Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-01-26
A CITY OF REVELINGS.

A CITY OF KEW ELlNOS.
In the midst of this city stood also
the temple of Belus One of its towers
was one-eighth Of 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 and cen
sers, all of gold. One image weighed
a thousand Babylonish talents, which
would be equal to fifty-two million dol
lars 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 a
fragrance for many miles around. The
streets and squares were lighted Tor
dance and frolic and promenade. The
| theatres and galleries of art invited the
| CITY to rare entertainments. Scenes OF
riot and wassail we're mingled in every
! street; goddess mirth, and outrageous
excess. and splendid wickedness came to
! the kings palace to do their nightiest
deeds of darkness.
\ royal feast tonight at the kings
palacel Rushing up to the gates are
| Ic+o
| cloths from Dedan, and drawn by fire
eyed horses from TOgar1nah, that rear
and neigh in the grasp of the chariot
GERS. while a thousand lords dismOunt,
and women dressed in all the splen
doris of Syrian emerald, and the color
blending of agate, and the chasteness
of coral, and the somber glory of Ty
rian 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 thu
guests come in. The chamberlains anC
cup bearers are all ready. Hank to thu
rustic of the robes, and to the carol o
the music! See the blaze of the jewels
Lift the banners. Fill the cups. Cla]
the cymbals. Blow the trumpets. LIE
the night go by with song and dane
and ovation, and let that Babylonisl
tongue be palsied that will not say
ooh. King Belshazzar, live fOrever!"
NO COMMON BANQUET.
All! my friends, it was not any con
mon banquet to which these great pee
ple came. All parts of the earth ha'
sent their richest viands to that table
Brackets and chandeliers flashed thei
light upon tankards of FURNISHED gold
Fruits, ripe and luscious, in baskets c
silver, entwined with leaves, plucke
from royal Conservatives. Vases, II
laid with emerald and ridged with e.
quisite traceries, filled with nuts tia
were thrashed from forests OF Oil
tant lands Wine brought from tn
royal watts, foaming in the decantel
and bubbling in the chalices. TUFTS
cassia and frankincense waiting the
;, sweetness from wall and table. 20
I geous banners unfolding in the breei
1 that came through the opened wlndoV
!. bewitched with the perfume of hangH
gardens. Fountains rising from 1nclo
ures of ivory, in jets of crystal, to TALL
gathering rain of diamonds and pearl
Statues of mighty men looking dow
from inches in the wall upon crow
and shields brought from subdued Ell
pires Idols of wonderful work stan
a. ing on pedestals of precious stone
Embroideries dropping about the WI
dows, and wrapping pillars OF ceda
and drifting on floor inlaid with lVo
], and agate Music mingling the thru
of harps, and the clash of cymbaIs, al
the blast of trumpets in one wave
= transport that went ripping along u
wall, and breathing among the Ga
= lands, and pouring down the corrlool
and thrilling the souls of a thousal
banqueters The signal is given, al
IS. the lords and ladies, the mighty m
e. and women of the land, come arou
the table Pour out the wine! l
l ma foam and bubble kiss the RIM Ho
to every one his cup, and drink TO 7
IN sentiment, "Oh, King Belshazzar, i
IN toreverln
,id Bestarred headband and carcal
D: Of royal beauty CLEAN to the ppli'
is shalices, as again and again ana a9'
his they are emptied. Away with CT
me rom the palacel Tear royal dlgn
TO tattersl Pour out more winel u
a.