Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-12
AHASUERUS PLOT
is INTERESTING
Scene of Play to Be Given for
Bethany Home Laid in
Persia.

The story OF AndsueTuS al thlS
time is especially interesting, in view
of the public performances of the
music drama to be given under aus
pices Of Bethany Protective associa-
ton Oct. %. "a, 25 and 26.
The scenes Of the music drama,
"Ahasuerus." are laid in Persia. dur
ing the reign of King Ahasuerus. known
to secular history as Xerxes, son of
Darius, who ruled some 500 years be-
fore Christ. II was this Xerxes who
assembled an army of million men to
invade Greece. Suffering defeat, he
returned TO his capital city, Shushan,
where he dwelt in great splendor, TAX
ing TO wife, Esther, a Jewess, in place
of Vashti, whom he had banished for
refusing to appear before his mobiles
during a carousal. History contains
no further reference 10 Vashti Before
her wedding, Esther dwelt with her I'M
Gle, Mordecai, in Babylon, where a
preceding ruler had brought the Jews
to Ahasuerus, her uncle was made
keeper of the kings gate. Overhear-
ing a plot TO kill the king, he sent
warning to Esther, who saved the
kings life Haman, an Amalekite, a
tribe hostile to the Jews. had risen to
be the greatest lord in Persia, and the
king ordered that all people should
render him worship. Mordecai's re-
( ligion forbade that he bow down to
/ Hannah, thus arousing the bitter anger
| of Haman and his wife, Zeresh, who
obtained permission from the king to
destroy all the Jews in the kingdom
/ The Hebrews assembled to pray for
deliverance and Mordecai induced Es-
Their to go to the king aud appeal to
him, even at the risk of her life, for
daring to venture unsummoned into
his presence. Esther requested Alias
uerus to attend banquet in her pal
ace, bringing Hamas as a guest.
The night before the banquet, the
king, unable to sleep, searched the rec
ords OF his kingdom and learned that
no reward had been given Mordecai
for saving his life. Even while the
record was being read Hannah appear
ed to ask for Mordecai's life. but be-
fore he could make his request the
king asked him what honor should be
accorded the man in whom the king
delighted. Hannah, imagining the king
wished TO honor him, suggested that
the crown, royal apparel and horse be
brought and the greatest noble pro
claim before him: Thus shall it be
done TO the man whom the king de-
lighteth to honor To Humans amaze
ment the king commanded: do even
so to Mordecai the jew"
After this public humiliation Humans
rage knew no bounds. and. urged by
Zeresh. he constructed a gallows so
cubits high on which 10 hang Morde-
cal. A herald, sent TO summon Hannah
TO the banquet, learned the use of the
gallows. At the banquet Esther ex-
posed Humans plot and Ahasuerus
condemned him TO death and exalted
Mcrdecai in his place. The Jews insti-
tuted the feast of Purum in thankful
ness, and TO this day it is observed
Few stories so fully illustrate the re-
ward Of confidence in God and the
speedy punishment of the wicked.
The scenery for "Ahasuerus" was
painted by the artists of New York and
Chicago. who executed the magnif
cent settings for "Egypta" There are
six scenes and for each is provided a
superb equipment.
The oriental character of the story
gives scope for unusual color effects
in the COstuming. and the multitude OF
singers in the flowing draperies will
introduce a most impressive spectac
UlaT effect
II is in time or sudden ishap or &C
cident that Chamberlains Linimen
can be relied upon to take the piac,
OF the family doctor, who cannot al
ways be found at the moment. Ther
1t is that Chamberlains Liniment il
never found wanting. In cases O
sprains, cuts, wounds and bruise.
Chamberlain's Liniment takes out The
. soreness and drives away the pain
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