South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-17

fne cross. ana carrier 81 '+l ANit
ard all. % the place 81 planting. At
word they dropped the tree into
the hole. and the BODY Of the Naz-
arene also dropped heavily, and
. hung by the bleedpg hands Still
no CRY q pair-only the eXclama-
ton diwnest OF AZ recorded ex-
carnations.
Father. forgive them for they
know not what they do
The cross. reared now above all
objects. and standing sinely out
against the sky. was greeted with "a
burst OF delight. and all who could
see and read the writing upon the
board over the ,'azarene's head
made haste 90 decipher IL. soon as
.cad the legend was adopted Dy
Them and communicated. and pres
entity the whole mighty concourse
was ringing the salutation from
side 20 side. and repeating II with
laughter and groans.
King Of the Jews, Hail. King
% the Jews,
The sun was rising rapidly 20
noon. the hills barred their brown
breasts lovingly 20 Il. the more
distant mountains rejoiced in the
u1ruIe with which IL so regally
dressed them. In the city the tenn
t,Ies palaces. towers. pinnacles. and
.u points OF beauty and prOmin-
orce seemed 10 lift themselves in
ro the unrivalIed brilliance. as if
they knew the pride they were Civ
ing the many who from time 20
time turned 10 look 81 them. sud
denly "a dimness began 20 fll the
sky and cover the earth--at first no
more than a scarce perceptiDle
fading OF the day; twilight out OF
time. an evening gliding In upon
the splendOrs OF noon. But II
deeUened. and directly drew atten-
ton. whereat the noise OF the
shouting and laughter fell of. and
men. doubling their senses gazed
AZ cath other curiously: then they
looked 20 the sun again then at
the mountains. getting farther
away. az the sky and the near
landscape. sinking in shadow; at
The hill upon which the tragedy was
enacting. and from all these they
cazed al each other again, and turn
ed male. and held their peace.
Tt is only a mist or passing
cloud. Simonides said soothingly
10 Esther. who was alarmed. 1t
will brighten presently
.Ben-Hur did not think so.
1T is not a mist or a cloud, he
aid The spirits who live in the
air-the prophets and saints-are at
work in mercy 10 themselves and
nature. I say 70 you. o Simonides,
truly as God lives, ne who hangs
Wonder is the Son OF Cod
And leaving Simonides lost IN
wonder at such speech from him.
he went where Balthazar was
kneeling nearby. and laid his hand
upon the good mans shoulder
80 wise Egyptian. harken Thou
alone vert right-the Nazarene Is
indeed the Son OF God
"Balthazar drew him down 70
him. and replied. feebly. I saw Him
a child In the manger where He
was first laid: II Is not strange that
7 knew Him sooner than thou; but
oh that should live TO see this
dav, Would that I had died with
my brethreni Happy Melchior!
Happy Gaspar"
Comfort thee.' said -Hur.
Doubtless they too are here"
Within the frame OF the story Of
Christ is told the tale OF Ben-Hur
beginning with the appearance OF
the three Wise Men. Balthazar,
Nelchior. and Gaspar. and ending
with the sublime tragedy on Col
gotha. From the days Of the
scenes at the manger until the cul-
mination Of the great story, the
figure OF Christ appears but once
and that for a moment, but over
an that happens in the intervening
years hovers the gentle spirit;
thrilling as the episodes are IN
themselves, strongly as the char
acters are portrayed, they are but
a preparation for what is 10 fol.
low. a mere worldly setting FOR
Him who was too great for al
save a few 20 understand at thai
time
some q years after the scenes
at the manger, a young jew, Ben
Hur. a prince Of Jerusalem. rich
happy. ambitious. was standing by
a parapet OF his palace watching
the progress Of Valertus Gratus. inn
periaI governor OF Judea- As the
Roman passed beneath the wal
amid the 1eers and insults OF the
Jews. the young prince leaned fai
out 20 see the new governor. q
loose tile was displaced. and as bit
ter fate would have H. fell full mp
on the governor. The accident Wa.
not fatal: but IL was an opportun
itv for exemplary justice, especially
q the estates Of the Jews were
very desirable 20 the governor anC
his friend MESSIAH, hitherto aImos
brother 20 Ben-Hur though the lat
ter had been. The unhappy jew
was sent as a ROVER 20 the galleys
where the limit OF life was az mos
but a wear. His mother and siste'
were immured in n secret cell iI
the Tower OF Antonio. where they
were doomed 20 the fate OF lepers
The only act OF kindness Ben-Hu'