The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-13
patent. They learned, however that their
claims had expired by Limitation,
A CURIOUS LEGEND.
Quaint story OF the Travels of the
Pieces of Gold That One of the
Three Wise Men Gave to Christ.

Pieces of Gold That One of the
Three wise Men Gave to Christ.
From the New York Times.
The 9th of January was a marked day
in the calendar Of mediaevel times. for
upon 1t fell the Feast of the Epiphany
the most popular of Christian Festivals
Christmas day only excepted. All good
churchmen know that the word Epiphany
meaning "appearing'-h reference to
the star which guided the three wise
men" to the cave-stable at Bethlehem
twelve days after the birth of the holy
child.
Tradition says that they were three
kingN names, Melchoir Balthaznr
ana Gaspar-the one an Arabian, a de-
scendant of Shem; the second, an Egyp-
tian, of the race of Ham. and the third,
Japhets representative-typic of the
Worldwide homage TO be paid to the in
carnate Jehovah.
Three Kings, the King of Kings three
gifts did bring" Melchoir presented gold
in recognition of the sovereignty of the
pabe; Gaspar frankincense, in acknowl-
edgement OF his divinity, and Balthayar.
myrrh. as typical of his human nfe-des-
tined to be so full of bitterness.
Oh the gold offered by Melchoir, there is.
according to ancent legend, a very Gu
rlous history. Originally coined by Terah.
TnOnGV
gwen by him to his son upon his depart
ure from the land of the Chaldees. II il
stated in the Koran--adopted from Meso-
potamean tradstions--that the patriarch
was Forced into exile on account Of his
monothelstie convictions, and because he
would not engage In his fathers business
which was the manufacture of idols ~
gold and silver. These idols were of tho
moon-god, "Sin"--whence the name ar thss
mig 1Ighest mountain of that region-Sinai.
Inc money given by Terah to Abraham
was next used for the purchase Of the
Cave of Macpelah of Epfron the HIftifa
When Josephs brethren sold him to the
lshmaelites they received these Identical
pieces of gold in payment--so runs the le-
gend-which they afterwards paid to 10
seph' when driven, In time of famine, to
buy corn in Egypt. Upon the death Of
Jacob, Joseph sent the money to the land
OF Sheba to buy Spices wherewfth to en-
balm the body of his father, and they re-
manned In the royal treasury until the
queen or Sheba made her famous visit
70 solomon, when, among other gifts she
arch.
During the reign of Rhehoboann. Solo
mons son, Shishak, King Of Eeypt. madt
successful invasion into Judea and de-
spoiled the temple, whereupon he presents
ca TO his ally and companion in arms
the King of Arabia--the famous pieces OF
gold as his share of the plumber.
Nearly 1000 years later, Melchoir the
apocryphal successor of the Arabian mon.
arch, brought them as a gift to sshim that
was called the King of the Jews"
IL would seem that the ingenuity Of otr
visionary Psychologists might be over
taxed TO further connect the itinerant
CONS with the subsequent events Of the
New Observation-Disclosures money PLAYS =
part-but they stumble at nothing. The
story goes ON to say that in the hurry Of
tne night into Egypt the Virgin mother
cropped the gold pieces in a field whera
they were afterwards found by a shepherd
Not daring to disclose his good FORUM
less he be suspected Of dishonesty and the
money be taken from him. he kept il bv
MN Tor many years In his old age being
aiiiicted by an incurable disease. he he
sought the aid of the Christ who healed
MIN. As thank Offering ne carried his
treasure to the temple and laid IL upon tho
nigh altar. Thus falling into the hands Of
the nigh priest, the money was paid to
JUDAS as the price of his treachery In the
betrayal of his master
The fact that the reward agreed upon
10 be paid to Judas is spoken of as thirty
pieces OF silver seems to offer no difficulty
Ii Is explained upon the ground that In the
translation silver is used as the generic
term of money-like argent IN French.
When, tortured by rcmorse Judas re-
turned the money to the priests, they used
IL for the purchase of the "potter's held
10 bury strangers in"-snce which time
an trace of the much-traveled money has
been lost.