The Russellville Democrat., 1890-01-16
SoLOMONs GREATNESS.
Sermon by Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage
 Delivered at Vienna.
The Trip Through the Holy Land and Thoughts Suggested Thereby - The Greatness of solomon and Its
 Far-Reaching Influence.

Far-Reaching Influence.
 The following discourse was deliv- cred by Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage in Vienna, where he spent Sabbath on his return trip from the Holy Land. His text was:
 Behold, the half was not told mel Kings, x.,I
 Appearing before you to-day, my mind yet agitated with the scenery of the Holy Land, from whence we have just arrived, you will expect me to revert to some of the scenes once enacted there. Mark circle around Lake Galilee, and another circle around Jerusalem, and you describe the two regions in which cluster memories of more events than in any other two circles Jerusalem was spell of fascination that will hold me the rest of my life. Solomon had re- solved that that city should be the cen- ter ot all sacred, regal and commercial magnifcence. He set himself to work, and monopolized the surrounding desert as a highway for his caravans. He built the city of Palmyra around one of the principal wells of the East, so that all the long trains of merchandise from the East were obliged to stop there, pay toll and leave part of their wealth in the hands of Solomon's merchants. He manned the Fortress Thapsacus, at the chief ford of the Euphrates, and put un- der guard every thing that passed there. The three great products of Palestine wine pressed from the richest clusters and celebrated all the world over; oil, which in that hot country is the entire substitute for butter and lard, and was pressed from the olive branches until every tree in the country became an oil well; and honey, which was the entire substitute for sugar-these three great products of the country Solomon export ed, and received in return fruits and precious woods and the animals of every cline.
 He went down to EZion-geber and ordered fleet of ships to be construct ed, oversaw the workmen, and watched the launching of the fiotilla which was to go out on more than years voyage, to bring home tho wealth of the then known world, He heard that the Egyp- tian horses were large and swift, and long-maned and round-imbed, and he resolved to purchase them, giving eighty-fve dollars apiece for them, put ting the best of these horses in his own stall and selling the surplus to foreign potentates at great profit.
 He heard that there was best of tim Der on Mount Lebanon, and he sent one hundred and eighty thousand men to hew down the forests and drag the tim Der through the mountain gorges, to construct it into rafts to be foated to Joppa, and thence to be drawn by OK teams twenty-five miles across the land to Jerusalem. He heard that there were beautiful flowers in other lands. He sent for them, planted them in his own gardens, and to this very day there are flowers found in the ruins of that city such as are to be found in no other part of Palestine, the lineal descendants Of the very flowers that Solomon planted. He heard that in foreign groves there were birds of richest voice and most luxuriant wing. He sent out people to catch them and bring them there, and he put them into his cages.
 Stand back now and see this long train of camels coming up to the King s gate, and the OK trains from Egypt gold and silver and precious stones, and beasts of every hoof, and birds of every wing, and fish of every scale! See the peacocks strut under the cedars, and the horsemen run, and the chariots wheel! Hark to the orchestral Gaze upon the dancel Not stopping to look into the wonders of the temple, step right on to the causeway, and pass up to Solomon's palace!
 Here we find ourselves amid col lection of buildings on which the King had lavished the wealth of many em- pires. The genius of Hiram, the archi- tect, and the other artists is here seen in the long line of corridors and the sus- pended gallery and approach to the throne. Traceried window opposite bursting into lotus and lily and pome- granate. Chapters surrounded by net work of leaves in which imitation fruit seemed suspended as in hanging baskets. Three branches-so Josephus tells us three branches sculptured on the mar ble, so thin and subtle that even the leaves seemed to quiver. layer capa- ble of holding five hundred barrels of water on six hundred brazen OK heads, which gushed with water and filled the whole place with coolness and crystal inc brightness and musical plash. Ten tables chased with chariot wheel and lion and cherubin. Solomon sat on a throne of ivory. At the seating place
 xt.. hrazen lion. Why, my, friends, in that place they trimmed their candles with snuffers of gold, and they cut their fruits with knives of gold, and they washed their faces in basins of gold, and they scooped out the ashes with shovels of gold, and they stirred the altar fires with tongs of gold Gold reflected in the waterl Gold flashing from the apparel Gold blazing in the crown! Gold, gold, goldl
 Of course the news of the affiuence of that place went out everywhere by every caravan and by wing of every ship, until soon the streets of Jerusalem are crowded with curiosity seekers. What is that long procession approach ing Jerusalem? l think from the pomp of it there must be royalty in the train. l smell the breath of the spices which are brought as presents, and hear the shout of the drivers, and see the dust covered caravan showing that they come from far away. Cry the news up to the palace. The Queen of Sheba advances. Let all the people come out to see. Let the mighty men of the land come out on the palace corridors. Let Solomon come down the stairs of the palace before the Queen has alighted. Shake out the ein- namon and the saffron, and the cala- mus, and the frankincense and pass it in to the treasure house, Take up the