The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-05-10


Enigma Of the Finger Message.
There stood in Rome many ages ago
a beautiful marble statue the mystery
Of which attracted the attention Of all
the wise men from far and near. No
body could remember when it had been
erected, and nobody knew what it
meant.
It was the figure of woman, tall,
strong and supple. She stood erect,
with her right arm outstretched, her
mantle falling in graceful folds about
her figure, on her face a look, half
smile, half frown, Turing, yet appeal
ing, but always holding the observer
by a strange feeling that It reused OF
mystery, glory and horror.
But even all that, written so clearly
in the mystic signs that art uses, might
have been overlooked by the people
had it not been for a more material
puzzle presented by the statue. On the
third finger Of the outstretched hand
was written in unfading letters, Strike
here" And therein lay the mystery.
Years came and went, and wise men
puzzled their brains to find the secret.
Seers from faroff lands came to Rome,
attracted by the statue, and still 1t
stood, mute, cold, inexplicable.
One day a young man stood before
it. he had grown up with the idea OF
solving the mystery, and each day
since he was little child he had come
for a few moments and stood silently
gazing at the strange countenance.
He had learned to love the face, the
wise lips that looked as If they might
part and tell the secret that ages had
yearned to know, but through these
ages only he had been sincere In his
search. Faithful through all disap-
pointments be had gained strength and
wisdom. and now as he stood before the
statue the sun, halfway up the eastern
sky, shone full upon the image.
A strange thrill passed through the
man, and, looking in the direction in
dicated by the pointing finger, he saw
some yards away, the shadow of the
outstretched hand on the ground. He
gave a low cry, and, after noting the
spot we'll, he departed.
That night at midnight he went to
the place and began to dig In the
ground where the shadow Of the hand
had. fallen. A long time he worked.
never ceasing his digging, when sud-
denly his spade struck something hard.
Then his zeal increased, and, clear
ing space, he saw beneath him trap
door, with a great stone ring. Grasp
ing the ring he pulled open the door
and started back, dazzled, for a food
of light burst upon him from out of
the depths.
Quickly recovering, the young man
looked again and beheld a wide mar
BILE staircase descending from the trap
door. Throwing down his spade he
passed through the door, down the
steps and found himself in a vast hall.
The floor Of this room was Of marble,
pure white, while the walls and ceiling
were Of the same material In many
colors. The huge pillars upholding the
vast dome shone like alabaster. Rare
paintings hung upon the walls, and
rich rugs lay strewn upon the floor.
In the center Of the room fountain
stood. The water in it's basin was as
pure as crystal, but not ripple stirred
its surface, and no pleasant tapping
charmed the ear as it does when water
falls from on high, for, though the
fountain was apparently perfect no
water rose from it to fall again.
On seats running around this silent
fountain were many men In rich bro
cades and costly fur robes. Lifelike
they looked, but to the touch they were
as marble. It was as if in the midst Of
life death had come and petrifed these
beings in mockery.
Around on tables and benches were
scattered piles Of gold and precious
gems. Delicate enameled vases and
swords inlaid with gems added their
wealth to the place.
But rarest Of all the gems was
great carbuncle, which stood IN cor
ner of the room and from which came
the sole light by which the place was
relieved from darkness. In the corner
opposite to this stone stood an archer,
his bow bent, his arrow on the string,
aimed at the carbuncle. On his bow,
shining with reflected light, were the
words:
81 am that I am. My shaft Is In
evitable. Yon glittering jewel cannot
escape it's stroke"
As he looked on all this in silent won
der the young Roman heard voice ut
ter one word-"Beware"
Then he passed into the next room
and found it fitted up as magnihcently
as the one he had just left All man
ner Of couches were about this room,
and reclining on them were WONDER
fully beautiful women. But their lips
were sealed in this place Of silence.
From there he passed on, hnding
many more wonders-rooms filed with
treasures Of art, stables filed with fine
horses, granaries filled with forage.
Everything that could make palace