairs of his palace, his
heart breaking as he went, wringing his
hands sometimes, and then again pressing
them against his temples as though he would
press them in, crying: so, Absalomi my
soni my son! Would God had died for
for thee, o, Absaloml my son! my .son!''
Stupendous grief of David resounding
through all succeeding ages. This was the
city that heard the woe. o, Jerusaleml
Jerusaleml
THE CITY OF HIS GREAT WORKS.
am also thrilled and overpowered with
the remembrance that yonder, where now
stands a Mohammedan mosque, stood the
temple, the very one that Christ visited.
Solomon's temple had stood there, but
Nebuchadnezzaf thundered it down. Zerub-
babel's temple had stood there, but that had
been prostrated. Then Herod built tenn
pie because he was fond of great architec-
ture, and he wanted the preceding temples
to seem insignificant. Put eight or ten mod
ern cathedrels together, and they would not
equal that structure. 1t covered 19 acres.
There were marble pillars supporting roofs
of cedar, and silver tables on which stood
golden cups, and there were carvings exquis-
ite and inscriptions resplendent, glittering
balustrades and OrDamented gateways. The
building of this temple kept 10000 work
men busy 46 years. Stupendous pile of
pomp and magnifeencel But the material
and architectural grandeur of the building
we're very tame compare with the spiritual
meaning of its altars and holy of holies,
and the overwhelming significance of its
| ceremonies. o Jerusalem, Jerusalem.
But standing in this old city all other
facts are eclipsed when we think that near
here our blessed Lord was born, that up and
down the streets of this city He walked, and
that in the outskirts of it He died. Here
was HIS only day of triumph and His as
sassination. One day this old Jerusalem is
at the tiptop of excitement. Christ has been
doing some remarkable works and asserting
very high authority. The police court has
issued papers for His arrest. for this thing
must be stopped, as the very Government is
imperiled. News comes that last night this
stranger arrived at a suburban village and
that He is stopping at the house of man
whom He had resuscitated after four days
sepulture.
THEIR CONFLICTING EMOTIONS.
Well, the people rush out into the streets,
some with the idea of helping in the arrest
of this stranger when He arrives, and others
expecting that on the morrow He will come
into the town and by some supernatural force
oust the municipal and royal authorities
and take everything in His own hands.
They pour out Of the city gates until the
procession reaches to the village. They
come all around about the house where the
stranger is stopping, and peer into the doors
and windows that they may get one glimpse
of Him or hear the hum Of His voice. The
police dare not make the arrest, because He
has somehow won the affections of all the
people. Oh, it is lively night in yonder
Bethany! The heretofore quiet village is
filled with uproar and outcry and loud dis
cussion about the strange acting country
man. do not think there was any sleep in
that house that night where the stranger
was stopping. Although He came in weary
he finds no rest, though once in His lifetime
he had pillow. But the morning dawns,
the olive gardens wave in the light, and all
along yonder road, reaching over the top of
Olivet toward this city, there is a vast sway
ing crowd of wondering people. The ex-
citement around the door of the cottage is
wild as the stranger steps out beside an un-
broken colt that had never been mounted,
and after His friends had streWn their gar
ments on the beast for a saddle the Savior
mounts it, and the populaee, excited and
shouting and feVerish, push on back toward
this city of Jerusalem. Let none jeer now
or scoff at this rider, or the populace will
trample Him under foot in an instance.
There is one long shout of two miles, and as
far as the eye can reach you see wavings of
demonstrations and approval.
HIS MARVELLOUS MAGNETISM.
There was something in the riders visage,
something in His majestic brow, something
in His prineely behavior, that stirs up the
enthusiasm of the people, They run up
against the beast and try to pull the rider
off into their arms and carry on their
shoulders the illustrious stranger. The
populace are SO exelted that they hardly
know what to do with themselves, and some