Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-26

IIerod.s family. His father, Antipater,
was an Idumean prince. and not Jew.
At any rate, the Idumeans had embraced
Judaism at that time, about 20 Il. c., and
the hatred OF Jewish faction for the
| Herodian dynasty was racial religious
1t arose from the fact that Antipater
helped the Roman Pompey overthrow the
Maccabean dynasty in Judea and then
supplanted this national stock as gov
ernor under Rome. The Sadducee mobiles
among the Jews chung to the Maccabean
house and made trouble for Herod all
his life long. His public career began
when his father. Antipater made him
Governor of Galilee. about 4S B. c. Jo-
sephuS says he was then fifteen years
old. but this makes him too much of
youthful phenomenon. Better authorities
nix his age at twenty-five. His life was
passed I'm constant turmoil until he died.
Herod had many of the qualities of
statesman. but 1t was a politician that
ne shone. He had an extraordinary ge-
mus for changing sides just in the nick
OF time. He never betrayed a falling
master moment too soon for his for
tune nor went over to a rising one
moment too late When Julius Caesar was
assassinated by the aristocratic cabal at
Rome Herod gave his allegiance to Cas-
sius who commanded for the conspir-
ators in Asia. Cassius rewarded his fidel-
!ty by making him Governor Of Coele-
Stria. After the battle of Phillip which
/ made Mark Antony ruler of the east.
Herod transferred his loyalty with such
satisfactory celebrity that he was raised
to the rank of tetrarch. His enemies.
the Sadduccees, did their best to poison
Antony's mind against him, but he out
witted them, as he constantly did all his
antagonists. Soon afterward the Par
thians overran Herod's -dominions.
In his flight from them he took along
his mother. Cypros. and Salome. his sis
ter. as we'll as Marianne. to- whom he
was betrOthed. These impediments he de-
posted for safe-keeping in the Castle of
Masada. by the Dead sea, while he made
his fugitive way on to Rome. At the
capital of the world both Augustus Gaze
sar and Mark Antony welcomed Herod.
The two magistrates had not vet quar-
relied and they consented to restore his
power. BY their gentle persuasion the
Roman senate was moved to declare him
King of Judea. He returned to Palestine
armed with the power of the empire, and
after some difficulties had been over
come. took Jerusalem from t 9 Parthians.
1t was at this point IN his career that
he married the first Marianne. to whom
he had been betrothed five years. The
wedding was celebrated in Samarfa. a
province which had been loyal to Herod
in all his troubles. Marianne was of the
Maccabean race. Perhaps i'll marrying
her Herod thought to concliate his enc
mics. but he reckoned without his
mother-in-law. Alexandra. As mis-
sister Salome. His family life must have
been exciting to the last degree. His
mother. Cypros, kept row going with
Alexandra. Salome attended to Mari
anne. while Marianne herself stirred up
the Sadduccees with the able assistance
of her mother.
Herod was one of the greatest builders
OF ancient times. He rebuilt the temple,
erected Cor himself magnificent palace,
and bestowed upon his people the advan-
tage Of peace and non-interference from
adjoining kingdoms. He built seaports
and theaters, but-had no peace in his
own home
HEALTH OF ACTORS.-''When / get
| to Washington" wrote John p. Wade,
| the star at Chase's this week, to an old
| friend here, II want you to take me to
| the census Office. so 1 can bother those
statistics-gatherers bit on the question
of the longevity of actors. You know it
| has been fad of mine for years to keep
| tab on the health and happenings con-
corning the profession. / have often
asked myself why are SO few actors re-
ported killed or injured in railway or
steamboat or other transportation acci-
dents? There's hardly a train in motion