Evening star., 1948-06-26
Capital Transit Salaries

Capital Transit Salaries
To the Editor Of The Star:
I notice the Capital Transit Co. Is asking
a raise in fare, intimating that fares in other
towns are higher. This is not so as in most
towns fares are lower, also rides are longer
Very few are as high as here
II the Capital Transit is losing, why the
huge salaries they pay their top men? E. D. c.
Three Temples in Jerusalem
To the Editor of The Star
In The Star of June IS, the Haskin Service
replied with the following statement to an
inquiry regarding the Wailing Wall in Jeru-
salem: when Solomon's Temple fell into the
hands of the Moslems, this fragment Of the
old wall marked the nearest approach that the
Jews could make to the holy site"
But Solomon's Temple never fell into the
hands Of the Moslems. Built about 1000 years
before Christ 1t was destroyed during the
Babylonian conquest Of Palestine, about 400
years later. 1t was rebuilt at the end Of the
Babylonian captivity, about 500 BIC. Then,
about 20 BE-, this second temple was de-
moished and its reconstruction begun by Herod
the Great, called King of the Jews, though
actually he ruled as vassal Of Rome, his
position having been confirmed by Mark
Anthony Herod had mania for building, and
embellished many cities of Palestine with baths
and theaters. He even constructed whole towns.
The Jews were reluctant to have Herod raze
their Temple fearing that he might neglect
to rebuild 1t, for he was interruptions and
ruthless. 1t was he who tried to kill the infant
Christ He murdered his beautiful wife, Mari
anne, and is said to have executed the entire
Jewish Sanhedrin merely because, as the
Jewish national assembly, it had presumed to
criticize some Of his acts.
The Wonder Of Herod's Making.
Herods Temple was one Of the architectural
wonders Of the ancient world, and one Of the
most astonishing buildings Of all time. In size
and splendor it far surpassed Solomon's Temple.
Towering above the buildings Of ancient
Jerusalem 1t looked (according to Josephus, .
contemporary Jewish historian like a snow
covered mountain, since such parts as were
not gilded were Of white marble. The sun
reflected from its gold-covered surfaces Is said
almost to have blinded the beholder. We read
of doors 40 feet high and half as wide, covered.
together with their jamhs and lintels, not with
gold-leaf Though its use was then common)
but with heavy plates Of gold That is not
incredible, since the Romans are said to have
used $25 900 900 worth OF the precious metal
begun) to gild their temple Of Jupiter Capt.
tolnus, otherwise known as the Capitolium or
Capitol.
But the most remarkable part Of Herods
Temple was the vast court in which the actual
building stood Herod had more than doubled
the original area Of the Temple site by filling
in and walling up part OF valley, thereby
creating space for court 200 feet long by
1000 feet wide. This court, paved with SLABS
of marble, was surrounded by stoa, or covered
passage usually known as the porch, which was
nearly a mile in length. On three sides OF the
court this porch was composed OF three rows
of columns On the south side, where 1t was
known as the Royal Porch, there were, accord
ing to Josephus, 1862 columns In four parallel
rows There must have been at least 500 OF
these columns. and all Of them were IN the
Corinthian style, with which we are familiar
in our Capitol and Supreme Court buildings.
Each Of them is said to have been carved from
a single piece OF white marble and to have
been of such circumference that three men
holding hands could just reach around 1t at
its base.
Endured Only q Single Decade.
Strange as it may seem, though the ruins OF
many much older pagan temples still exist, not
even the smallest fragment Of the architectural
details Of Herod's marvellous Temple appears
thus far to have been discovered, though
portion Of It's foundations probably forms the
present Wailing Wall. Requiring 30 years 70
finish, and built to endure for ages, 1t stood
for barely 10 years after its completion and
eventually disappeared entirely.
In AD 10, following q siege In which more
than million Jews are said to have per1sneo,
Herods Temple (the third Jewish Temple) was
destroyed by the angry soldiers OF the Roman
General Oater Emperor) Titus. who was unable
to restrain them. Carved reliefs representing
the Seven Golden Candlesticks and other sacred
objects which these soldiers carried OH from
Herod's Temple, still may be seen on inc
Triumphal Arch of Titus in Rome. Under that
arch no orthodox Jew may pass, since 1t Is
the outstanding symbol of the humiliation OF
his people.
Perhaps it was the pride inspired In them
by their magnificent Temple (Which IN size
and splendor certainly exceeded any pagan
temple) that led the Jews into their tragic
war with the Romans war whose ecnoes
have not died out after nearly 2,OOo years.
But the Jews were not yet entirely conquereo'
nor was Jerusalem yet totally destroyed. HOW
ever. in the year 1872, as the result OF an up
rising under Bar Kochba, its ruin was COM
pleted. A Roman city known as Aelia Capltohna
subsequently was built on its site, which was
further desecrated by the erection OF many
pagan temples A temple to Jupiter Capltoiihus,
the patron deity Of ancient Rome pro1aneo
the Temple area No Jew was permitted to enter
this Roman city, though entry was not 1or-
hidden to the Christians. 1t is therefore evident
that no Jewish Temple fell into the hands OF
the Mohammedan conquerors. The Mosque OF
omar (symbolizing religion that Is not jewish
Christian or pagan now stands on the Temple
site. ChAHLrS n.
Convention Parades Questioned
To the Editor Of The STAR
Do we really want to continue the custom
of the spontaneous" carefully planned parades
at our national conventions?
A convention has serious work to 90.
pMCEvARE KING.