.4-
ABSALOM
THE USURPER
STORY BY THE "HIGHWAY
AND BYWAY" PREACHER
(Copyright, l'.V7. Iijr mo AiiiIhii, W.H. VA'itw.)
Scripture nntliorlty 2 Snmuol,
J:i:Mtf!U3.
w .11 j .i.v ."..V.J'.-V U-'i-lt'SW. ;V. -11 sVoV.
ser'monettil.
Destruction Is from within.
Every man builds the scaffold
ing on which Ib executed the
monster of his misdeeds.
Absalom is but one example
of the myriads which the
world's history affords of the
fact that an evil life contains
the 3ecds of its own undoing.
Prldewhlch built up such a
splendid' conspiracy, proved the
medium through which came dc
feat and final destruction.
A man, after all, Is only as
strong as his weakest point, and
notwithstanding Absalom'o rare
genius and clover scheming, he
fell an easy victim to that de.
sire for magnificence and dls.
play, which had been a ruling
passion of his life. A night cam
paign, cwlft and full of hardship
and danger, did not appeal to
him, but the leading of a mag
nlflcent army In a spectacular
campaign won his approval and
led him to defeat and death.
That is about all there Is to
be said concerning Absalom,
we see him In that last Igno
mlnlouB hour how 'the mask is
torn from his beautiful face and
form, and the hideous character
which he had grown within
ctands revealed! A dishonorable,
disobedient, Godless son going
down in disgrace to a grave dug
in the woods, while the magnifi
cent mausoleum which he had
erected with a statue of himself
stands empty, and, in silent
mockery, condemns the folly of
man's planning apart from the
will and purposes of God.
In this incident is strikingly
emphasized the old, familiar
adage: "Man proposes and God
disposes."
David realized this, and as he
fled from Jerusalem, a broken
hearted father, he lifted his eyes
to heaven and said: "If I shall
find , favor In the eyes of the
Lord, ho will bring me again,
and shew me both the ark and
its' habitation. But if he (God)
thus say, I have no delight in
thee; behold, here am I, let him
do to me .as seemeth good unto
him."
Here was both the spirit of
true repentance for the sins
which had come into 'his own
life, and whose fruitage was to
be found in the present wicked
plotting of his son; and whole
hearted submission to the sov
ereign will of God.
And both the repentance and
the submission find their inspira
tion and strength in the faith
which laid hold upon God in the
f.i
I
i
fa
dark hour and clung to him as
only the. helpless soul can cling
which it reduced to the last ex
tremity and sees that only God j
can deliver. $
THE STORY.
JERUSALEM, which had but a fow
hours boforo wept 'over (ho aged
king, hh ho lied with his fow follow
ers, how rung with the shouts for tho
now king. Ever a. lover of pomp und
coremony, thnt was a most spectacular
entrance which Absalom matlo as,
with his gathered army and the in
creasing multitudes who wore curried
away by the enthusiasm yf the mo-
MARKED FI8H IN THE SEA.
, Thousands of Them Caught, Number-
' d and Put Back in British Channel.
i
4
Catching fish, measuring and mark
! ing them and then returning thorn to
1 the sea with the chance of retailing
I them lator is part of the work carried
. on by the Marino Biological Associa
tion of Great Britain, says Discovery.
By moans of a steam trawler tho
Ash are caught in thq usual way. Each
haul Ib carefully recorded, the llsh
, are counted and measured und nil de
tails of locality, time, number, spe
cies, sex and size aro put down, to
gether with nccurato observations on
tho water, tho depth and bottom of tho
t sea, tho kinds and quality of food
available, etc. These data aro subso
quontly tabulated und charted.
The method of marking the llsh is
interesting and has been attended
with valuable results. The fish chief
ly used during tho few years tho ex
c 'perimeut has been in progress have
, ' been j plaice, because the proposals
"which have been made to interfere
mom, ho mado tho Journoy from
Hebron and took possoBnlon of tho
royal city and tho palu?o of cedar
which David had built.
