Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-26
LESSON OF BABYLON.
Talmage's Realistic Description of
the Pride of 0lden Time.
BELSHAZZAk'S FAMOUS BANQUET.
Better to Be at the Opening Than the Close
of Such Feast.
BELSHAZzAk'S FAMOUS BANQUET.
DEATH COMPARED TO A SPORTSMAN
srEc1AL TELEGRAM TO THE p1spArcH.i

BROOKLYN, Jan. 25.-Dr. Talmage
in the Academy of Music in this city, and
he repeated it tonight at the service In the
New York Academy of Music. His text
was Daniel $50: "In that night was Bel
shazzar, the King of the Chaldeans, slain"
After the site of Babylon had been selected
100000 of men were employed for the con-
structiun of the wall and principal works. The
walls of the city were 60 miles in circumter-
ence. They were surrounded by trench, out
of which had been dug the material
for the construction of the city, There
were % gates of solid brass on
each side OF the square city. Between
every two gates great watch tower sprang up
into the heavens From each OF the % gates
on eitlier side, street ran straight through to
the gate on the other side. so that there were
50 streets each Is miles long. which gave TO the
city an appearance of wonderful regularity
The houses did not Join each other on the
ground and between them were gardens and
shrubhery From housetOp to housetop
bridges swung, over which the Inhabitants
were accustomed to pass a branch OF the tsu-
pirates went through the city. over winch
bridge Of marvellous structure was thrown and
uuHer which tunnel ran.
To keep the river from overflDwing the city
IN times of freshet a great lake was arranged
10 catch the surplus. in which the water was
kept as i'll I reservoir until times of drought,
when IL was sent streaming down over the
thirsty land 4 palace stood at each end OF the
Eupnrates bridge; one palace mile and three
quarters in compass, and the other palace
seven ard a half miles in circumference. The
wife oE Nehuchadnezzsr. having been brought
up among the mountains o. Media. could not
stand it in this fiat country Of Babylon and so,
to please her. Nebuchadnezzar had noun
tain go feet high, built i'll the midst of the CITY,
This mountain was surrounded 10y terraces, Tor
the support OF which great arches were lifted.
Evidently Good Husband.
ON the top or 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, npon which the soil was placed.
The earth he deposited was so deep that the
largest trees had room to anchor their roots.
All the glory of the howeTy tropics was spread
out al tha: tremendous height, until it must
ha-: seemed to one below as though the clouds
were all in blossom, and the very sky leaned on
the shoulder of tie cedar. At the top an en-
Clue was constructed, which drew the water
from the Euphrates. far below, and made it
spout M amid this garden of the skies. All
tbs 10 please his wife! 1 think she must have
been blessed
In the mid-t OF this city stood also the temple
OF Bcus. One Of lis towers was one-eighth of
a mile hIEh. and on the top of it an observatory,
which gave the astronomers great advantage.
as. being II 50 great height, one could easily
talk with the stars his temple was full of
cups, and statues, and censers, all of gold.
One image weighed a thousand Babylonish
talents. which would be eQua! to S02,OO co.,
All this by uar, bat now night was about 20
come Oown Oh Babylon. The shadows of
her go towers began to lenGthen. The
Eu un1rateS rolled on, touched by the fiery
splendors of the setting sun, and gates of
brass, FURNISHED and glitterlng, opened and
shut like doors of flame. The hanging
gardens Of Babvlnn, wet with the heavy dew,
began to pour, from starlit flowers and drip
ming leaf 4 fragrance 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,
ana grandeur % the city 20 rare entertain
ments. Scenes OF not ana Hassail were
mingled i'll every street; goddess mirth, and
came 10 the kings palace, to do their mightiest
deeds of darkness.
4 royal feast tonight at the kings palace!
Rushing up to the gates are charlots, up
holstered with precious cloths from DeGan,
and drawn by hrc-eyed horses from Togarmah,
that rear aud neigh in the grasp of the chariot
eers: while 4 thousand lords dsmcunt, and
women, dressed in all the splendors of Syrian
emerald, and the color-biendIng of agate and
The chastcness of coral, and the sombre glory
of IyTl1u purple. and prncely embroideries.
brought from afar by camelS across the desert,
and by ships of TarshIsn across the sea.
