The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-01-04
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
Lessons Derived From the Great
Feast of BelshazEar.
Danici's Interpretation OF the Han'iwrse-
ing on the wall-The Feast OF
Sin Is Dazzling. But Its
End Is Death.

the subject of his regular Sunday SER
mon to his Washington congregation
"The Handwriting on the Wall" taxi
ing for his text:
In that night was Belshazzar, the king OF the
Chaldeans, slain.-Daniel ", 3D.
Night was about to como 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, bur-
nished and glittering, opened and shut
like doors of fame. The hanging gar
dens of Babylon, wet with the heavy |
dew, began to pour, from starlit how.
ers and dripping leaf, a fragrance for
MANY miles around. The streets and |
squares were lighted for dance and
frolic and promenade. The theaters
md galleries of art invited the wealth
and pomp and grandeur OF the city TO
rare entertainments. Scenes OF riot
and wassail were mingled in every
street; and goddess mirth, and outra-
peous excess and splendid wickcdness
came to the kings palace. to do their
mightiest deeds of darkness.
A royal feast tonight at the kings
palacel Rushing up to the gates are
cbariots, upholstered with precious
cloths from Dedan, and drawn by fire.
| eyed horses from Togarmah, that rear
and neigh in the grasp OF the chariot
eers. while a thousand lords dismount,
and women, dressed in all the splcnd-
ors of Syrian emerald. and the color
blending of agate, and the chasteness
of coral, and the somber glory OF
Tyrian purple, and princely embroid-
cries. 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
cupbearers are all ready. Hank to the
rustic of the silks, and to the carol OF
the music! See the blaze OF the jewels!
Lift the banners. Fill the cups. Clap
the cymbals. Blow the trumpets. Let
the night go by with song, and dance
and ovation; and let that Baylonish
tongue be palsied that will not say:
80. King Belshazzar. live forever"
!. All! my friends, it was not any COM
mon banquet 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 upon tankards OF
FURNISHED gold. Fruits. ripe and lus-
trous, in baskets of silver, entwined
with leaves. plucked from royal con-
servatories. Vases, inlaid with emer-
aid and ridged with exquisite trace
RES. filed with nuts that were
tbresbed from forests of distant lands.
Wine brought from the royal vats,
foaming in the decanters and bubbllng
in the chalices. Tufts OF cassia
and frankincense waiting then
sweetness from wall and table
Gorgeous banners unfolding in
the breeze that came through
the open window, bewitched with the
perfumes of hanging gardens Foun
ftains rising up from Enclosures o
ivory, in lets Of crystal. to fall IL
gathering rain of diamonds and pearls
> Statues of mighty men looking dow
from inches in the wall upon crowns
IS and brought from subdued empires
g Idols of wonderful work standing OF
q pedestals of precious stones. En-
d broidcries STOPPING about the window
and wrapping pillars OF cedar
n and drifting on floor inlaid viii
:" ivory and agate. Music mingling tn
r. thrum of harps, and the clash OF Gym
ir balls, and the blast of trumpets in on
n wave of transport that went ripplin
e. along the wall and breathing anon
lie the garlands, and pouring down tn
r. corridors, and thrilling the souls OF
ne thousand banqueters. The signal !
Is riven. and the lords and ladies, tn
I'd mighty men and women OF the lane
10 come around the table. Pour out tn
nj wine. Let foam and bubble kiss tn
at rim! Hoist every one his cup and drin
ar to the sentiment. 20! King Belsha
gar. live forever!" Bestarred head ban
in and carcanet of royal beauty CLEAN
~ the uplifted chalices, as again, an
10 again, and again they are emptle
"A Away with care from the palac
Tear royal dignity to tatters! POI
:, ont more wine! Give us more Ugh
~ wilder music, sweeter perfume! Lol
% shouts to lord. Captain ogles to ca
aS tain. Goblets clash; decanters rattl
~ There come in the obscene song. al
iiu the drunken hiccough, and the slave
ny ing lip, and the guffaw OF idiot
lis laughter, bursting from the lips
princes, flushed, reeling, bloodsht
RS while mingling with it all | hei
er ..Huzzal huzza! for great Bclsha
III Ear"
What is that on the plastering OF t
~ wall? Is it spirit? Is it phanto'
Is It God? The music stops The &c
est let's fall from the nerveless gra'
nd There is thrill. There is sta
to There is thousand-voiced shrek
or horror. Let Daniel be brought IN
read that writing He comes in.
in, reads it: Weighed in the balance a
found wanting"
,ue Meanwhile the Modes. who Tor 7
oc- wears had been laying siege to tn
of city, took advantage of that carou
raj and came in. hear the. feet OF the c.
vas ouerors on the palace stairs. Massa
the PUSHES in with a thousand gleami
Of knives. Death bursts upon the see
in and shut the door of that banqueti
~. hall. for do not want to look. Th'
zoe is nothing there but torn banns
and broken wreaths and the slush
80 unset tankards, and the blood OF N
dered women. and the kicked and tt
h1ad carcass of dead king. For