Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-08

Besides, probably an equal amount for
precious stones, marble and other building
materials, making a grand total Of about
$500. 000. 600 The above figures are based
on the account given in I Kings and I
chronicles. xxx, of David's preparations
Tor the temple. together with the donations
by the leaders of Israel
Herods temple was even superior in
beauty and more costly. "It was built of
intersecting beveled-edged alabaster and
marble, that resembled the waves of the
sea"
But even Herod was out-Heroded nv the
magnificent labyrinth in the dual metropo-
us or Alexandria, Egypt. controlled by the
ienenistlc jewish population, which r.
judah estimates as twice 900, OOO the num-
Der OF Jews in the Egyptian exodus The
labyrinth contained seventy-one cathedrals
Tor the seventy-one Sanhedrn of the great
assembly. Every cathedral cost no less
than 100000 talents Of gold This item
alone, seventyone times 21O OCO times s24
600, foots up 1851, $40, COO, COO
When Jerusalem was besieged before the
second destruction there were three rich
Jews named, respectively, Nikodemon Rem
Glorion. Ben Kalba-Sabn and Ben Tit
zithka-kesath. They resolved rather than
TO surrender to the enemy. to feed all the
Inhabitants of Jerusalem, during twenty
one years If necessary One of them stipu-
lated to furnish wheat and barley, another
to furnish wine and oil. and another fire.
wood. Assuming that the population was
1.OO0.O0O (by actual census at the Passover
festival in the year 60. or three years be-
fore the destruction). and allowing but 800
| year for the maintenance of a person.
| the sum would be S2 100 100000
1t is interesting to note that the daughter
| of Nikodemon was allowed, by the Jewish
| court of Beth-din. daily sum of 400 gold
| denarim for her cosmetics Ga Roman cop
per denarim was worth about seventeen
cents, and there were twenty-five copper
| pieces in one gold denarim. 425), and null
tiplied by 365 days equals s62. $50 600 with
out taking into account various sums for
| her headgear. dressmakers' bills, ornaments
| and pin money, which in ordinary cases
exceeds 100 times. at least. the value of
| cosmetics. That would swell the total to
| $124. 10000. 600. outside of other household
| expenses. And yet Miss Nikodemon ap-
| pears to have been dissatisfied with the
| small appropriation for her cosmetics, as
| she sneeringly thanked" the rabbi judges
| for their "liberality," and wished their ewn
! daughters to fare no better. The rabbis
| however. accepted the curse" with grace
and answered Amen
r. Johanan Ben Zakkai witnessed the
| Kethuba marriage jointure) of Miss Niko-
| demon. wherein was recorded her dowry Of
1 1.O00,O00 gold denarim, $425. 600, 900. besides
| the dowry Of her father-in-law. Nikodemon
| himself Is reported to have stepped on silks
| all the way from his house to the Beth
| Hamidrash. daily. and every time the silks
| were allowed to be picked up by the poor
Among other rich celebrities are R. Ellie
| berben AZariah, who contributed an annual
| 1.-THE of 1900 sheep, on an income of 120,-
| 600 sheep. or at SO apiece, 81. 100000 per
| annum. and r. Judah h-Nasi I, whose
stablemaster was richer than King Shabur
| As rule the Agadic stories are intended
| only as moral lessons. Nevertheless. like a
| good historical novel, they have some basis
| in the underground. And no doubt there
| existed immense riches In those times, more
! than the average modern historian cares to
admit