The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-18
IS No MERE ROMANCE
Book of Esther Confirmed BY
COntemporaneOus Records,
QUEENS TOMB is FOUND
At ECbataDa-ReVieW of the
Famous biblical Novel;"
QUEENS TOMB is FOUND


most beautiful women figures Of the Old
Testiment, has been dehn.tively estab-
lshed by modern archaeology.
NJ Jacques de Morgan, the famous
French archaeologist. has been exploring
the site OF Susa, the ancent capital OF
Persia. where the ruins of many splendid
cities dating back into prehistoric antiq-
uity lie piled one above the other.
Here he came upon the remains of a
temple which had been erected a few years
after the death OF King Xerxes. Upon the
walls he found an inscription stating that
it was erected in memory Of the good
Queen Esther and of her kinsman, Nor
deca, the Grand Vizier, both OF whom
lay buried at Ecbstana- A series of carv-
ings on the walks depleted the chief events
in-the life of Esther and concluded with
representation of her tomb.
The carvings corroborated absolutely the
series of events set forth in THE Book of
Esther in the Bible.
The reference to the tomb at Ecbatana
clears up a mystery and a controversy.
Ecbatana is the ancient name of place IN
Persia now known as Hsmadan. II ap-
pears that there exists here a half ruined
building which has long been revered by
the Persian Jews as the burial place OF
Esther and Mordecai. Its genuineness has
been questioned by the majority of learned
rabbis in Europe. They held that the tomb
OF Esther was to be found. If anywhere, at
Kefer Baram. near Safed, in Galilee, where
she Is also said to have been born.
The temple enclosing the tomb at Hama
dan is certainly not the original building.
An inscription states that Il was rebuilt
by two pious brothers about ia A. D.. but
it Is possible that much OF the material of
the original building was preserved.
Within the tomb are two very ancient
collins Of hard black wood, one of which
bears an inscription purportlng to be the
words Of Esther:
ct praise thee. God, that thou hast
created me. I know that my sins merit
punishment, yet I nope for mercy at Thy
hands, for whenever call upon thee thou
art with me. Thy holy presence secures
me from all evil. My heart is at ease. and
my fear of thee increases. Ny life became
at last through thy goodness, full of peace.
o God! shut not my soul out from thy d.
vine presence. Those whom thou lowest
never feel the torments of hell. Lead me,
o Merciful Father to the life of life. that
may be filled with the heavenly fruits of
Paradise
That this building little known and des-
cribed by students. Is really the tomb OF
Queen Esther. who lived 521 pears before
Christ, is now established on evidence
which will satisfy scientific minds.
At the same time the authenticity OF
THE Book OF Esther as a proper part of
the holy scriptures is affirmed. This book
has been regarded with suspicion by biblc-
al critics. who have declared that 1t was
written many years after the death Of
Ahasuerus Of Xerxes, the husband of
Esther. and that 1t was largely fictitious
in character. The unearthlnG of a con-
temporary record now corroborates It in
every respect.
THE Book Of Esther has been truly
called the romance Of the Bible. II Is an
historical romance. full Of incident and in
tTigue. II has often been commented on as
remarkable that the name of God does not
occur once in It. But although Il is not
theological, il contains n great floral. be-
cause IT depicts the history of a noble
woman who amidst extraordinary advan-
tages OF fortune, remained true to her op-
pressed race and religion.
Esther lived in the reign OF Xerxes, the
great King of Persia. about 521 years b.
q. This monarch Is called in the Bible.
Ahasuerus. He reigned from India even
unto ETHIOPIA over one hundred and twen-
ty-seven provinces. He attempted TO in
wade Greece, and punished the sea for OPP
posing him. The capital Of his kingdom
was Susa, called in the Scriptures, Shu-
shan.
In the third year Of his reign Xerxes
gave a great feast to all his princes and
people. The feast in the palace Of shu-
shan was held in the garden and lasted
seven days. And they gave them to
drink in vessels OF gold (the vessels being
diverse from one another. and royal wine
in abundance according to the state Of the
king"
Now Xerxes had a very beautiful wife.
Queen Vashu. While the king was enter
tanning his male subjects, she was giving
a more decorous feast to the women in the
royal palace set apart for their sex.
On the seventh day, when the heart Of
the king was merry with wine. he COM
manded his Chamberlains 20 bring before
him Queen Vashti with her royal crown
and with her beauty unveiled. and to show
her 10 the princes and people, for she
was fair to look on
Queen Vashti absolutely refused to obey
the command and returned very sharp
answer. The despot was taken aback and
exceedingly dspleased. He consulted with
his courtiers, and one OF them. Memucan.
a great prince unbosomed himself.
Memucan said that Vashti had done a
great wrong not only TO the king. but to
all the princes and people OF Persia. The
news that she had disooeyed the great
King Xerxes would go abroad throughout
the land and every wife would be encour-
aged to disogey her husband.
King Ahasuerus entirely agreed with
Memucan. gave orders that Vashu should
be deposed from her rank. that she should
never more come into his presence and
that his decree should be made known 10
all the wives OF the kingdom.
Having got rid Of VaShti. Anasuerus.
who was of an affectonate nature. began
20 look around for a queen who should
he as attractive as she was. II was there
fore ordered that all the fair young virgins
in Persia should be brought together n
the palace at Shushan in order that the
king insight inspect them
Now. there dwelt in shuShan a very wise
jew named MordecaL who had been car
ried away from Jerusalem with the CAP
tivity of Northumberland king OF Baby
lon.
Mordecai had brought UP his niece. Es-
Their. who wass very beautiful. and when
the kings decree was heard Mordecai took
her 70 the paiaca ANA rban the king
saw Esther he loved her above all the