Sharp County record., 1890-01-02

A<cesSion OF Kings, conquerorS, poetS'
and immortal men and women pass be-
fore me as l stand here. Among the
throng are Solomon, David and
Christ Yes, through these streets
and amid these surroundings rode
Solomon, that wonder of splendor
and wretche lness. 1t seemed as II
the world exhausted itself on that man.
1t wove it's brightest flowers into his
garlands. 1t set its richest gems in his
coronet. 1t pressed the rarest wine to
his lips. 1t robed him in the purest
purple and embroidery. 1t cheered him
with the sweetest music in the land OF
harps. 1t greeted him with the gladdest
laughter that ever leaped from mirths
lip. 1t sprinkled his cheek with spray
from the brightest fountains. Royalty
had no dominion, wealth no luxury, gold
no glitter, flowers no sweetness, song no
melody, light no radiance, upholstery
no gorgeousness, waters no CLEAN, birds
no plumage, prancing cOursers no met
tie, architecture no grandeur but it was
all his. Across the thick grass OF the
lawn, fragrant with tufts of campfire
from, Engedi, fell the long shadows OF
trees brought from distant forests.
Fish-pools, fed by artificial channels
that brought the streams from hills far
away, were perpetually ruffled with inns,
and golden scales shot from water cave
to water cave with endless dive and
swirl, attracting the gaze of foreign po-
tentates. Birds that had been brought
from foreign aviaries glanced and
futtered among the foliage and called
to their mates far beyond the sea-
From the royal stables there came up
the neighing of twelve thousand horses,
standing in blankets of Tyrian purple,
chewing their bits over troughs of gold,
waiting for the Kings order to be
brought in front of the palace, when the
official dignitarlos would leap into the
saddle for some grand parade, or har-
messed to some OF the fourteen hundred
oh ih'e*ots CT the King }hs- feFs ehaagers'
with Haunting name Ind throbbing nos
tril would make the earth jar with the
tremp OF hoofs and the thunder of
wheels While within and without the
palace yo; could not think Of a single
luxury that could be added, or of a sim
gle splendor that could be kindled,
down on the banks of the sea the dry
docks Of Ezion-geber rang with the ham
mers of the shipwrights who were con-
structing larger vessels for still wider
commerce, for all lands and climes were
10 be robbed to make up Solomon's glory.
No rest till his keels shall cut every sea,
his axemen every forest, his archers
strike every rare wing, his fishermen
whip every stream, his merchants trade
in every bazar his name be honored by
every tribe; and royalty shall have no
dominion, wealth no luxury, light no
radiance, water no CLEAN, birds no
plumage, prancing coursers no mettle,
upholstery no gorgeousness, architecture
no grandeur but it was all his.
"Well," you say, 'if there is any man
happy he ought to be-" But l hear him
coming out through the palace and see
his robes actually incrusted with jewels
as he stands in the font and looks out
upon the vast domain. What does he
say? King Solomon, great is your do
minion, great is your honor, great is
your Joy No. While standing here
amidst all the splendor the tears start,
and his heart breaks, and he ex-
claims: "Vanity of vanities; all
is vanity" What! Solomon not
happy YETI. No, not happy. The
honors and the emoluments of this
world bring'so many cares with them
that they bring also torture and dis
uuietude. Pharaoh sits on one of the
earthly eminences, yet he is miserable
because there are some people in his
realm that do not want any longer to
make bricks. The head of Edward |.
aches under his crown because the
people will not pay the taxes, and
Mewellyn, Prince of Wales, will
not do him homage, and Wal
lace will be hero. Frederick
William I'LL, of Prussia, is miserable
because France wants to take the Prus-
sian provinces. The world is not large
enough for Louis XIV. and William Ill.
The ghastliest suffering, the most
shriveling fear, the most rending
jealousies, the most gigantic Dispute
tude, have walked amidst obsequious
courtiers, and been clothed in royal ap-
parel, and sat on judgment seats of
power.
Honor and truth and justice can not
go so high up in authority as to be be-
yond the range of human assault. The
pure and the good in all ages have been
execrated by the mob who cry out: ''Not
this man, but Barabbas.' Now, Bar
abbas was robber. BY honesty, by
Christian principle, | would have you
seek for the favor and the con-
fidence of your fellow men; do
not look upon some high position
as though that were always sunshine.
The mountains of earthly honor are
like the mountains of Switzerland, COW
cred with perpetual ice and snow. Hav-
ing obtained the confidence and love of