4 Feast for Ancient Royalty.
Open wide the gates, and let the guests come
in. The cham6erlaIns and cup-bearers are all
ready Eark to the rustic of the robes, and to
the carol OF the musicl See the blaze of the
jewels, Lift the banners. Fill the cups. Clap
the cymb1ls. Blow the trumpets Let the
EIght 20 by with song, and dance, and ovation;
and let that BabylOnlsh tongue be palsied that
VIII NOT say. %. KING BelshaZzar live foreverr'
All! my friends. it was not any common BAN
Quet to which these great people came. All
parts of the earth had sent their richest viands
TO that table. Brackets and chandeliers flashed
their light uDOn tankards OF FURNISHED gold.
Fruits. ripe and luscious, in baskets of silver,
euIwincd with leaves plucked from royal con-
lDlalU emerald
Iidged with exquisite traceries. filled with nuts
that were threshed from forests of distant
lands. Wine brought from the royal vats
fOaming in the decanters and bubbling IN .he
chaliceS Tufts of casSla and frankincense
waiting their sweetness from wall and table,
Gorgeous banners unfolding in the breeze that
came through the open window bewitched
with the perfume of hanging gardens. FOunt-
aims rising up from Enclosures of ivory, in lets
ofcrys,al. to fall in clattering rain of diamonds
and pearls. Statues ot 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 windows and wrapping pillars
of cedar, and drifting on floor inlaid with ivory
and agate.
Music. mingIing the thrum of harps, and the
clash of cymbals. and the blast of trumpets in
one wave of transport that went ripDlng along
the wall. and breathing among the garlands
Rid pouring down the corridors, and thrilling
the souls of a Thousand DanqueteTS. The sig
nal IS given, and the lords and ladies. the
mighty men and women OF the land, come
around the table. Pour out the wine. DeL
foam and bubble kiss the rim! Hoist every
one his cup. and drink TO the sentiment: 20
King Belshazzar, live forever Bestarred
head-band and carcanet of royal beauty CLEAN
10 The upllted cEalices. as again, and again,
anu again they are emptied. Away with care
from the palace! Tear royal dignity TO tattersi
Pour ont more winei Give us more light. wilder
music, sweeter perfume! Lord shouts to lord,
captain oEles to captain. Goblets clash; de-
and the drunken h'ccouEh, and the siavering
lip, and the guifaw of idiotic laughter bursting
from the lips of princes, flushed, rceling. blood
shot; while mingln, with it all hear, "Huzza,
hUzZa! for great Belshazzar!''
The Writing on the WALL
What is that on the pIastering OF the wall? Is
il spirit? Is il phantom? Is 1t God? Out
OF the black sleeve of the darkness a finger of
ferv terror trembles through the air and comes
10 the wall, clrcling about as though it would
write. and then. with sharp tip of fame en-
graves on the plastering the doom of The king
The music stops. The goblet falls from the
nervelcss grasp. There Is a thrill. There is a
start. There is a tbousand-voiced shrek of
horror. Lec Daniel be brought IN to read that
writing. II comes in. He reads IL: Nv eigned
in ;he balance and found wanting"
Meanwhile the AssyIians, who for two years
had been laying siege to that ciry. took ad-
vantage OF that cdrousal ana came IN hear
the ieeJ of the cOnQuerors on the palace stairs.
Massacre rUshcS in with a Thousand cleaning
KNIVES. Death bursts upon the scene; and l
shut the door of that banqueting ball, for do
not want TO look. There is nothing there but
torn banners. and broken wIeaths, and the slu>h
OF upset tankards. and the blood of murdered
women, and the kicked and tumbled carcass OF
uead KING For in that night was Belshazzar,
the King OF the Chaldeans, siain."
20 on 10 learn that when God writes any,
thing on the wall, mSn had better read il as
lt Is; Danlel dc not misinterpret or modify
the handwriting on the wall. Ii is all foolish
ness expect minister of rnp grOsDpl 10