The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-03-02
THE FEAST or
TURIN CELEBRATED


religion reside, in every cline, city
and hamlet. the story of Esther was
related during this week, for Wed
nesday was the eve of the ancient,
merry festival Of Purim, ANTICIPATING
the feast and revel as usually cele-
brated in some form or other in every
community.
Twenty-three hundred and ninety
years have elapsed since Esther,
Jewish maiden, conSorf of Ahsuerus,
regarded among students of ancient
history as identical with Xerxes, pre-
served the Jews, residents of his do
main, from determination.
The second Temple of Jerusalem
had been destroyed and the Jews
again dispersed. Mordecai and Es-
Their had emigrated to the Kingdom
ruled by Ahasuerus.
Darius Hystapes, the father of All
asuerus, had suffered a terrible de-
feat in his war with the Greeks in
the famous battle of Marathon; ana
Ahasuerus had determined to punish
the Athenians for this, and was ac-
cordingly planning great expedition
Tor this purpose, and possibly this
assemblage of the mobiles of the en-
pire was to consult about this inn
pOftdflI undertaking.
In the midst of the feast the king
sent for Queen Vashti to come into
the banqueting hall that the princes
might see her beauty. This, very ma
turaily, with true woman1y modesty,
she refused to do, and the king was
SO angry that he deposed her from
being queen. Then the fairest maid
ems in the kingdom were gathered to-
gether in the palace that from them
! Ahasuerus might select one to be his
| queen.
And the king chose a beautiful.
| young Jewess named Esther. who
was an orphan and had been adopted
by her cousin, Mordecai. who was one
OF those who had remained in exile
in the kingdom of Persia instead of
returning TO Judea, and had become
prominent servant of Ahasuerus.
tie had told Esther, whose moral
character seemed to have been ss
great as her physical beauty not TO
reveal her nationality.
1a1nan, an arrogant noble. incens-
ed because Mordecai refused ia incl
before him, obtained the permission
OF the king to exterminate !" a neonIe
scattered yet separate" from the
rest OF his subjects. Esther Gained
audience with the king and outw;tted
Haman and since that incident ss
written IN the Book of Esther.
Therefore the Jews made the 1.tb
day of Adar day of gladness and
feastlng and good day, and of send
ing presents to one another and aim.
to the poor"
Ihe manner in which Purim ie oh
served, even in this country. depends
altogether upon the way in which the
parents OF the celebrants were reared
Judging from the descriptions and
narratives depicting the merrymakino
on furlm, IN every nook and corner
| IN odd places of Mother Earth where
Jews have their habitats, thew have
celebration. ''io
! Ihe "Naegillah Esther" is read in
orthodox synagogues. In some
81 them the name of Haman is re-
c,e1Ved by boots and groans. the chill
dFen as rule contributing noises Of
4 every CHARACTER. SIN conservative and
reform congregations the Purim
: service IS made the occasion for TAX
ing up collections for charitable mr.
4 poses. the Alliance Israelites them
selves receiving alone from this col
lection thousands of dollars annually.
However. the Purim idea is feast
ing and revelry In the beginning of
! the fifteenth century the mask was
introduced among the Jews, copied
after the carnival of Venice. From
the habit of children going about in
mask. visiting their relatives and
trends. was evolved the Purim mas
querade ball, which. a quarter of a
century ago was one of the ultra
fashionable events in the South