New-York tribune., 1907-04-14
BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST.
Scene To Be Depicted Realistically
at Gomez Island.

Some OF the splendor Of the greatest court OF an
Client Babylon Is to be shown at Coney Island this
coming summer. A picture Of the time when Bel
shazzar regned from the Euxine Sea to the Persian
Gulf and when tribute was brought TO him from
nearly all the lanes OF the East will be with
in sound OF the trolley of to-day The picture
chosen portray these glories Of ancient CiviliZa
ton is the Feast OF BeIshazzar.' 1t VIII be seen
within the gates OF the Orient" which William
\. Ellis is adding exhibition OF entertainment
and education to the END OF the WOrld spectacle
In Dreamand.
In It Is shown the climax OF the reign of Bel
shazzar when Darius and the Medes lying
outside the walls Of the leading city Of that day
and when the ancient empire stood tOppng the
verge OF destruction.
On a great stage. larger than most OF the city
theatres. Will be shown the throne room OF the
BabylOnian Empire. High on dais one side
will be the throne rich in the splendOr OF diamonds
emeralds. turquoises and beryls
The roof is to be supported by massive pillars
OF stafT made TO resemble marble and chalCedony
while curtains OF crimson and Tyrian purple hang
from the walls. Slaves Of alI nations are 10 stand
about waving fans OF peacock plumes. while others
serve the King and his generals with wine from
golden hagons. Poets to be reciting the deeds
Of the Babylonian warriors and singers and dan
cling girls VIII appear. Around the King are 20
he his courtiers and his councillors-od men with
flowing robes and he9rds.
As the spectators watch the revelry. the Kings
permission 10 dance. The permission viii be grant
ed. and the rirs will begin one Of che dances OF
the East. the dance Of the seven wells seen In
'Salome" Then the priests win iutOne an invOca-
ton to Bel DaRon and the maidens sing song
Of the beauties Of Astarte. Suddenly as the maid
ems are singing there will come n fash OF lightning
out OF the sky where the Is still shining Then
darkness is 10 settle quickly. and arm. luminous
and awesome. will appear the wall before the
King
A. +ho I-t,,- s.,-+. s-,r, Lts ,b-o,o ovb,s+ ~
courtiers prostrate themselves in abject terror.
Slowly the luminous hand VIII trace in letters Of
fire the words. Meme. Memo. Tekel Upharsin-"
Then the hand disappears. but the words viii
main in living are. shining in the darkness As the
treubes under thunderclap the darkness
will disappear and all be light once more.
Slowly the Mortified court will arouse itself and
the wise from Chaldea will be summoned. but
none will he able explain the vision TO the King
and he will call for Daniel whom Nebuchadnezzar
called BeIteshazzar. The prophet. now an old man.
will before the King. while the soothsayers
and magicians stand sneering about Tracing tho
words over again with his staH upon the floor,
Daniel will expound the prophecy AS he repeats
the mysterious words he will add their Individual
meaning 'Mene-Ciod hath numbered thy king
dom. Mcne-He hath finished IT; Tekel-Thou art
weighed the balance and found wanting Uphar-
sin-Thy kingdom will be divided among the NIedes
and the Persians" King and court will be in ter
ror. but Relshazzar will call his slaves and they
will bring in a purple robe OF honor and massive
chain with which they will cothe the prophet. and
the heralds VIII announce that Daniel is 70 rule
over the land under Belshazzar and his viziers and
that no is 10 be King Of Chaldea.
Then the priests win intone another invocation
To Dagon. asking 10 he saved from the horrors
without the gate OF the city Their prayer will
he short as Belshazzar with his boon companions
and courtiers their debaucheries. unheed-
ing the warning of the coming onslaught by the
MedeS ana PeTsians
In the midst Of tho continued revelry the picture
again changes. The hangings will be drawn from
one side OF the throne and the low hills and plains
without tho city will be seen bathed in moonlight.
over the hills come the hOrdes of Darius. until
they reach the river bed. dry since his men
have diverted its waters above the city. Up the