The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-07
Ii. International Slaaay StLnaL Ltssan
October 8, 1899. Father III III.
Haman's Plot Against the Jews.


The book Of Esther Is like a noun
tain stream; Il 4 so transparent In tic
matter, so swift In Its movement Yet
II Is one OF the most niasterful tragedies
IN literature. A master hnnd shifts It's
genes. It Is pronounced "a truly
wonderful and paradoxlcal history.
A hostile critic must needs admit that
I'm Il the customs and arrangements
Of the Persian court are both wildly
ard faithfully depicted" From q
purely literary standpoint Il cannot be
Ignored. while the eevout Will find 1t a
richer jewel case than any the queens
boudolr could boast.
&erxes win fain forget the disgrace
Of his lll-starred campaign against
Greece In the voluptuous pleasures Of
his palace. He seeks another on whom
to confer the crown plucked In drunken
anger from the queenly and virtuous
Yeshtrs brow. In this matter the kings
hear: IL In the Lords hand like a
brook OF water. He turns Il toward
the lovely JeulIh maiden. well named
THE STAR from the purity and lotti-
ness OF her character,
At the same time that Xerxes chooS-
es queen. he also selected a prime
minister; but not 50 wisely. Homan,
the magnificent, Is vafn, Jealous, vim
uAEAANE -Al1EaEkEGs AZ leu nAn AsAeAA
nate pride, the king, Issues q decree re-
quirIng an ObsequlouB prostratlon on
the part Of all at sight OF him. Morde-
cal. the mental porter at the gate, the
unrecognlEed foster-father Of the young
queen, refuses obedience. A small
nature. unduly promoted, Us always
most tenacious about the deference due
the office Il nils, The glory Of his rich
es. his phenomenal promotion. aNailed
him nothing so long as the Jew az the
gate bowed not as he passed. With
desperate and cruel art he forms plot
which shall not only remove Mordeeai,
but destroy his hated ruee, root and
branch.
There Is nothing improbable in the
ediot for the slaughter Of Ihe jews. HUI
man life Is cheap. &arxes had Just
seen his army Of Eve million melt be-
fore his eyes. What did an unknown
number OF aliens scattered through his
provinces amount to?
Tho Analysis.
The Book OF Esther: A masterful ira
rs literary charm; its spiritual sig
The history; xerxes defeated.
Seeks pleasures OF his palace.
A new queen selected.
The Teachers Lantern.
The book of Esther hinges on Morlr
CATS refusal OF obelsance to Haman. II
It was the expression OF mere racial hb-
tired or personal andpathy. II was who'll
ly unjustifable. The true cause Is r.
Vealed In MoTdecai's answer to the ex-
postulaEions Of the kings servants. Etc
told them he was Jew. That puts his
action on the highest possible plane.
His motive was altogether religious.
He could not assume the same posture
before fellow-creature he took In wor-
ship Of God, The first letter Of the deG-
alogue forbade 1t.
The name OF God does not appear in
the book OF Esther; but His providence
smiles from every page. To deliver his
people from their perilOus extremity.
God brought Esther to the throne. Had
she failed in the emergency BE would
have brought safety and enlargement
from some other quarter. The same
hand is busy in the same way yet In
the affairs Of nations ana individuals.
MordecaI's backbone is an object well
worthy OF admiration. There Is abroad
crlnging Difference to worldllness. II
Is bad in the pew. 1t Is despicablc in
the pulpit. We seem to be coming 10 a
state satirized by Carlyle as "a mush
OF concessions" The need is Of
Christian stalwartness-Mor Il
nm Jew" ought to be matched in our
day by Il am 4 Christian"