Connecticut western news., 1898-06-09
DOOM OF ARROGANCE.
DR. TAlMAGE TEACHES A LESSON FROM THE HANGING OF HAMAN.

FROM THE HANGING OF HAMAN. Vanity and Sin Ever Anxious to Have Piety Bow Before Them-Ouickly Turns the Wheel of Fortune Happiness For the Soul.
 Copyright. 1sss by American Press Asso-
 ciation.1
 WASHINGTON, June 5.-The doom of arrogance and the reward of fidelity are lessons which Dr. Talmage here draws from Mordecai on horseback and Haman afoot; text, Esther vii, 10, "So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.
 Here is an oriental courier, about the most offensive man in Hebrew his tory, Haman by name. He plotted for the destruction of the Israelitish nation, and I wonder not that ill some of the Hebrew synagogues to this day when Haman's name is mentioned the con- gregation clinch their fists and stamp their feet and cry, ''Let his name be plotted out. :" Haman was prime minis ter ill the magnificent court of Persia Thoroughly appreciative of the honor conferred he expects everybody that he posses to be obsequious. Coming ill one day at the gate of the palace, the serv- ants drop their heads ill honor of his office, but Hebrew named Mordecai gazes upon the passing dignitary with out bending his head or taking off his hat. He was 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 hypocriticai, and while others made oriental salaam, getting clear down be- fore this prime minister when he pass ed, Mordecai, the Hebrew, retaxed not muscle of his neck and kept his chin clear up. Because of that affront Ha- man gets & decree from Ahasuerus, the dastardly king, for the massacre of all the Israelites, and that of course will include Mordecai.
 To make long story short, through Queen Esther this whole plot was re- vesled to her husband, Ahasuerus. One night Ahasuerus, who was afflicted with insomnia, in his sleepless hours calls for his secretary to read him few passages of Persian 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 Mor- decai, the Hebrew, had saved the kings life, and for which kindness Mordecai had never received any reward. Haman, who had been fixing up nice gallows to hang Mordecai on. was walking out side the door of the kings sleeping apartment and was called in. The king told him that he had just had read to him:th account of some one who had saved his (the king's) life, and he asked what reward ought to be given to such one. Self conceited Haman, supposing that he himself was to get the honor and not imagining for 8 moment that the deliverer of the kings life was Nor dacAi. says, "Why, your majesty ought to make a triumph for him and put a crown on him and set him on splen- did, horse, high stepping and full blood ed, and then have one of your princes lead the horse through the streets, cry ing, Bow the knee, here comes man who has saved the kings life. Then said Ahasueryis In severe tones to Ha- man, 1T know all about your scoun- drelism. Now you go out and make tsiumph for Mordecai, the Hebrew, whom you hate. Put the best saddle on the finest horse, and you, the prince, hold the stirrup while Mordecai gets on. and then lead his horse through the street. Make hastep'
 Comedy and Tragedy.
 What spectaclel A comedy and tragedy at one and the same time There they gol Mordecai, who had been despised, now starred and robed in the stirrups. Haman, the chancellor, afoot, holding the prancing rearing, champ ing stallion. Mordecai bends his neck at last, but 1t is to look down at the- degraded prime minister walking be- meath him. Huzza for Mordecai Alas for Hamani But what a pity to have the gallows recently built entirely wasted. It Is 50 cubits high and built with care. And Haman had erected 1t for Mordecai, by whose stirrups he now walks as groom. Stranger and more startling than any romance, there go up the steps of the scaffolding, side by side, the hangman and Haman, the ex- chancellor. "So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Nordecai.
 Although SO many years have passed dnce cowardly Ahasuerus reigned, and the beautiful Esther answered to his whims, and Persia perished, yet from the life and death of Haman we may draw living lessons of warning and in- struction. And, first, we come to the hot rryIa fla heart Is wrong, things very insignificant will destroy our comfort. Who would have thought that great prime minis ter; admired and applauded by millions of Persians. would have been so nettled and harassed by anything trivial? What more could the great dignitary have wanted than his chariots and attend ants and palaces and banquets? If afflu- ence of circumstances can make man contented and happy, surely Haman should have been contented and happy. No Mordecai's refusal of bow takes the glitter from the gold, and the rich ness from the purple, and the speed from the chariots. With heart puffed up with every imitation of vanity and revenge 1t was impossible for him to be
 
 gate was louder than the praying of trumpets in the palace. Thus shall it always be If the heart Is not right. Cir cumstances the most trivial will disturb the spirit.
 Annoying Trifies.
 It Is not the great calam1ties of life that create the most worriment. have seen men, felled by repeated blows of misfortune, arising from the dust, never desponding. But the most of the disquiet which men suffer is from in- significant causes; as 8 lion attacked by some beast of prey turns easily around and stays him, yet runs roaring through the forests at the alighting on his brawny neck of few insects. You meet some great loss fn business with comparative oomposure, but you can