An he. rodo through the BtrcotH sur
rounded not by fifty runners and a fow
chariots, hut by a multitude of chari
ots and a great company of lighting
men, ho smiled with grim satisfaction.
Far beyond tho greatest expectations
had Ills plot carried. Ho had not ex
pected to enter tho gates of Jerusa
lem without a struggle. lie had not
dreamed that so easily and quickly
wero his ambitions and hopes to he
realized. Hut hero hen was within
Jerusalem's gates, and yonder was the
splendid palace of cedar. Tho air
rang with tho shouts of tho multi
tudes as they crlod: "Long live King
Absalom."
With an expression of supremo sat
isfaction and self-assuranco upon his
face Absalom turned to Ahlthophel,
who was riding with him in the char
iot, and said:
"Where are those who stand with
David?"
"He not over-confident, oh, king, for
where David Is there will bo found
those who will lay down their lives
for him," rejoined Ahlthophel, almost
curtly.
There was no man In all the land
so keen and wIbo as Ahlthophel. For
long years ho had served at the court
of King David, and was acquainted
with every detail of tho business of
tho kingdom. Through some Blight,
fancied or real, at the hands of tho
king, he had become dissatisfied, and
when the plotting of Absalom had so
carried tho nation by storm he had
welcomed It as his opportunity of
gaining a greator ascendancy over the
nation and had quickly joined himself
to the court of Absalom which he had
set up at Hebron, nnd when tidings
had come that David had lied 'from
Jerusalem he counseled that they re
turn to the royal city and take posses
sion of the palace. This advice Ab
salom speedily adopted and, as wo
have seen, his welcome to Jerusalem
was all that the heart of an ambitious
man could desire.
And on tho day after his return
came Hushai, the Archite, saying:
"Whom the Lord, and this people,
and all tho men of Israel choose, his
will I be, and with him will 1 abide.
Yea, whom should 1 servo? Should
1 not servo in the presence or David's
son? As I havo served In thy father's
presence, so will I bo In thy presence."
And while Ahlthophel, Absalom's
chief counsellor, looked with disfavor
upon the coming of Hushai, neverthe
less Absalom was disposed to recoivo
with a deep sense of gratification the
coming of one who had been so near
to David, and he accepted it as another
sign or the unfailing success of his
plot. He found a new sonso of securi
ty In the presence of Hushai.
That night. Ahlthophel eamo to him
and urged him to choose out a small
army and pursue after David and his
little band of followers, and ho gavo u
ready consent.
"But first let-us hear what Hushai
hath to say," demanded tho king. "Ho
hath but Just come from tho presence
of David and ho well knows what it
will mean to pursue after tho fleeing
king."
"Tho counsel that Ahlthophel hath
given is not good at this time, oh,
king!" boldly declared Hushai, when
ho had been ushered Into the royal
presence. "Thou knowest thy father
and his men, that they bo mighty men,
and they be chafed in their minds, as
a bear robbed of her whelps in the
field; and thy father is n man of war,
and will not lodge with tho people.
Heboid, oven now ho is hid in Bomo
pit or in some othor pluco; and it will
como to pass, when somo of thorn be
overthrown at tho first, that whoso
over heareth it will say, Thero Ib a
slaughter among tho peoplo that fol
low Absalom. And ho also that is
valiant, whoso heart is as tho heart of
a lion, shall utterly molt; for'all Israel
knowoth that thy fathor Is a mighty
man and they which bo with him aro
valiant men. Thoreforo I counsel that
with tho catching of them wore based
on Inadequate knowledge.
Tho fish aro marked on tho dorsal
surface with a very thin convex metal
disk bearing a number. This Is at
tached to a flno sllvor wlro which is
passed through tho thinner part of tho
fish near tho fin and secured on the
under sido by a Bmall bono button.
The fish do not appear to suffer Incon
venience and their growth is not In
terfered with in any way.
