The Detroit times., 1915-01-08

and duty. Siserb's message TO The
youth OF today Is no learn 90 die nopiy.
rather than 10 live cowardly
.hao he died or heen captured like "A
brave soldier Stsera would have es-
caped he ignominious end which Was
his a fate like that OF a Wild animal
In his flight. he came O q Bedouin en-
campment The tents were those or a
party OF neutral KenitCs The men
We're all absent and the raid etiquette
OF the time and ,he people demanied
that Sisera should pass by The unpre
teC,ed households. IN Ris manlN
terror, le committed the tClly and
Offehse OF seeking to hide IN the NO
mems quarters OF HeherS tent JarE
The wife, quick of wit, cesortcd 20
gule She welcomed him ied nam
from the goatskin lull of cnrdied milk.
and when he fell swiftly into he seen
o. utter exhaustion, she slew him
foul deal was JaePs clever com
mentators have tried 10 explain away,
on the grounds OF Siser'S violation OF
the desert code. and on the basis OF
JAel's loyalty TO Israel her cruel and
mOnst rCus act. In driving tent peg
/ through the temple OF the slcepins
guest We know that the orient does
not have our standards OF a fair fight
! | have seen men scratching, biting or
! kicking each other. and we also know
! that cruelty is commoner n he east
Nevertheless. the deed was tiendish
even II /; did serve the welfare OF the
Chosen People. and consummate ihe
victory OF Barah Making all allow
ance for the standards OF the times
there are some acts that cannot be
Condoned: exactly as all the subtle
apologists in Europe cannot explain
away certain undouhted ottenses
against civilization in the present war
The Battle Song OF Victory.
Like so much of the Bible. the song
of Deborah is hest interpreted in the
light of the usages Of the east once
down along the Tigris river. / had pat
\ 10 confusion a pretty Turkish official
/ and my old raftsman I'll called him
/ I"HAmlet," because he was such a
melancholy Danel lifted up his crack
Ell voice and in long aud boa uuI
! IreciHtive sang the triumph as II u
/ had been one of Alexander victories
! That is the custom in Bible lands 10
\ day. as for thousands OF years past
4 Every Arab skirmish produces CROP
lof epics Your western poet must
chew a penholder for a time ere he
ican produce a little verse but your
I Arab with the swing and yigor aliA
!stateliness or Deborah's pean will i'm
/ Iprovise his poetry for every occas !on
( Every village and tribe has It's 30,
! laureate whose efficiency relatively
is greater than that OF Britain's.
! A stately, noble song was that 0i
4 Deborah. and worthy OF close stud,
I IN IL she not only sounded the note o'
1 triumph. and exulted in the fall
1.-The foe. and rehearsed the events
| the battle. and derided the craven
! Israelites who had skulled az home q
the hour OF need, but she also. auU
/ chiefly. set forth the majesty and
might OF Jehovah as the real victor
/ The poem, like all true poetry, pene
ltrated straightway to the heart OF tn
matter, and in lofty strain. exalted The
/ God who gave the victory.
( Aside from its inherent interesJ
this great conquest over the Cduaa1
!ites helped determine the solidarity
| OF the Hebrew people. The event was
! a turning point in the history OF Israel
Deborah stands. 2 regal figure az
crossroads in the life OF her nation
and she upholds and represents IN,
twin truths OF patriotism and religion