The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-10-31
usually the woman who displays
spiritual heroism.

usually the woman who displays
spiritual heroism.
Persia Then and Now.
Every tale must be read in the iiSnt
of its time. We must take down our
| ancient Greek histories as
taries upon this lesson. NerXes. or
Ahasueres was ruler OF the Worid. he
was contemplating the invasion OF
Greece, a vain attempt that has maze
Marathon and Thermopylae famliiar
words. His word was law TO un-
counted millions. Persia was tneh
the greatest power on earth. Iooay
it is one of the meanest.
is exon departing, from the I"fci.t'.
rug industry, owing to the use OF
aniline dyes.
Perhaps l have a grudge against
Persia, for, after the snow in the
upper passes had blocked a visit to
Teheran in the early part of this year
(not to mention the question of the
time invOived), / was not even per-
mitted to visit the ruins at Susa. which
is the Shushan Of this story, and
Persepolis, where the ancient Persian
kings had their capital. The ban
dts are in such complete control OF
this part Of Persia that the consuls
will not permit foreigners to risk
their lives by entering.
1t was at Susa that the French
a~rchaeOlogiSt. De Morgan, made sew
eral sensational finds, including the
famous Cod of Hammurabi, a cOllec-
ton of laws of the time Of Abraham.
This inscribed stone was almost as
great a blow to the high
of the critics as David's pebble was to
Goliath; for in their sapiency they
had been assuring the world that in
the time Of Moses society was not
sufficiently organized to have such a
complete set of laws as the Ten Com
mandments and the Levitica1 code.
Now the critics who are casting doubt
on the story Of Esther may be con-
founded by the discovery of a copy
of decree, or of Nor
decai's seal. This is the very sort
of thing. the archaeologists are dig
ging up; and I myself have samples
which 1 got in B~abylonia.
When the Bagdad Railway gets to
running many Of US may take the
short trip across the Persian gulf n
see the uin at Susa Of the palace
where this drama of Esther was en-
acted. Then we shall better realize
the authority, autocratic power and
the opulent m~agnifcence of the court
in which the beautiful young Jewess
found herself a potent figure. Read
ing history on the spot, and amid per-
sisting oriental conditions, we may
appreciate afresh the absolute power
of an o-iental despot. Susa is a long
way from London or Washington, or
other capital of a constitutional form
Of government.
Palace Intrigues.
One Of the best commentaries upon
ethe Book of Esther IS a good picture
of life in an oriental palace, as the
recent work by Bland and Back
house. "China Under the Empress
Dowager." One must understand the
constant 0fma<nhora cf infriC1,o on6
sycophancy amid which an oriental
monarch lives in order to compre-
bend the sudden rise Of Haman, and
his more sudden fall, with Nor
decai's elevation. The best key to
the present news from China is some
knowledge of the palace intrigues in
Peking.
Face" is more than life In the
East Haman, the chief favorite Of
the king, lost face when Mordecai,
the Jew at the gate. would not kow-
tow to him. Therefore he plotted a
truly oriental vengeance, not only
upon Mordecai, but upon his family
and race as well. All of this is clear
and comprehensive and natural to
any reader East Of Suez." The most
occidental phase Of the story is the
sturdy old Jews independence. and
his confidence that his people would
somehow be saved from vengeance.
even though his enemy did possess
the kings signet ring.
Let us tarry a moment to cheer for
Mordecai, the loyal. He stood by the
king, he stood by the little girl de-
pendent upon him, he stood by his
people, he stood by his self-respect
he stood by Jehovah. He was true to
his home folk with that chiyalrous
loyalty which is in a peculiar meas
ure a tradition Of the South The
Jews have also had it always. To
this day the sense OF racial unity
binds the poor Jews in Persia and
Palestine with wealthy Jewish bank
ers in New York and Paris and Lon
don. Loyalty is often a greater virtue
than love: indeed, 1t is an essential
part of true love; for, as Shakespeare
says, Love is not love which altereth
when it alteration finds"
A WOman'S Mission.