Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-02-28


tertained in a Pleasant Manner at
the Club Rooms.
Yesterday was a day of festival and
joy among the Israelites all over the
world, and though the cause for all this
occurred thousands OF years ago, never
theless, the annual recurrence of the
day having been celebra, ed ever since,
its memory has been kept perpetually
green. The feast is called Purim.
The rich among the house of Israel dis
pense charity to their poor neighbors,
and all unite in making the day fes-
tival indeed.
Wednesday night the Megiloh Book
of Esther was read in the Synagogue.
This is done every year. The book re-
cites the events which gave rise to
Purim. They are briefly, that during
the reign Of Ahasuerus as King o.
Persia and Media, one Haman, was
prime minister OF the empire. The
king abandoned his first wife, and Sc
lected as his second the most charming
woman in all his empire-Esther, the
Jewess.
The newly-made queen had been rails
ed by an uncle, Mordecai, who also wal
of the house of Judea. Time wore on,
when Mordecai hears of a plot, threat
ening the life of the king, which he
relates to Esther, who in turn gives 1t
TO her lord.
The truth of the plot is confirmed
and the culprits executed. In the jour
nal kept by the king an entry was made
giving credit to Mordecai for the signal
service he had rendered; beyond that
no further attention was paid to the
subject.
Hannah. the prime minister, was in
the habit of receiving marks of homage
from The people. such as an humble
supplication as he passed through the
streets which Mordecai alone refused
to obey Haman is enraged at this sup
posed effront, and, seeking the king, he
pronounces the Israelites as a body un-
worthy of recognition at the hands Of
any civilized nation, and obtains the
kings signature to a decree banishing
the Jews from his empire. The date
upon which this expulsion was to take
place was decided by the drawing Of
lots-and thus the name Purim from
the Hebrew Puur, drawing of lots-the
14th day of Adar being the appointed
time.
The beautiful Queen, through Nor
decai, learns CT this fearful decree
against her people, but believes herself
incapable of successfully interfering
with the plans of the King. Mordecai
commands a fast among the Jews for
three days and Esther secures an in
terview with the King without at first
apprising him of her mission. She i'm
pl0res the King TO meet Hannah at sup
per in her palace that evening. The
request is complied with.
Upon returning from the Kings man
sion. with all the pride which the royal
attention he had received could en-
gender, Hannah meets Mordecai, who
refused to pay The accustomed tributes.
At home. the wife of HamaI advises
the execution of Mordecai upon the fol-
lowing day. and accordingly a gibbet
is prepared for the purpose, and with
the death warrant prepared for sigma
ture be repairs TO the King. II so hap
pens that the King has passed a sleep
less night. and TO while away the weary
hours calls for his journal The pages
at which the book is opened is that re-
cording the service done the King by
Mordecai formerly referred to.
Summoning his secretary he demand
ed to know what reward Mordecai has
ever received: the answer was. none.
Then calling to him Hannah. his Prime
Minister. be asked him what, in his
opinion. would be a suitable reward for
one who had saved the life of a King.
Hannah. supposing thai he was the per-
son to whom the reward was to be
given, and never at all events imagin-
ing that the poor, though proud-spiriJ-
Ell Jew. Mord cal. was referred to- said
that one who had saved the Kings life
should be allowed TO parade upon the
Kings horse. fully armed with the
equipage of the sovereign. through the
streets of The Persian capsital.
The King ordered Hannah TO invest
Mordecai at once with this power Cha
grined in the highest degree Haman is
of course compelled to obey.
The King and Hannah dine at the
castle. and at the conclusion Of the meal
the King requests of Esther to name
any favor that she might desire and
it should be granted. even though it
might be for half of the Empire. She
says that she has but one favor to ask,
and that is the restriction Of the man
who threatens her existence. The King
is full of rage. and commands her 10
mention the name of him who would
lay hands upon the Queen, that he may
destroy him at once Esther points to
Hannah. who falls at her feet. crying
for mercy. The King installing this