The Detroit times., 1915-01-08

and duty. Slscra's message 10 the
youth OF today is 20 learn 20 die nobiy'
rather than 20 live cowardly
Had he died or been captured ike
brave soldier Sisera would have es-
caped the ignominious end which was
his fate like that OF wild animal
I'm his flight. ne came 70 Bedouln en-
campment. The tents were those OF
party of neutral Kcuites. The men
v ere all absent and the rigid etiquette
of the time and the people demanded
that Sisera should pass 10y the unpro-
teGed households In his manly
terror h6 committed the foly ana
offeuse OF seeking To hide in the NO
mems quarters of Hcner's tent. JaeL
the wife. quick Of Wit resorted TO
guile She welcomed him, fed him
from the goatskn fun of curdied mix.
and when he fcN swiftly into the sleep
uf utter exhaustion, she slew him,
A foul deal was Jaers Clever com
mentatoTs have tried 20 explain away,
on the grounds OF Stser's violation OF
tho desert code, and on the basis or
Jaeps loyalty 10 Israel. her cruel and
monstrous act, In driving tent peg
through the temple OF the sleeping
guest. We know that the Orient does
not have our standards or fair fight,
have seen men scratching, biting or
kicking each other; and we also know
that cruelty Is commoner in the east.
Nevertheless. the deed was fiendish,
even IL X did serve the welfare OF the
Chosen People. and consummate the
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
apOogists in Europe cannot explain
away certain undoubted offenses
against civilization in the present war.
The Battle Song Of Victory.
Like so much OF the Bible the Song
Of Deborah is best Interpreted IN the
light OF the usages OF the east Once,
down along the Tigris river, | had put
10 confusion pretty Turkish official,
and my old raftsman Il called him
Hamlet" because he was such a
melancholy Dance lifted up his crack
e voice and in a long and boastful
recitative sang the triumph as II il
had been one OF Alexanders victories.
That is the custom in Bible lands TO-
day, as for thousands OF years past
I.NtAs iidO HhlA llllSll PiOdhNNS N WV
Of epics. Your western poet must
chew penholder for time ere he
can produce a little verse; but your
Arab with the swing and vigor and
.stateliness OF Deborah's pean, will i'm
provise his poetry for every occasion
Every village and tribe has its poet
laureate whose efficiency, relatively
is greater than that OF Britatns
stately. noble song was that OF
Deborah, and worthy OF close studs
In II she not only sounded the note o.
triumph. and eXulted in the fall Of
the foe, and rehearsed the events Of
the battle. and derided the craven
Israelites who had skulled at home in
the hour OF need. but she also, and
chiefly. set forth the majesty and
might Of Jehovah. as the real victor
The poem, like all true poetry. pene
trated straightway TO the heart OF the
matter. and in lofty strain. exalted thc
God who gave the victory.
Aside from its inherent interest
this great conquest over the Canaan.
ties helped determine the solidarity
of the Hebrew people. The event was
"a turning point in the history OF Israel
Deborah stands. regal figure. at 3
cross roads in the life OF her nation
and she upholds and represents the
twin truths of patriotism and religion