The thoroughness with which tho
North sea is swept by tho nets of the
fishing fleets is demonstrated by tho
fact that out of 5,039 marked plalco
of all sizes 992 wore recaptured with
in a year. This represents 19.7 per
cent., or nearly one-fifth, but for the
medium-sized fish tho figures aro far
higher, ranging from 28.4 to H9 per
cent, for tho whole of tho North sea
and to -111 per cont. in tho more north
ern portions.
Tito men of tho regular fishing fleet
cooporate by forwarding to tho labor
atory of tho association at Lowestoft
all (hq marked fish they cntch.' At tho
laboratory reference to the records
all Israel ho gonerally gathered unto
thee, from Dan oven to Beorflhoba, as
tho sand that is by tho sea for multi
tude; and that thou go to battlo in
thine own person; so shall wo como
upon him In some ploco where ho
shall be found, and wo will light upon
him us the dew falleth on tho ground;
and of him and of all tho men with
him there Bhall not bo left so much as
one. Moreover, ir he be gotton unto a
city, then shall all Israel bring ropea
to thnt city, nnd we will draw it into
tho river, until thero be not one small
stone found there."
Ay Absalom listened to tho brilliant
picture of success which Hushai paint
ed his enthusiasm grew. The big
army, tho brilliant plnn of campaign,
tho overwhelming numbers and tho
crushing victory all appealed to his In
nate senso of pride and kingly im
portance. Ho would lead such an
army; ho would utterly destroy tho
mighty David and his valiant men and
the fume of him would spread to tho
uttermost bounds of tho earth, so that
all nations round about would trem
ble. Ahlthophel, who noted tho expres
sion of fnvor upon tho faco of Ab
salom, arose to sreak In remonstranco,
when tho young king waved him asldo
imperiously and said:
"Tho counsel or Hushai N is hotter
than thy counsel. Let messengers go
forth at once that there be no delay
in the gathering of the hosts of Is
raol." A few days later as Absalom, at the
head of a vast army, was proudly set
ting forth from Jerusalem, word camo
to him that Ahlthophel had hanged
himself.
"The fool," muttered the king under
his breath, "could he see tho hosts of
Israel this dny and tho certainty of
glorious victory ho would bo ushamod
that ho had counseled other than as
did Hushai."
So ho tried to dismiss the subject
from his mind, but all through that
day and the next, as he led his forces
Into battle, there kept floating beforo
his eyes tho vision of Ahlthophel,
black and hideous, with a rope around
his neck. He could not Shake it off.
In desperation he pressed tho battle,
but. Instead of the foe he ever saw the
dead, blackened corpse floating before
his eyes.
The flanks of his army hav been
turned, the ranks waver and break,
and soon the panic or full retreat has
seized all the hosts of Israel. Those
about him melt away and, almost
alone, he turns his mule's head and
flees. With si fatal fascination he
watches the swaying branches of tho
trees in the distance. He thinks of
the dead Ahlthophel. It seems almost
as though the trees wero beckoning
him to Ahithophel's side. On ho goes,
and as he passes under the boughs of
a great oak tho hair in which he had
found so much pride and joy caught
hold of tho oak and thero he swung
between eurth and sky unable to free
himself. And there Absalom died, and
they cast him into a great pit and laid
a very great heap of stones upon him.
The Hungry Parrot.
Everybody knows one or more of
those conscientious egotists who can
not rid themselves of the idea that no
one can be trusted to carry out the
simplest details of routine work
without personal supervision. It
was one of these men who sailed for
America, leaving in his brother's care
a parrot of which he was very fond.
All the way across tho Atlantic he
worried about the bird, and no sooner
hull he landed at New York than he
sent over this cablegram to his broth
er:
"Be sure and feed parrot."
And tho brother cabled back:
"Have fed him, but he-'s hungry
acaln. What shall I do noxt?" Tit
Bits.
The Interesting Novel.
