The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1903-03-10
THE FALL OF BABYLON
Tragic Story Presented At the Opsss
House Tonight Beishazzar's Feast--Strik.
ing Seenery-B Beautiful Costumes.

'"S Nenefy-beautisul Costumes.
No story is more thrilling in its he
ginning or more tragic in its ending than
that which tells Of the greatest CITY Of its
time. and of the gigantic massacre whic h
followed. Away ck in the dim pest.
1880 years ago, did the great and grow.
ing Persian king, Cyrus, make an in.
vas'on OF Babylonis. II was not thought
possible that the Persian could penetrate
to the capital, or that If he did, he could
make the slightes, impression on the city.
They believed them elves very secure.
because the river Euphrates was their
oulwark, and they had 30 years provi.
sions III the city To Belshazzar, the
eldest son of the king, was left the gen.
eral direction of affairs, as the king him.
self had gone forth to contend with the
persians. Against the walls of the city
the hosts of Cyrus beat in vain. lie
therefore resolved to an audacious ex.
pedient, which was planned and
execute to entire success. He undertake
the work of diverting the waters Of the
river from the natural bed into canals
which he had cut for the purpose. lie
learned also that the great annual feast
OF the Babylonians was abcu to he cele.
brated, and he awaited the coming Of
that event as the best time for striking
the impending blow. The feast came on
1000 mobiles were invited; the young
prince, Belshazzar, gave himself up reck.
lessly to the occasion. There was
splender within and darkness without.
1t was the night Of doom. While the
revel was gong on in the wild abandon.
ment Of victorious debauchery, there
came handwriting OH the wall, which
none Of his wise men could read or tel
the meaning. The Interpretation Of the
mystical characters was given by Daniel
a young captive Jew Of noble birth. II
dealt plainly with Belshazzar, and showed
him his doom written. Outside the city,
the Persian was opening the sluices into
his canals above the city. The river
began to sink. The invaders hurried
along the banks; they passed in without
opposition; there was no alarm. The
noise of the feast resounded afar. The
river gates were s-ized, the tocsn was
sounded, the assault begar, aud a XII.
gantic massacre followed. The drunken
Babylonians fl II; Belshazzar and his
nob'"s were slain at the banquet, and
the dawn found the Victorious Persian in
complete | Ios>es>iou If the city.
This is the story that will he presented
with appropriate action and costumipg
at the opera house, tonight and Wed.
mes day night. March 10 and IL. under the
direction OF Prof. NJ. L, Robinson. He i.
a past master in such work, as was sc
clearly seen in the presentation oi the
story of Esther" here last fall
There is no better director to be found
and this is the Judgment of sone Of tho
uIADSt COiA pCtSut ~iItiSs III tuS SSuhAiy
A thorough musician, AN enthusiastic
leader. an energetic worker, faithful II
his obligations, perfect gentleman-h'
is all these, and his success proves him t
be such. The talent lie has secu ed il
the very best available, many having hat
experience in the work which is to bt
presented. The parts are better bal
anced than in Queen Esther" and tha
is saying great deal. The choruses ar
great, the male choruses alone beinI
worth going miles to hear. We have at
tended some of the rehersals. anl oui
Judgment is that the whole performanc
will be vastly superior to Esther" O
which it was said: ''The best thing
we've seen in the city; indeed, the bes
of its kind anywhere" The action /
more spirited, the choruses greater il
volume and finer, the costumes mucl
richer, and the whole more attractive
and brilliant in its presentation.
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