Evening star., 1927-11-19

Elias Hirsch got into a quarrel over
2 girl with Kaspar Evig and they
fought duel. Elias Hirsch killed
kaspar Evig.
Elias was carried about in triumph,
but. far from taking pride in his glory,
he dropped under n great sadness. He
lost weight; he sighed and he groaned.
He might often be heard mumblng:
"Kaspar, forgive mel did not mean
to kill you. What a girl to make two
men quarrel, and now the ghost of
kaspar Evig follows me everywhere,
even In my sleep"
That was how it happened that
Elias asked me to do him a favor. He
had been drinking heavily and l had
had my share. SO | agreed promptly
to walk out into the country with him
so we might discuss his oppression
and take measures to correct it.
"In your studies," Elias asked me,
"have you ever found way in which
great crimes might be surely ex-
piated?"
I endeavored to collect my thoughts
to answer him.. eff we lived in India.
I said finally, I'D tell you to bathe in
the Ganges. as the people of that coun-
try do to wash away their sins. That
marvellous river is a great comfort 10
them in that way. II is a matter OF
regret that we have no such river.
But here we are--and in your state
as to locality, time and belief, L know
of only one way to relieve you"
Elias frightened up with hope. We
had now climbed up rather high on the
morntainside, and We're standing at
a lonely place with a deep dark gorge.
encircled with gloomy frs. L sat down
upon the mossy turf to get my breath,
and at that instant | spied below us
magnificent goat, reaching up TO crop
the wild crosses that were growing on
the edge If the rock.
The cliff at this point rose in success
Sive terraces, or very wide steps, each
step or terrace being 10 feet high, per
haps, but only about a foot Wlde. Inc
goat was progressing upward toward
the very highest of these terraces,
and biting delicacies as he went.
ELIAS" said T. I'm inspired. just
as was thinking of a scapegoat. here
plain now--lay your crime on that
goat, and forget it,
"How?" asked Elias.
"Simply lay your imprecations on
that rock, and fling them down the
flung their criminals off a great rock.
"But-"
Il know your objections, my friend.
You are going to say that you see no
possible connection between the ghost
of kaspar Evig, which obsesses you.
and that goat. But think! Where is
there ever any connection between the
waters of the GaDges and the sins of
the people of India? Therefore. lay
your curses upon that goat and throw
him over, Let him expiate your sin.
command you to do it! l feel it my
duty to see this thing done"
I thought I saw Elias smile-couId
he be thinking me foolish. or, possibly,
intoxicated? I was irritated.
II see it ALL" l cried. You are a
coward You are afraid to walk along
the terrace lest your foot slip. You
will not approach this goat that is
destined to be scapegoat. There is
only one thing to dol must act for
you"
1 rose. Elias demonstrated Tie
urged me not to go. He said my foot
was not steady-just then. What did
he mean? What did he dare insinu-
ate? l had scarcely had dozen
glasses of beer.
So 1 advanced a few feet above
the goat. and said: "Azazel. Goat
destined for misery and eXpiation
I lay upon your round back the re-
morse of my friend. Elias Hirsch,
and l send you down into darkness
to expiate his sim
I then passed around the ledge on
which we stood, and descended to the
terrace below to catch the goat and
throw him into the gorge. But the