The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1920-08-14

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AZ the episodes nre IN themselves,
strongly ms the characters are por-
trayed. they nre but preparation for
what is 10 follow, a mere worldly act
ting for him who was too great for MI
save N few to understand ut that time.
Some twcnty.oDe years after the
scenes at the mangcr, u young Jew.
Ben.Ifur. u prince 0f Jerusalem. rich.
happy, ambitious, wns standing by q
parapet of his palace. wntching the
progress of vaicrius Gratus. iinpcrinl
governor OF Judcn. AZ the Ronnn
passed beneath the wall amid the iecrh
and Insults of the Jews tho young
prince leaned far out 10 see the new
governor; Tile wns Displaced anil NJ
bitter fate would hive ". fell full upon
the governor. ThrN accident was not
fntnl. but II was M opportunity for
exemplary Justice. especially MS the es.
tntes or The lew wcre very desirable
30 the governor md his frleud Mcssnln
hitherto almost brother ~ Hcn.iIur
though The lnticr had been. The M
hnppy Jew was acnt re rowcr ~ the
gnllcvs, where the limit of life was NJ
most hut n ycnr. Iiis mother md sis.
ter were iinnured In secret cell IN
the Tower Of Antonln. where they
were doomed 20 the fate ~ the lrp.
era The on'y net ~ Kindness Ben
iIur could remember during The years
That followed was on the dny he was
dragged 10 the gnllcys ''Thc hand
laid kindly upon his shoulder awotc
the unfortunate man. and looking up.
he saw face he never forgpt-.-fbe
face ~ hoy nbont his own hge,
shndcd by locks ~ yeilowish bright
chestnut hair; n face lighted by dark
blue eyes ai the time No soft. 80 M
peniing. 10 full ~ love and holy pur.
pose. thni they had all the power OF
command and will" That WIS IN
Nazareth
How Ben.IIur IN time became
rover on the flagship of Alrrus. dunn.
vir and admiral, how the flagship was
destroyed IN n great ser fight. how
Bcn.Hur rescued the admiral. became
his adopted son aud heir. learned nj
Ror,e the manner ~ Roman war and
Roman sports. returned Ia the East
n Romnn officer In the train OF a con-
sui settling forth on great campaign
against The Pnrthinns: how he dis.
covered that his fathers old steward
Slmonldes Ind succeeded IN saving
from coniscntlon the vast Intangible
wealth ~ the IIurs and had multiplied
u many times. till the young komnn.
Jew was the richest private citizen
In the world the discovery TINT Mes
snlu WIS entered for the highest stake
IN the great sporting event ~ The
orient how Bon.IIur won the affection
Of Ildcrim. the Arab shcIk. who Ind
entered his siecds ~ ~. desert for
~. gfenl cycnt--all this leads M 10
the dramatic encounter ~ the frmous
chariot rucc. The author drew his
description of the rncc from one writ.
ten over twcniy.ihrc. hundred years
ago by the 'rnglc poc, Sophoclcs. II
IN onc OF the curiositIcs of literniure
thnt the grht sccnc. through the pages
of Lew -Wallacc's novel. has become
~ famous ON our stage Ne II was 80
long ago on that OF Greece.
By his Victory In the arena Pen
Hur cxnoied ancient Jewish justice
on his hated adversary. who was
crushed In body and impoverished In
fortune. he had warered on his sue
cess nll the wealth he had stolen from
his former friend. The yictorn,lmosi
fell prey. however. 90 the vampire
daughter ~ Egypt who wns rival for
his love with the gentle Jewish Esther.
But henceforfh his thoughts were con
ccntrnich on him who WIS attracting
ail eyes. Was he Messiah ar klngp
Bcn.iIpr. In his hatred ~ Rome. IN his
pride OF rsce. dreamed only az n king
~ this world. who should right nn-
cient wrongs and exnlt his chosen pco.
pie. Aud ~ he threw himself with
nll his force. with nll his wealth. with
all the knowledge gained NJ Rome.
into making secure and strong the way
~ the king whom he would follow.
But II was for one supreme In things
spiritual rather than material that
the WAY was being made ready. And
Ben-Ilurs mother. rescued with her
daughter from her long Imprisonment
by chance change Of jailers, but
hopeless Iepers both, saw the truth
sooner than her sou.
"'Oh Master. Masterr she cried ns
ne passed upon the road, 'rhon scesI
our need thon canst make us clean
Have mercy upon us-mercy3
"'l'cllcvest thou I am able 10 do
lhlsy he asked. 4
"'1'h0u art hc OF whom the prophets
sprke--lhou art the Messiah . she r..
plI"L His eyes grew radiant, his man
ner confident.
"'Woman.' he said great H. thy
faith be- II unto thee even as thou
wilt"
And so. IN the end. Ben.IIur rccog.
nized what Ralthazar had known from
the beginning. "Oh wise Egyptian,
hearken Thou alone were right--the
Nazarene Is indeed the son of God"