Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18

had many contemporary imitators - in
fact, at one time there was q whole
colony OF aerial SitterS near him. But
none achieved his record Of 30 eonsecu-.
tive years!
At the age Of IS, Simeon, n Syrian,
tired Of being a shepherd boy. became
monk. He endured a martyrlike
novitiate and then occurred to him the
idea OF sitting on top Of q column as
means Of proving his exceeding faith
and OF outdoing his fellows in devo-
ton.
A Record Which Standa.
At the age of IS he MOUNTED to the
top OF column 8 feet hign. He
chained himself to It,. Then he pro-
ceeded to sit. It was not long before
he attracted attention even in that
mountain, some 40 miles from Antioch,
which he had selected for the site of
his vigil At his instigation, his dis
ciples gradually raised his column until
it was so feet high. Its top was no
larger than the top of the ordinary
architectural column one sees on public
buildings. Occasionally q little food
was drawn up by him in q basket, but
starvation, in addition to exposure 20
the elements-especially the bliStering
so he ate only what would barely keep
him alive,
He occupied his time. by prayer. He
would stand for hours with his arms ex-
tended, his T gure, at short distance,
resembling the Figure Of the Cross. At
other times Simeon prayed by bending
over and touching his feet with his
fingertips. He did this Unfortunately,
each bow signifying q prayer. The
only record which has been kept OF
the number Of successive times he bent
nrirf Slyy
than any daily dozen. At that point
the recorder tired of counting How
many more times he bowed, what was
his real record, Is lost and unimpor-
tant fact
The Devils Revenge.
For 80 years he remained there, and
at length died there, aged Sc. He died
OF an ulcer on his thigh; probably q
cancer Of some sort. Contemporary be-
lief was that the devil. thinking. after
q number Of years. that he could tempt
Simeon from so uncomfortable post,
drove up to his perch in q fiery chariot,
disguised as an angel come to take him
to Heaven. Simeon was about to get
into the car, brushed the side with his
thigh and received the burn which de-
veloped into the ulcer, bringing him
death, not, however, before he had
endured years of suffering.
During the latter part Of his 30-year
vigil he received the homage Of crowds
of pilgrims. He was consulted by high
officials on matters of church and state,
and his utterances. floating thinly
down from above. we're regarded as
oracular. The Emperor Theodosius the
Younger, himself. consulted him. When
his remains were finally brought down
he was given an impressive funeral.
The patriarch and six bishops led the
procession, in which there were 81
counts and 5000 soldiers. with in
Vulnerable people in the train.
For that matter when young Fore
man was sitting on his Baltimore pole
Mayor Broenipg of the city came to
his back yard and addressed him there.
After his descent he gave the youngster
silver buckle and q letter commend
ing his stamina. The pastor of the
church whose Sunday school is at
tended by one Of the other perching
boys held services in the back yard, be-
meath his pole. That boy whites away
the time by reading the Bible. An
| other plays his violin. One of the girls
| is surrounded by boxes Of cosmetics
and practices making up. The pole on
which one boy was sitting snapped and
the lad broke leg. Building inspectors
| then proceeded to visit and inspect the
| various poles, making those atop I'M
stable ones descend. His honor tbs
mayor darts from pole to pole. making
| speeches of encouragement. The pole
| sitters have platforms rugged on their
| poles. One Of the girls has q divan
| on hers. Another milestone on the
! pathway to civilization! '-5[