Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-06-04
DOOM OF ARROGANCE.
CR. TALMAGE TEACHES A LESSON
FROM THE HANGING OF HAMAN.

z olN i4E'4', Io'o ~ iN"'' 'N''' @A'"'
ciation.l
WASHINGTON, Juno 5.-Tho doom of
arrogance and the reward of fidelity arc
lessons which DR.. Talmage here draws
from Mordccai ON horseback and Hannah
afoot; text, Esther vii, 10, $50 they
hanged Hannah on the gallows that he
had prepared for Mordecai.'
Hero is an oriental courtier, about
the most offensive man in Hebrew his
tory, Hannah by name. He plotted for
the destruction of the Israclitish nation
and I wonder not that in some of the
Hebrew synagogues to this day when
IIaman's name is mentioned the con-
gregation clinch their fists and stamp
their feet and cry, 'Let his name DO
plotted out. " Hannah was primo minis
ter in tho magnificent court of Persia.
Thoroughly appreciative Of the honor
conferred he expects everybody that no
passes to be obsequious Coming in ono
day at the gate of the palace, the serv-
ants drop their heads in honor of his
office, but Hebrew named Mordecai
gazcs 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
courtcsies of life, but he felt no respect
either for Hannah or the nation from
which he had come. So he could not be
hypocritical, and while others made
oriental salaam, getting clear down be-
fore this prime minister when he pass
ed, Mordecai, the Hebrew, relaxed not q
muscle of his neck and kept his chin
clear up Because Of that affront Ha-
man gets q decree from Ahasuerus, tho
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-
vcalcd to her husband, Ahasuerus. Ono
night Ahasuerus, who was afflicted
with insomnia, in his sleeplcss hours
calls for his secretary to read him a
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 Nor
decai, the Hebrew, had saved the kings
life, and for which kindness Mordccai
had never received any reward. Hannah,
who had been fixing up a 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 the account of some one who had
saved his (the king's) life, and he asked
what reward ought to be given to such
a ono. Self conccited Haman surprising
that he himself was to get the honor
and not imagining for a moment that
the delivcrcr of the kings life was Nor
dccai, says, "Why, your majesty ought
to make triumph for him and put a
crown on him and set him on a 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 Ahasuerus in severe tones to Ha-
man: 81 know all about your scoun-
drelism. Now you go out and mako a
triumph for Mordecai, the Hebrew,
whom you hate. Put the best saddle on
the finest horse, and YOU the prince,
hold the stiwup while Mordecai gets
on, and then lead his horse through the
street. Make hastc!"
Comedy and Tragedy.
e. What spectacle! A comedy and
tragedy at one and tho same time.
There they go! Mordocai, who had been
despised, now starred and robed, i'll the
stirrups. Hannah, the chancellor, afoot,
holding tho prancing, rearing, champ
ing stallion. Mordccai bends his neck
at last, but it is to look down at the
degraded primo minister walking be-
meath him. Huzza for Mordccai! Alas
for Hannah! But what a pity to have
the gallows, recently built, entirely
wasted. 1t is so cubits high and built
with care. And Hannah had erected it
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 Hannah, the cx-
chancellor. $50 they hanged Hannah on
the gallows that he had prepared for
Mordccai.
Although so many years have passed
since cowardly Ahasuerus reigned, and
the beautiful Esther answered to his
whims, and Persia persisted, yet from
the life and death of Hannah we may
draw living lessons of warning and in
struction. And first, we come to the
practical suggestion that, when the
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 nettlcd
and harasscd by anything trivial? What
more could tho great dignitary have
wanted than his chariots and attend
ants and palaces and banquets? If attlu-
cnce OF circumstances can make a man
contented and happy, surely Hannah
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 pulled
up with every initiation Of vanity and
revenge it was impossible for him to be
happy The silence of Mordecai at the
gate was louder than the braying of
trumpets in tho palace. Thus shall it
always be if tho heart is not right. Cir
cumstanccs the most trivial will disturb
the spirit.
Annoying Trifles.
1t is not the great calaanltics of life
that create the most worrimcnt | have
seen men, felled by repeated blows Of
arising from the DR. +
never desponding. But the most OF the
disquiet which men suffer is from i'll.
causes; as a lion attacked by