The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-02-05
ABOUT BABYLON.
Vivid Description by DR.. Talmage Of
the Ancient City on the
Euphrates.
In Which He ,Embodies a Wholesome
Lesson for the Young Men
H. Of To-day. ~ s..

BROOKLYN, Special-Dr. Talmage
took for his text Daniel ", 80: Gin
that night was Belshazzar, the king of
the Chaldeans slain"
After the site of Babylon had been
selected, 100000 men We're employed
for the construction OF the wall and
principal works. The walls of the CITY
were 6Omiles in circumference. They
were surrounded by trench, out of
which had been dug the material for
the construction of the city. There
were 25 gates Of solid brass on each
side OF the square city. Between every
two gates great watchtower sprang
up into the heavens. From each OF
the 25 gates, on either side, a. street
ran straight through to the gate on
the other side, so that there
were SO streets, each Is miles
long, which gave the city the ap-
pearance ofwonderfulregularity. The
houses did not join each other on the
ground, and between them were gar
dens and shrubbery. From housetop
to housetop bridges swung, over which
the inhabitants were accustomed to
pass. A branch OF the Euphrates
went through the city, over which
bridge of marvellous structure was
thrown, and under which a. tunnel
ran. 10 keep the river from over
flowing the city in times of freshet, a
great lake was arranged to catch the
surplus, in which the water was kept
as in a reservoir until times of drouth,
when it was sent streaming down over
the the thirsty land. A palace stood
at each end of the Euphrates bridge;
one palace a mile and three-quarters
in compass, and the other palace sew
en- and a half miles in circum-
ference. The wife of Nebuchad-
nezzer, having been brought
up among the mountains of Media,
could not stand it in this flat country
OF Babylon, and so, to please her
Nebuchadnezzer had a mountain, 400
feet high, built in the midst of the city.
This mOuntain was surrounded bv
terraces, for the support of which
| great arches were lifted. On the TOP
OF these arches flat stones were laid;
then a layer of reeds and bitumen;
then two rows OF bricks, closely ce-
mented; then thick sheets of lead, up-
on which the soil was placed, The
earth here deposited was so deep that
the largest trees had room to- anchor
their roots, All the glory of the flow
cry tropics was spread out at that
tremendous height, until it 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 Belus. One GIFTS towers
was one-eighth of a mile high, and on
the top OF it an observatory, which
gave the astronomers great advan-
tage as being at so great height, one
could easily talk with thestars. This
temple was full of cups, and statues,
and censers, all of gold. One image
weighed 1000 Babylonish talents,
which would be equal to $50, 100000.
All this by day, but now night was
about to come down on Babylon. The
shadows of her $50 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 star
lit flowers and dripping leaf, a frag-
rance for many miles around. The
streets and squares were lighted for
dance; and frolic and promenade The
| theaters and galleries of art invited
the wealth, and pomp, and grandeur
OF the city to rare entertainments.
Scenes Of riot and wassail were min
gled In every street, goddess mirth, and
outrageous excess, and splendid wick
edness came to the kings palace, to
their mightiest deeds of darkness.
A royal feast tonight at the kings
palace! Rushing up to the gates are
chariots, upholstered with precious
cloths from Dedan, and drawn by fire
eyed horses from Togarmah, that rear
and neigh in the grasp of the chario-
teers; while a thousand lords dis
mount, and women, dressed in all the
splendors of Syrian emerald, and the
color-blending OF agate and the chast-
ness of coral, and the sombre glory of
Tyrian purple, and the princely en-
broideries, brought from affair by
camels across the desert, and by ships
of Tarshish across the sea.
Open wide the gates, and let the
guests come in. The chamberlains and
cup-bearers are all ready. Hank 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 symbals. Blow the
trumpets. Let the night 60 by with
song, and dance, and ovation; and let
that Babylonish tongue be palsied
that will not say, 80, King Belshaz-
Ear, live forever!''
All! my friends; it was not any com
mon banquet to which these great
people came. 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
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