The Progress., 1898-06-11
DEATH OF A PLOTTER
hAmAN DIED ON THE GALLONS he
PREPARED FOR ANOTHER.
Rev. DR.. Talmsge Takes This Incident to
illustrate Useful Lesson-wrongs We
Would DO Others Return Upon Our
selves-weaIth and Happiness
copyright, 1895, by American Press A
CATION


WASHINGTON. June 5-Thr doom Of ar
rogance and the reward Of fidelity are les
sons which DIR. Talmagc here draws from
Mordccai on horseback and Hannah afoot:
text, Esther VII, 10, $50 they hanged
Hannah on the galIows that he had pre-
pared for Mordccai
Here Is an oriental courtiel. about the
most offensive man in Hebrew history.
Hannah by name. He plotted Tor the dc
struction of the Israelitish nation, and l
wonder not that in some Of the Hebrew
synagogues to this day when Hannah
name is mentioned the congregation clinch
their fists and stamp their feet and cry
Let his name be blotted Out!' Hannah
was prime minister in the magnificent
court of Persia. Thoroughly apTreciatiye
OF the honor conferred. he expects every
body that he passes TO DC oh@cCuious
Coming In one day at the gate of the pal
ace, the servants drop their heads in honor
Of his office, but "A Hebrew named Nor
decai gazes upon the passing dignitary
without bending his head or taking OF
his hat. He was a good man and would
not have been negligent Of the ordinary
courtesies of life, but he felt no respect /
either for Haman or the nation from which /
he had come, So he could not be hypo- /
critical, and while others made oriental /
salaam, getting clear down before this |
prime minister when he passed Mordecai, |
the Hebrew, relaxed not muscle OF his !
neck and kept his chin clear up. Because
of that affront Hannah gets a decree from
Ahaseurus, the dastara1y king, for the
massacre of all the Israelites, and that, of
course, will include Mordecai
Comedy and Tragedy.
To make long story short. through
queen Esther this whole plot was revealed
TO her husband, Ahasuerus. One night
Ahasuerus, who was afflicted with insom-
nia- In his sleepless hours calls for his sec
rotary to read him few passages of Per
sian history, and so while away the night.
In the book read that night to the king an
account was given of a conspiracy from
which Mordecai, the Hebrew, had saved
the kings life and for 49,. kindness
Mordecat had never received any reward
Hannah, who had been fixing up a nice
gallows to hang Mordecai on, was walk
Ing outside the door of the kings sleeping
apartment and was called in The king
TOLD him that he had just had read to him
the account OF some one who had saved his
1.-THE king 50 life, and he asked what re
ward ought to be given to such a one
sen conceited Hannah. supposing that he
himself was to get the honor and not inn
agining for moment that the deliyerer
OF the kings life was Mordccai saws
why, your majesty ought to make a tri-
umph for him and put crown on him
and set him on a splendid horse high step
RAiik anu iuii DlOOQeQ, ana then have one Z
OF your princes lead the horse through the
streets crying: Bow the knee! Here
pes man who has saved the kings
Then said Ahasuerus in severe
IS TO Hannah: Il know all about your /
eoundrelism Now you go out and make
q triumph for Mordecai, the Hebrew,
whom you hate. Put the best saddle on
the finest horse, aid YOU the prince, hold
the stirrup while Mordecai gets on and !
then lead his horse through the street.
Make hastel'' /
What spectaclel a comedy and trag-
edy at one and the same time. There they
soi Mordecai, who had been despised, :
now starred and robed in the stirrups z
darnan, the chancellor, afoot, holding the c
orancing, rearing. champing stallion. !
Mordecai bends his neck at last but it is {
o look down at the degraded prime min i
ster walking beneath him. Huzza for i
dordecail Alas for Hannah! But what
pity to have the gallows, recently built, J.
ntirely wastedl 1t is 90 cubits high and t
uilt with care, and Hannah had erected v
for Mordecai, by whose stirrups he now p
nc 10