Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-23
LINE OF suoYs BEARING THE CABLE


TIME great desert lay burning hot
in the sunlight. The small springs
were almost dry and looked more
like swamps. but crowds of people were
hurrying along the heavy trail until
they caught sight far away of the Holy
City, glistening in the sunlight, with its
domes and minarets. The streets of the
city were crowded with pilgrims who
had come from near and far. for the
next day was the Day of the Holy Sa
crament,
The city slept little that night, Dur
ing the long hours the priests walked
in procession and long before dawn the
rocky path leading TO the main gate
of the temple was black with people
At sunrise the massive copper doors
swung open and the immense crowd
| moved slowly through the vast hall
the roof of which Was supported by
hundreds Of marble columns, and into
the great court yard within,
When the sun was entirely above t'e
horizon, a priest. dressed IN black, sp
peGred on the gallery surrounding the
highest tower and extended his hands
toward the East lie spoke aloud. but
only as soft murmur did his voice
reach the praying thousands below
From the interior Of the temple came a
mel0dious murmur of voices, The cere-
| mouy had begun. The sitting hot cay
passed, hut uobodN moved, Evening
| came. but nobody Noticed The flight of
| the hours
In a gallery above priest appeared
dressed in a white robe, gls~nng n
! the moonlight tie spoke to those be-
| low and a whisper Went through the
| crowds. The Lama is entering the
! Most Holy"
| From the temple was heard the sing
( ing OF thousands of voices, increasing
! in strength and volume unul II was like
/ the roar uf the sea. suddenly it stopped
and every one present threw himself
| face down ON the ground.
/ At this moment black cloud APP
/ preached the full moon. slowly gliding
/ across It until The shining disk was full
| ~ covered and darkness fell
| Then from the temple came the sound
| Of q wonderfully clear voice utteTiuG
strange melodious words in an unknown
/ language The voice stopped and the
air was filled as II with the beats of
! mighty wings,
| A soft song was heard from the high
| est tower, and another voice fell in
| from the interior of the temple, more
and more voices joined, untN the song
| sweiled to a hymn OF triunp phi and S4c-
| tory and the fun moon shoue as briGnt
az ever.
One Of the pilgrims went through the
/ han OF the temple, a priest dressed in
/ black appeared from behind one of the
marble columns and, pointing to a boy
walking AZ the older mans side. said;
The gods need him; follow me"
! SNertlv tN.N walked through endless
/ corridors and magnificent halls listen
! ing with silver then they entered tho
! interior Of the mountain and at last
| reached row % rooms, hewn into the
| rocks. In the largest OF these on a
| raised platform nine priests were sit
! ting, dressed III scarlet, and the leader
amorE them stood UP and said to the
| hoy:
els II your wish to serve the gods q"
| Though the boy was frightened he
| said, Yes, and the priests also sue
/ cecded a. last IN getting the consent Of
! tle trembling father. \ short farewell
and the heavy doors changed behind the
| sad parent
! Years passed and the youth was far
ahead of all his comrades in knowledge