Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-07-16

placed. So they planned and carried
forward an imposing pile, which was
completed during the reign Of Servius
Tullius, 400 B. G.. This temple was de-
stroyed by fire. A second one, surpass-
ing in size and splendor the first, was
begun thirty years after the original
was leveled. This was partially burned
soon after its completion, and on the
notable day Socrates was poisoned. 1t
was restored with a grandeur surpass-
Ing anything previously expended upon
1t. Then for a third time fire razea it
to the ground. This confiagration oc-
Cured on the night Of the birth of Al
eXander the Great, 35G B. G.. The in
cendiary was Esastratus, a publicist,-
who confessed the deed and said the
reason was to gain immortality. He
was promptly executed. Its restorl-
ton was not allowed to slumber On
even grander lines was it to be reared,
eXcelling anything ever attempted by
man. Toits rebuilding the pagan world
contributed most generously.
The site had morass and required
an enormous foundation for the super
structure. This was so extensive that
1t needed as much money for the build
ing below ground as for that above.
The building was 425 feet long, 220 feet
broad, and its roof supported by 1877
columns of Parian marble, each pillar
being GO feet high and weighing $50
tons, and each the gift of king. With
in the temple was SO large that 10000
persons could be accommodated stand
ing. White marble was used for the
temple at the approaches. In its orna-
mentation cedar, cypress, different col
ored marbles and gold We're employed
lavishly. So much stone was needed
for the building that all the quarries
were exhausted for miles around the
city. All told, it was go years in build
ing. The interior was magnificently
adorned.
When NerXes, the Persian King, over
ran Asia Minor he laid waste every
idol temple except that which sheltered
Diana at Ephesus. He was so greatly
impressed with its noble architecture
and its magnitude that he ordered it
spared. He, however, carried off much
Of the treasure he found inside, nut
spared the figured goddess.
The city, however. which had grown
great by the millions of pilgrims at
tracted to 1t by the statue of Diana.
was captured and sacked by the Goths
262 A. d., and the great temple de-
stroyd. From this on Ephesus declined
until it was mere collection of huts.
and has long since disappeared from
view. Even IFS site was for long n
mystery, but explorations made recent
ly have unearthed its whereabouts. Not
only the city, but the remains of the
great temple have been found % feet
below the present surface, pieces of
which can now be seen in the British
museum.
Its Christian Epoch.
Ephesus, after the destruction of the
temple, gave up idolatry for Christian
ity. st. Paul first preached to the
Ephesians and st. Mark and ST. John
co-operated with him and with Won
derful success. Three Christian
churches We're erected by these apostles
in the city. Finally the country was
overrun by the Momammedans and the
Ephesians We're obliged to adopt the
faith of AIahonet or be put to death.
A few stood out, but the many yielded
before the sword, and Christianity was
eXtinguislSd. Desolation and misery
We're its lot thereafter, and decay set
in and continued until Ephesus was no
more. WhGEe it stood bats and owls,
snakes and lizards now hold sway. A
few heaps of stones are all that re-
main of the once proud metropolis.
Even the sea has receded from the
scene of desolation. and in its place is Il
pestilential morass covered with mud
and PUSHES, where once ships laden with
the merchandise of every country found
anchorage. The poison from .his
swamp quickly prostrates anyone who
ventures near during six months of the
year. Goats and cows thrive there, but
nothing else. Utter desolation marks
the ruins, and the visitor is glad to get
away after Il brief inspection of the
sunken city.
Every woman who is victim of tho
afternoon party habit is also victim