The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-17

himself until his eyes brew dim, and his
skin became like a pumice stone
ST. Marcarius of Alexandria slept for
six months in a marsh with his naked
body exposed to the stings of venomous
fies. he always carried 60 pounds Of
iron around him, but in this penance
was far surpassed by his disciple, St
Eusebius, who habitually wore $50
pounds of iron and lived for three year,
in the bottom of dry well. st. Sab
mus refused all other nutriment than
corn which had been rendered rotten
by sleeping for a month in water. ST.
Bessarian chose thorn bush for
temporary residence, and remained
there for 40 days and nights, and for Al
years he never lay down when he slept,
but, when overcome by fatigue, merely
rested against wall.
Another holy hermit, known as John
stood for three whole years in prayer.
leaning upon a rock, and his only
reurishment during that period was
the sacrament, which was brought to
him on Sundays. Many of these early
saints lived among the tombs, or IN the
dens of wild beasts in the desert. Some
scorned all clothes, and crawled about
covered only by their long matted hair.
A sect in Mesopotamia and Syria never
lived under roof, but spent their whole
time on the mountain side, wearing no
clothes, and eating nothing but grass
and leaves.
The saint who surpassed all others in
the extravagancies of his penances was
Simeon Stylites. He bound a rope
around him until it became imbedded
In the flesh, and sometimes slept in a
dry well said to be inhabited by demons,
He built three pillars, the last being &C
feet high and less than two cubits in cir.
conference, and on them he remained
for 80 years in ell weathers and through
every change of climate, necessarily
and rapidly bending his body in prayer
almost to the level of his feet. A spec.
tator attempted tocount his movements
but gave up the task in despair when
the number amounted to 1924. His
reputation spread far and wide and
pilgrims focked from epeTy quarter
until, by the general voice of mankind,
he was declared the highest model OF all
Christian and sanity virtues, and very
many emulated his example. When al
last he died a crowd OF prelates followed
his body, and brilliant star shone mi.
raculeusly over his grave.
One natural but most repulsive con.
sequence of these religious austeritiei
is frequently ignored by the sentiments
alists who find much to admire in tbs
self-G .scipline of the early saints
Every discredit was thrown on the do
nestle virtues, and the basest ingrati.
tude and most intense hardness OF
heart were displayed toward those who
were bound to the nscetics by the
closest of earthly ties. To break the
heart of loving mother, to persuade
fond wife that it was her highest duty
to separate from him forever, to aban.
don his children as beggars to the
mercy of the world, was regarded by
the true hermit as the most sacred of al
religious offerings.
His only business was to work out hi:
own salvation, and to this prime end
every other consideration must be sac
rifced. In total disregard OF ell
natural affection, st. Simeon Stylites
again stands in the front rank. He be.
gan his holy but useless career by run.
ming away from home, and thus break.
ing the heart of his father, who died OF
grief ut his fight. His mother lived on,
but heard nothing CT her son until g
years had elapsed, and his austerities
had made him famous. She FASTENED
to visit him, but no woman was al.
United to the monastery where he ther
resided, and he refused to allow her t<
see his face-London Standard.