Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-02-12
BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST.
DE. TALMAGE breaches ABOUT
BABYLON AND ITS SIN.
A Brilliant Description Of the Glory
or the Ancient City and the Revcls
Held Therein. - Lessons Deduced
FOR the Usc OF Everyday People.

or the Ancient City and the Revcls
Held Therein. - Lessons Deduced
forth Uso OF Everyday People.
BROOKLYN, Jan. 25. - DIR. Talmago |
preached tho following sermon this MORN
ing in the Academy Of Music in this city. |
and he repeated it tonight in the New
York Academy OF Music. His text was
Daniel $3.50: ''In that night was
Belshazzar, the king Of the Chaldeans
slain"
After the site OF Babylon had been
selected, two million of men were employed
for the construction of the wall and princi-
pal works. The walls OF the city were
sixty miles in circumference. They wcrd
surrounded by u trench, out of which had
been dug the material for the construction
Of the city. There We're twenty five gates
of solid brass on each side of the square
city. Between every two gates great
watch tower sprang up into tho
heavens. From each Of the twenty-five
gates, on either side, II 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
appearance Of wonderful regularity. Tho
houses did not Join caCh Other on the
ground, and between them were gardens
and shrubbery. From house-top to house,
top bridges swung, over which tho inhab-
itants were accustomed to pass. a branch
of the Euphratcs went through the city,
over which II bridge Of marvellous structure
was thrown, and under which a tunnel
ran. To keep the river from overlooking
the city in times of frcshet, a great lake
was arranged to catch the surplus, in
which the water was kept as in a reservoir
until times of drought, when it was sent
| streaming down over the thirsty land. A
| palace stood ut each end Of the Euphrates
| bridge; one palace, mile and three
| quarters in compass, and the other palace
seven and half miles in circumference.
| The wife of Nebuchadnezzar, having
been brought up among the mountains Of
Of Media, could not stand it in this fiat
country Of Babylon and SO, to please her,
Nebuchadnezzar had mountain. four
hundred feet high, built in the midst Of
the city. This mountain was surrounded
by terraces, for the support of which great
arches were lifted. On top Of these arches
fat 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 so deep that the largest
trees had room to anchor their roots. All
the glory of the fowery 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 tho top an engine was constructed,
which drew water from the Euphrates,
far below, and made it spout up amid this
garden of the skies. All this to please his
wife! l think she must have beer
pleased.
In the midst Of this city stood also The
temple of Belus. One of its towers wa.
one-eighth Of mile high and on the tot
Of it an observatory which gave the as
: tronomers great advantage, as. being at 81
great o height, one could easily talk will
the stars. This temple was full of cups
and statues, and ccnscrs, all Of gold. ON
image weighed a thousand Babylonish tai
cnts, which would be equal to fifty-tw,
, million dollars. All this by day, but nov
night was about to come own on Babylon
The shadows of her two hundred and fift
towers began to lengthen. The Euphrate
rolled on, touched by the fiery spendors Q
o the setting sun, and gates of brass, bur
, nishcd and glttering, opened and shut lik
;, doors of fame. The hanging gardens G
Babylon, wet with the heavy dew, bega
o to pour, from starit flowers and drippin
Q leaf, q fragrance for many miles around
4 The streets and squares were lighted 70
dance, and frolic, and promenade. Th
: theatres and galleries of art invited tn
u wealth, and pomp, and grandeur Of tn
+ city to rare entertainments. Scenes {
y. riot and wassail were mingled in ever
street; goddess mirth. and outrageous OF
% cess, and splendid wickedness came to tn
Q kings palace, to do their mightiest decd
7 OF darkness.
A royal feast tonight ut the kings palac
Rushing up to the gates are chariots. VI
holstered with precious cloths from Deda
and drawn by fre-eyed horses from T
~ garmah, that rear and neigh In the gra.
Of the charioteers; while thousand lorv
~ dismount, and women dressed in all Il
IS splendors of Syrian emerald, and the colo
"a blending of agate and tho chasteness
!; coral, and the somber glory OF Tyrian pu
- pie, and princely embroideries, broug
az from afar by camels across the desert, al
n. by ships of Tarshlsh across the sea-
III Open wide the gates and let the CUES
~ come in. The chamberlains and p-bea
y ers are all ready. Hark to the rustic
In the robes, and TO the carol Of the mus
1t Sec the blaze Of the jewels! Lift the ba
n ners. Fill the cups. Clap the symba
ma Blow the trumpets. Let the night so
with song and dance and ovation, and
Oh that Babylonish tongue be palsied that "
to not say, 20. King Belshazzar, live #
to cverw Away with care from the pala
20 Tear royal dignity to tatters! Pour {
:, more vino! Give US more light, wild
~ music, sweeter perfume! Lord shouts
he lord, captain ogles to captain. Gobl
or clash, decantcrs rattle. There come in I
t,e vile song and the drunken hiccough. a
-, the slavering lip, and the guffaw of idio
% laughter, bursting from the lips Of prime
ne flushed, reeling, bloodshot; while mingl
t.. with it all / hear, "Huzza! huzza!
of great Belshazzar!"
IN What is that on the plastering Of
''a wall? Is it spirit? Is it phantom?
XII It God? Out of the black sleeve Of
re- darkness finger of fiery terror trent
he through the dir and comes to the w
ho circling about as though it would VIZ
and then, with sharp tip Of fame,
me %ho v,1o N doom of