The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-04

at night at the Christian Herald service in
the New York Academy of Music. His
text was Daniel V, 30: "In that night
was Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans,
slain"
After the site of Babylon had been
selected, 100000 of men were employed
for the construction of the wall and prin-
cipal works. The walls of the city were
sixty miles in circumference. They were
surrounded by a 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. Between every two gates a great
watch-tower sprang up into the heavens.
From each of the twenty-five gates, on
either side, 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 this
ground, and between them were gardens
and shrubbery. From hOuse-tOp to
house-top bridges swung over which the
inhabitants were accustomed TO pass. \
branch OF the Euphrates went through the
city, over which a bridge of marvellous
structure was thrown and under which
tunnel ran. To keep the river from over
flowing the city in times Of freshet, a
street lake was arranged to catch the sur
plus, in which the water was kept as in a
reservoir until times Of dTOuth, when it
was sent streaming down over the thirsty
land. 4 palace stood at each end Of the
Euphrates bridge; one palace q mile
and three-quarters in compass, and
the other palace seven and half
miles IN circumference. The vile OF
Nebuchadnezzar, having been brought up
among the mountains OF Media, could not
stand it in this fat country of Babylon,
and so. to please her, Nebuchadnezzar had
a mountain, 100 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 the
top OF these arches flat stones were laid
then a lsyer 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 depos-
tied was SO deep that the largest trees had
room u anchor their roots. All the glory
of the fOwery tropics was spread on. at
that tremendous height, until it must
have seemed to one below as though tie
clouds were all III 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 1t spout up amid this
garden OF the skies. Al this to please
his wife ] think she must have been
pleased.
In the midst of this city stood also the
Temple of Belus. One of its towers was
one-eighth OF a mile high, and on the top
OF it an observatory, which gave the as
tronOmers great advantage, as being at so
great height, one could easily talk to the
stars. This temple was full of cups and
statues and censeTs, all OF gold. One
image weighed 1000 BabylOnish talents,
which would be equal to 100000. All
this by day, but now night was about to
come down on Babylon. The shadows OF
her go 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 hang
ing gardens OF Babylon, wet with the
heavy dew. began to pour, from star-lit
flowers and dripping leaf, a fragrance for
many miles around. The streets and
squares were lighted for dance and frOlic
and promenade. The theateTs and CALLER
les OF art invited the wealth and pOmp
and grandeur OF the city to rare entertain
ments. Scenes of riot and wassall were
mingled in every street; goddess mirth
and outrageous excess and splendid wick
edness came to the kings palace to 10
their mightiest deeds of darkness.
A ROYAL feast tonight at the kings pal
acei 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 characters, while thousand
lords dismount, and women, dressed IN all
the splendOrs Of Syrian emerald. and the
colOr-blending of agate and the chasteness
OF coral, and the sOmber glory of Tyrian
purple and princely embroideries, brought
from afar 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. Hark TO the rustic
of the robes and to the carol OF the music
See the blaze OF the jewels Lit the ban
ners. Fill the cups. Clap the cymbals
Blow the trumpets. Let the night 90 by
with song, and dance, and ovation, and let
that Babylonish tongue be palsied that
will not say, "0h. King Belshazzar, live
forever"
All! my friends, il was not any common
banquet to which these great people came.
All parts of the earth had sent their rich
est yiands 10 that table. Brackets and
chandeliers flashed their light upon tank
ards of FURNISHED gold. Fruits ripe and
luscious, in baskets OF silver, entwined
with leaves plucked from royal conserva-
tories. Vaces inlaid with emerald and
and with exquisite traceries, filled with
nuts that We're threshed from forests OF
distaD. lands. Wine brought from the
royal vats, foaming in the decanters and
bubbling in the chalices. TUFTS of cassia
and frankincense waiting their sweetness
from wall and table. Gorgeous banners
unfolding in the breeze that came through
the opened window, bewitched with the
perfume of hanging gardens. Fountains
rising up from Enclosures Of ivory in Jets
OF crystal, to fall in Gathering rain of dia-
mOnds and pearls. Statues OF mighty men
looking down, from inches in the wall,
upon crowns and shields brought from
subdued empires. Idols OF wonder
full work, standing on pedestals OF
precious stones. Embroideries stopping
about the windows, and wrapping pillars Of
cedar, and drifting ON floor inlaid with
ivory and agate. Music, mingling with the
thrum of harps, and the clash of cymbals,
and the blast of trumpets in one wave of