You can't convlnco a woman that
a novel is Interesting unless the hero
and heroine get married in the last
chapter and live happily over after.
easily establishes how much tho fish
havo gained in size and weight since
the previous catching. Moreover, the
dlstanco between tho .spot where it
was released and the place where It
was again caught gives an idea as tc
Its movements.
Embraces Islamism.
Dr. Ewald Falls, a woll-known
Egyptologist and excavator, has em
braced Islam. Whllo at tho head of
an excavating expedition In the Nile
delta he became bo convinced of tho
virtues of Mohammedanism that ho
confessed the faith and was received
at the mosque at Marlout. He will
henceforth bo known under the name
of Mussa Mohammad.
The "Test.
It is as much the test of dlsclploBhlp
to wash or mend n not on tho shoro
as to catch a great draught in tho
open sea.
The Climbers.
The Alpine summits are
monks or sybarites. They
cllmhers.
not
aro
for
for
ESPERANTO
I EAT VIGOR OF MOVEMENT FOR
UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.
'Progress Made In This and Other
Countries in Developing, a Com-
( mon Medium of Communi
cation.
Tho Esperanto movement Is gaining
strength every year. Tho development
of tho universal language and tho
numbers of those who are committed
to-the mission of placlng'the language
upon a practical and commercial ba
sis grow apace. This was plainly and
forcibly Indicated at this year's In
ternational Congress of Esperantists
Just held in Cambridge, England.
It is estimated that thero are up
wards of 500,000 loyal esperantists
throughout the world, a goodly pro
portion being found in New York, Bos
ton, and other largo cities of the
country. Dr. L. Zamenhof is president
of the international organization. Un
der tho nom de plume, Dr. Esperanto
(a name, by tho way, which signifies
"hope") ho invented the language.
Ho objects to the distinction, univer
sal language, as it was farthest from
his purpose to have tho new language
become tho common tongue of all
peoples. Ho prefers to have it known
as tho International auxiliary lan
guage, as it is intended to simpliry
commercial and political intercourse
between tho nations. Perhaps the
greatest Impetus which Esperanto has
received took place at the congress in
Cambridge, England. Fourteen hun
dred delegates representing twenty
five different countries wero present.
To attempt to describe in detail the
events at this congress would take col
umns of space. It may be mentioned
here, however, that every big country
was represented by a man of promi
nence and at this congress Esperanto
received Its lirst oflicial recognition
by a European power, the delogato
from Belgium having been officially
assigned by tho ministry of military
affairs to represent the Belgian min
istry at the congress.
The American delegates who attend
ed the congress are enthusiastic over
tho practical use to which they put
their knowledgo of Esperanto while
In Cambridge. Professor Viles, of the
Ohio State University, had only a
reading knowledge, but he declares
that ho found, within a few hours,
that he could use the language in con
versation. Professor Viles also brings
back word that Lord Roberts, the fam
ous "Bobs" has just accepted the hon
orary presidency of the British Es
peranto association.
Although the leading centers of the
Esperanto movement are in Franco,
England and Germany, the peoplo of
the United States are rapidly becom
OLD ROMAN ARENA
DUG UP IN HEART OF PARIS AND
COMPLETELY RESTORED.
Will Be Utilized as a Place for Open
.Air Theater In Which An
cient Dramas Will Be
Given.
Tho things of a bygone age have a
fascination for the people of to-day.
The ruins of former centuries are
being uncovered and explored, aiid in
some cases where tho circumstances
warraut aro being restored. This is
true in Paris at the present time,
where steps are being taken for the
restoration of tho remains of tho
Roman theater, which were unearth
ed just beforo the Franco-Prussian
war, but which have for years been
desecrated by a terminus of the Gen
eral Omnibus company of Paris.
Up to tho time that the omnibus
company took possession of tho pic-
turesquo spot in- tho Rue Mongo, it
was tho pride of Baron Haussmann,
who found delight in the ancient ruins,
although ho mado no practical use
of tho place. Now it is proposed to
revive it In a manner most aesthetic.
