Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-02-06

After the sight OF Babylon had been So
lected two million OF men were employed
for the construction Of the wall and priuci-
pal works. The walls OF the city were sixty
miles in circumference. They were sur
rounded by trench, out OF which had been
dug the material for the construction OF the
city There were twenty-five gates Of solid
brass on each side Of the square city. Be-
tween every two gates a great tower sprang
up into the heavens. From each OF the TWEEN
ty-five gates on either side a street ran
straight through TO the gate on the other side,
so that there were fifty streets, each fifteen
miles long, which gave to the city an APP
pearance OF wonderful regularity.
The houses did not Join each other on the
ground, and between them were gardens and
shruLbery. From housetop u housetop
bridges swung, over which the inhabitants
were accustomed to pass A branch Of the
Euphrates went through the city, over which
n bridge of marvellous structure was thrown,
and under which tunnel ran. To keep the
river from overlooking the city in time Of
freshet, great lake was arranged TO catch
the surplus in which the water was kept as
in a reservoir until times of drought, when
Il was sent streaming down over the thirsty
land A palace stood at each end of the
Euphrates bridge; one palace mile aud
three-Quarters in compass and the other
palace seven and half miles in circumfer-
ence The wife of Nebuchadnezzar, having
been brought up among the mountains Of
Media, could not stand 1t i'll this fiat country
of Babylon, and SO to please her Nebuchad-
nezzar had a mountain four hundred feet
high built in the midst Of the city.
This mountain was surrounded by ter
races, for the support Of which great arches
were lifted. On the top of these arches fiat
stones were laid; then a layer of reeds and
bitumen; then two rows of bricks closely
cemented; then thick sheets OF lead, upon
which the soil was placed. The earth here
deposited was 80 deep that the largest trees
had room to anchor their roots. Al! the
glory of the howery tropics was spread out
at that tremendous height until 1t must have
seemed to one below as though the clouds
were all in blossom, and the very sky leaned
on the shoulder of the cedar. At the top an
engine was constructed which drew the water
from the Euphrates, far below, and made it
spout up amid this garden OF the skies. All
this to please his wife! think she must have
been pleased.
In the midst Of this city stood also the
temple Of Beus. One OF its towers was one
eighth of a mile high and on the top of it an
observatory, which gave the astronomers
great advantage, as, being at so great
height, one could easily talk with the stars
This temple was full of cups and statues aud
censers, all of gold. One Image weighed a
Thousand Babylonish talents which would
be equal to flfty-two million dollars. All this
by day; but now night was about TO come
down on Babylon. The shadows of her two
hundred and fifty towers began to lengthen.
The Euphrates rolled on, touched by the
fiery splendors of the setting sun, and gates
Of brass FURNISHED and glittering opened
and shut like doors OF flame. The hanging
gardens Of Babylon, wet with the heavy
dew, began to pour from starlit flowers and
dripping leaf fragrance for many miles
around. The streets and squares were
lighted for dance and frolic and promenade.
The theatres and galleries Of art invited the
wealth and pomp and grandeur of the city to
rare entertainments Scenes OF riot and
wassail were mingled in every street; goddess
mirth, and outrages excess, and splendid
wickedness came to the kings palace to do
their mightiest deeds Of darkness.
royal feast tonight at the kings palace
Rushing up to the gates are chariots, up
holstered with precious cloths from Dedan
and drawn by fire eyed horses from Togar-
nah, that rear and neigh in the grasp Of the
charioteers, while a thousand lords dismount,
and women dressed in all the splendors of
Syrian emerald, ami the color blending of
agate and the chasteness Of coral and the
somber glory of Syrian purple, and the
princely embroideries brought from afar by
camels across the desert and by ships from
Tarshish across the sea.
Open wide the gates and let the guests come
ill., The chamberlains and cup bearers are
all ready. Hark to the rustic of the robes
and to the carol Of the music! See the blaze
of the jewels Lift the banners. Fill the
cups Clap the cymbals. Blow the trumpets
Let the night go by with song and dance and
ovation; and let the Babylonish tongue be
palsied that will not say, "Oh, King Bel
Shazsar live foreverr'
All my friends, 1t was not any common
banquet to which these great people came.
All parts of the earth had sent their richest
viands to that table. Brackets aud chande
Tiers flashed their light upon tankards OF
FURNISHED gold. Fruits rips aud luscious, in
baskets of silver, entwined with leaves,
plucked from royal Conservatives. Vases
inlaid with emerald and rdged with exuuis
ite traceries, filled with nuts that were
thrashed from forests of distant lands
WINE brought from the royal watts, foamng
in the decanters and bubbling in the chal
ices Tufts of cassia and frankincense
waiting their sweetness from wall and Ia bic
Gorgeous banners unfolding in the breeze
that came through the opened window, be
witched with the perfume of hanging gar
dens. Fountains rising up from Enclosure:
OF ivory in jets of crystal, to fall in clatter-
ing rain OF diamonds and pearls. Statues Of
mighty men looking down from inches in the
wall upon crowns and shields brought from
subdued empires. Idols of wonderful work
standing on pedestals of precious stones
Embroideries dropping about the window.
and wrapping pillars Of cedar, and drifting
on floor inlaid with ivory and agate Music
mingling the thrum of harps and the CLASH
of cymbals, and the blast OF trumpets in one
wave Of transport that went ripping along
the wall, and breathing among the garlands
and pouring down the corridors, and thrill
ing the souls of a thousand banqueters.
The signal is given, and the lords and
ladies, the mighty men and women of the
land, come around the table. Pour out the
wine. Let foam and bubble kiss the rim
Hoist every one his cup, and drink to the
sentiment: "Oh, King Belshazzar, live for
ever" BestaiTed headband and carcanet OF
royal beauty CLEAN to tho upifted chaliceS,
as again and again and again they are emp
tied Away with care from the palace Tear
royal dignity to tatters Pour out more wine
Give us more light wilder music, sweetel
perfume. Lord shouts to lord, captain ogles
TO captain. Goblets clash, decanters rattle
There comes in the vile song, and the drunken
hiccough, and the slavering lip and the guf.
faw of idiotic laughter, bursting from the
lips of princes, flushed, Keeling, bloodshot
while mingling with il all | hear: "Huzza
huzza for great Belshazzarw
what is that on the plastering OF the WALTZ
Is it spirit? Is 1t phantomf Is it Gody
Out of the black sleeve of the darkness a
finger OF fiery terror trenbles through the
air and comes to the wall, circling about
as though it wculd write and then, with
sharp tip OF fame, 1ngraves on the plastering
the doom OF the king. The music stops. The
goblet falls from the ncrveless grasp. There
Is thrill. There is start There is a
thousand voiced shres of horror. Let Daniel
be broughtin TO read that writing He comes
in, He reads 1t, "Wcighod in the balance
and found wanting"
Meanwhile tho Assyrians, who for two
years had been laying siege to that city,
took advantage OF that carousal and came
in. hear the feet of the conquerors on
the palace stairs. Massacre rushed in with
thousand cleaning knives, Death bursts
Ihn IL -. a IL =.