The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-22
Tt is Commanded to Drink
So Much on Purirn So as
Not to Know the Differ
ence Between Accused be
Hannah and Blessed Be
Mordecai' = Was Cele-
brated in Pensacola.

The. feast OF Esther, which occurred
singularly enough, on st. Parick's s.
Day this year, under the rule of the
Jewish calendar, was celebrated in
Pensacola, a children's maSque ball
being given last Wednesday afternoon.
followed that night by a grand affair
by the elders and Jews of the city.
1t is probable that the average Cen
tile is not acquainted with the his
tory of this celebration or jubilee, for
it is a day reserved in the Hebrew cal
endar, upon which to make merry. No
race of people has a richer history Of
dramatic and poetic atmosphere than
the Hebrews. Theirs is tragic record
at best, filled with pain and anguish,
and forbearance. Knocked and reFiled,
as the despiSed people, yet possessing
characteristics of their temperament,
warm, passionate traits that have
made their poetry and drama tbest
typified in the Old Testament), a
wealth of artistic merit
The following from the New York
World giving a short account of the
origin of the feast of Esther, or Pu-
rim, is of much interest:
It is remarkable that the very be-
ginning of the drama is traced by
y
book (Estherl, possibly because of the
dramatic elements in it. There is the
play of human passions. rebellion OF
the wife Vashti, plotting OF Hannah,
the faithfulness of Mcrdecai, the beau
~ and Woman's wit of Esther. 1t has
been a fayorite tale among the Jews,
because in it was related the dramat-
ic triumph of that people against its
age-long enemy, and in every age this
book has been the consolation Of the
Jew because of its promise of aid at
the time of critical need.
The Rabbits of the Talmud have
called the attention of readers to the
fact that in the book of Esther the
word God is not mentioned even once.
and they explained its admission into
the Biblical Canon solely on the
ground of its patriotic and dramatic
qualities.
As every Bible student knows, the
name of the Feast. Purim, is explained
in the book of Esther as due to the
casting of lots (PrIrim) for the fixing
of the day when the great slaughter Of
the Jews was to have taken place, had
not Esther and Mordecai saved the
day.
A long list of the dramatization of
this book might easily be compiled,
for in every known language there are
plays of Esther" in which the Bibli-
cal narrative is followed with more
or less literalneSs. How easily 1t
lends itself to dramatic handling will
be plain to any casual reader of the
book, who cares to see where the
very beginning OF the Biblical drama
is to be found
In one decentralization of the story. by
Clifton HARDY, the play terminates
with this wording OF the request by
Queen Esther to King Abasuerus af-
ter he has ordered his Grand Vizier,
Hannah, to the ga.lows that has been
built for AIordecai to die upon
An order now send forth, my King,
To all thy people. Israel, my race;
And let them keep for years to come
This festival so full of joy to all.
Today art thou from a dangerous foe
made free,
And Judah,s glad in Humans worthy
death; y.
So let it be law for all these Jews.
Who live within the confines of our
realm,
To keep this happy festival with glad
ness and with JOY,
And as our foe cast lots to find the
day,
So let its name be Purim to the end.
That may remind us of the deliver
ance great,
Wrought by our God at all times, as
at this,
Whom we do beg to guard us ever
more,
And help us ever in diStresses sore,
That we may live His glory to declare
And make all nations His great name
to hear;
Until they shall in loud, united tone
Proclaim aloud that He is One alone.
1t is no wonder that on this feast
merrymaking is general among the