Somo tlmo ago the omnibus company
was dispossessed and the ruins com
pletely restored, and at the present
tlmo M. Camllle do Sainte-Croix, the
dramatic author, has obtained a con
cession from tho city of Paris which
will -enable him to give open air per
formances there of old Greco-Roman
plays similar to those conducted at
Orange, Bezlors, Champiguy, Ninies,
Aries, and othor places which havo
Gallo-Roman remains.
The theater in tho Hue Mongo dates
from tho third century, and was built
by Roman soldiers whose camp occu
pied the placo where the Odeon and
tho universities now stand. In 1870,
whon the Ruo Mongo was pierced and
these Roman remains were unearth-
ml. tho archaeoloKlcal societies of
Franco helped to form a company to
rnatnrn and nreserve them. But thev
never went further than the sweeping
GROWS
ing interested In it. Three years ago
It was virtually unheard of in Ameri
ca. Now there is a national association
and more than forty-two local socie
ties and clubs affiliated with it, the
total membership list running well up
into the thousands.
The nntionnl society, or tho Ameri
can Esperanto association, as It is
now known, was formed on March 16
of the same year at the home of Mr..
Matchett, who organized the first so
ciety. Tlie members of the two so
cieties already In existence and other
Esperantists residing in Everett, Med
ford, Brighton and neighboring towns
succeeded by united effort In plac
ing the national association upon a
dj?. max rJzMxy
permanent basis. They were soon
joined by Esperanists and Esperanto
clubs in other states.
Although few of the business men
of Now York havo mado practical use
as yet of Esperanto, Dr. Talmey
President of the New York Esperanto
society, is confident that those who
are affiliated with firms that handle
a great deal of foreign business will
soon be forced to take up the inter
national language. In an interview re
cently with the writer he said:
"The American Consul in Breslau,
Germany, has just written the govern
ment to advise our merchants to eith
er learn Esperanto, or secure represen
tatives with such knowledge if they
desire to hold foreign trade. This
messago was published in the Finan
cier, and I understand It has spurred
some of our merchants to inquire
about Esperanto.
"I agree with the Breslau consul,
for I believe that the day is not far
distant when foreign merchants will
transact much of their International
business through Esperanto."
of the only part of the circus that was
exhumed. The Franco-Prussian war
Interrupted the work, and tho pot
teries, coins, arms and sculptured or
naments found in these remains were
taken to tho Carnavalet museum. The
remainder of the circus is still un
earthed, and is covered by the red
tiled station of the General Omnibus
company. Thirteen years later the
city awoke to the necessity of making
some use of tho material excavated,
nnd the ruins were repnlred and a
square wasplanned with trees upon
the borders. But the effort ended
there.
The present arena is in thre6 parts
the stone steps to the left, the ter
races to the right, the hemlcycle cut
by the omnibus company's wall a
wall, by the way, which is most ad
vantageously situated for the uses of
the present undertaking, as Ifgives
acoustical properties of much tha
same importance as at Orange, and
will permit of lyrical performances
until the way is clear for grand spec
tacular ballets. The stage, wltlu its
orchestra, dressing rooms, scenery,
costumes und accessories, will bo built
at tho foot of this great wall. A velum
in four parts, fixed with decorative
masts, will protect the stage and the
spectators from sun or iain, -at the
samo tlmo intercepting tho view of tins
neighboring houses.
The principal entrance," six yards
wide by fifty long, leads from the
square to tho arena. The audience
will be seated in a circle hieing the
wall in tho original distribution of
places on the stone stepB to the left
nnd tho terraces to the right, covered
with removable wooden benehca, and,
in the shapo of a fan upon the ground
of the arena, covered with j Ranting
flooring in wood with seats ox rarkjus
prices.
In the Asylum.
Now Jones was In a padded coll,
Uut Smith, ho had nn added
Insanity so mad was lie
Ho had his brain-ccllH padded! ,
-Puck.