The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-27
THE THRONE OF SOLOMON.
Rhapsody AprOpOs of Rhe Report
That Lord CurzoB VIII Use Ii at
the Coming Durbar.

khapsOdy AprOpOs OF nhe Report
That Lord Curzon VIII Use IL at
the Coming Durbar.
Sir Edwin Arnold in London Tele-
graph.
All Asia is talking about the great
Durbar to be held at Delhi in four
weeks time from this. The peoples of
her myriad states and Kingdoms, I'm
thousands of her bazaars, her markets,
and her kahns. discuss over hookah
and narghileh the glores that will at
tend the imperial occasion. Townsmen
and countrymen chat about the mighty
business when they meet, and the wo-
menfolk shopping in the streets, re-
Ginning at the baths. or trihing the
time away behind the curtain, repeat
to each other with wonder and admit
ration glittering in their dark eyes the
superb preparations being made in and
around the ancient Mogul capital.
Moreover, when a prodigious topic like
this passes through the cities and
countries of Asia, fancies are let loose,
and wild ideas put abroad. which
show that the Fast is now, as always,
the natural home Of romance. An in
stance of this is given in the report
sent from Calcutta about the Viceroy,
VINO, as even lIle i1lHQuS Know, AZ
deeply interested in ancient history.
The bazaars declare that Lord Curzon
has discovered the hiding place of the
far-famed throne of Solomon: that he
will make employment OF it as a seat
of state during the Durbar: and that
all kinds of miraculous events. bring
ing admiration, peace, and prosperity
to India, will accrue from the FORUM
ate hour when the representative of
King Edward VII, sitting in the chair
Of Suleiman, receives the homage of
the native Princes and potentates.
The throne of Solomon-the Takht-i-
Suleiman-gias been talked about in the
East for hundreds-nay, for thousands
of years. Many and many a square
topped hill or mountain, besides the re-
markable eminence which overhangs
Indus, near the Khyber Pass, is styled
the Takht-i-Sulieman, the localities
thus distinguished being almost as
numerous as the footprints of Buddha.
That mountain, over the northwest Dor
der, which perhaps has the best right
to bear such title, is linked with a
beautiful story telling how the great
King of Israel collected round his
throne there all the birds, beasts, and
creeping things of earth and made them
praise Allah and reverence Him with
prayer, while submitting themselves
humbly to himself as their Sovereign
Lord on the earth. The Mohammedans
to a man believe that this really hap
pened, and was by virtue of the magic
name of the Almighty carved upon the
great sapphire which King Suleiman
wore upon his forefinger.
AS has been written:
Wot We of Solomon's signet, graved or
a sapphire in gold,
Graved with the great name of God,
writ on the blue of the stone?
Wisdom and riches and power had he
who that treasure did hold;
Safe in the strength of the signet he
sat on his ivory throne.
Only King Solomon knew how the
dread letters did flow,
What was the breathing of Aleph,
where came the whispering Zod,
When he spake the ineffable word, the
sea-winds at bidding would blow,
And the hills yield their iron, and jew
els, and gold, at the naming of
God.
Many Hindus also agree with Mos
lens in believing in the preternatural
wisdom of Suleiman, and in the mar
wells which he could perform. AS for
the throne itself. the best information
with which my limited knowledge can
crafty the curiosity OF fair readers
will be to cite from the Twenty-sev-
enth Sura OF the Koran II Is there set
down In the Prophets straigtfor-
ward style how the Queen of Sheba--
which. OF course, is Sheba- visited