The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-26

readins-.,rnost picturesque OF anti-phona.
services, blessings from Gerizim. curses from
Ebai.-has photographed tho law Upon the
sensitive plate OF n nations memory. a
national commission. Under tho superviston
o: Joshua and the high priest, is now am
gagged In the delicate task OF apportipHlna
the CONQUERED territory to families by.1ot.
Before that commission there appeared
one day n man eighty-nve years or age.
But spite OF years his eye was still brilliant.
his step elastic. and he every inch " aoi-
birth. Through faith he had Joined his
fortunes with Israel when he came UP out
Of Egypt. He was not a natural. but =
tribe u Judah. least infected OF all the
tribes with racial prejudice. had generously
adopted him, as It afterward did Raiab and
Ruth. or this kindly deed the tribe mover
had occasion for regret.
Forty-five years before. disguised as an
Es. plain merchant perhaps. he had tratnped
thia very country 40 a spy, noting its re-
sources. both natural and military, often
s'va and defensive. Unaffected by the opin-
Ion of his associates. or the effect theft re-
nation. he stood his ground. and. WITHOUT
fear or favor. conscientiousiy expressed. his
view. and adhered to II. though ,stonesIwere
picked up TO put him to death. While every
body's heart was melting with fear. his was
Arm as a rock, because his faith, IN: spitf
OF apparent impossibilities. wholly followed
Israel. g .,ss.
AZ a recognition OF his signal fidelity. he
was promised a ,patrimony in the land
OF Divine approval he had cherished In all
the checkered experience OF the wilderness
for forty years. This hope had swesteaed
many a dark day. After seven years hard
lighting, his rapport. made almost half a
century before. was proved incontestsbly
true. Israel could take Canaan. The land
vas taken. from the cedar slopes ots1seba-
non to the Southland. from the riyer...tptIh
sea: Its thirty-one petty kings were sTa,tttan.
u "a tie 1tN 30 = I'll E~- q a AEHH
Now. this adopted prince of Judah, this
disguised scout. with his faithful Fellow.
sole survivor OF a dead generation, appears
before tho land commissioners OF 1sraslsito
have the promise OF Jehovah fulfilled. He
is himself a member OF that commission.
but he will take no star.route to his claim.
his ACKNOWLEDGMENT. IN their presercesf he
calls Joshua to witness the validity afahis
rcquisition. 800
The claim is undisputed> 1t is cordially
allowed. What particular part of tbs. gen
ora. dist7is. assigned TO judah Vii he.
will take the lordly estate OF some exilai
king. with It's princely manor. with It's vine
yard and fg-orchard. In the coursefof ma
ture, but few years remain to this hero OF
many a w~ell-fought field. Ee Will speak
for himself a well-earned repose amid as
luxurious surroundings as the land affords.
But this is a strange prelude to any such
request. He admits his. age. true: but. With
the same breath he atttr1ns his ftness Tor
continued military service. Young blood tin
giles IN old Veins he waves his dountleSs
hand toward those natural fortresses, this
almost inaccessible cliffs rising Beyond the
Plains Of Mamrs, and cries. There is my
pertion!' 1t was the. only part of Canaa,
unconquered. There the Colossii-Anakim
had taken refuge behind the bastions o.
nsture. 1t Is no fat benehca Caleb asks OF
tho land commissioner. The Lords follow
20, faithful and heroic. will rid the Lord >
land OF the last remnant of heathenisIn, All
he asks Is. the privilege of scaling yonder
cliff and breaking up the vulture's nest.
l Ssyrh a ranf1AstL atrikac q nraSnnpS{vp chord
IN Joshua'B noble heart. He springs 10. his
feet. He spreads his hands in benediction,
loving and rererent. over the hoary head
OF this incompatible hero. and. with the
undisputed consent OF the commission, ,hs
gives him. not merely the mountain, but tbs
fertile plain of Mamre. so dear TO the lie
4 brew heart because of Its associations. will
the patriarcha. He gives him the rich me,
tropolis OF Hebron. and makes him custo,
dian OF the hottest tomb on earth. where
sleep Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And .yir-
tue hath. Its sure reward.