Evening Star Newspaper, February 12, 1898, Page 18

18 Author's Note. The world is full of ruins, but few cf them have an origin so utterly lost in mys- tery as those of Zimbabwe. Who built them? What purpose did they serve? These fre questiors that must have perplexed many generations and many different races of men. The researches of Mr. Wilmot prove to us indeed that in the middle ages Zimbab- we or Zimboe was the seat of a barbarous empire, whose ruler was named the Em- peror cf Monomotapa, and that for some ars the Jesuits ministered in a Christian church built beneath the shadow of its ancient towers. But of the original pur- pose of those towers and of the race that reared them, the inhabitants of mediaeval Monomotapa, it is probable, knew less even than we know teday. The labors and skilled ebservation of the late Mr. Theo- dore Bent, whose death is so great a loss to ali interested in such matters, have shown almost without doubt that Zimbab- ras an inland Phoenician city, or a city whe inhabitants were ich practiced Phoenician cus- hiped the Phoenician dei- h all is conjecture. How it ed that a trading town, protected by fortifications and adorned with tem- ated to the worship of the gods donians—or, rather, trading towns, of the for Zimbabwe is only one of a group of ruins—were built by civilized men in the heart of Africa perhaps we shall never learn, though the discovery of their bury- irg places might throw some light upon the problem. Meanwhile there is ample room for spec- ulation, both as to the dim beginnings of the ancient city and its still dimmer end, of we can guess oniy that hordes of = savages stamped it out of exist- e2th their blood-stained feet, as in erations they stamped out the 2 ef Monomotapa. In the following nantic sketch the writer has ventured te suggest incidents such as might have accompanied this first extinction of the Phoenician Zimbabwe. The pursuit, in- deed, is one in which he can only hope to fill the place of a humble pioneer, since it is certain that in years to come the dead fertress temples of South Africa will oc- cupy the pens of many generations of the writers of romance who, as he hopes, may more ascertained facts to build upon than are available today. CHAPTER I. The Caravan. The sun that shone upon a day that was gathered to the past some 3,000 years ago iting in full glory over the expanses eastern Africa, the Libya of the s, and its last burning rays fell upon ade of weary men, who, together with long strings of camels, asses and oxen, after much toil, had struggled to the crest of a line of stony hills, where they halted Before them lay a sere yellow grass, for winter—bounded by moun- tains of no great height, upon whose slopes stood the city which they had traveled far to seck. It was the ancient city Zimboe, whereof the lonely ruins are known to us mode y At dominated dark flat-roofed houses, by a huge circular building of e, Set upon the side of the oppos- ing hill, the caravan raised a great shout of joy. They shouted in several tongues, in the t of Phoenicia, of Egypt. of the Arabia and of the coasts of these people were represent- . Well might they t t, seeing that at r eight months of perilous trav- the coast, they behel of rest, of the golden Ophir of Their company had started from port numbering 1,500 men, be- n and children, and of thes half were alive. Once a ribe had ambushed them, killing Once the pestilential fever of the n them so that they had | s. and twice they had y through hunger and thirst, hing of their losses by the fangs crecodiles and other wild beasts h which the country swarmed. Now toils were over, and for six months, or perhaps a year, they might rest in the great ty, enjoying its wealth, its flesh nd the unholy orgies which among : of the Phoenician race were digni- the name of the worship of the gods of heaven. Seon the clamor died away, though no command was given, the cara- yan started on at speed. All weariness faded from their faces.even the very camels &nd asses, worn, as most of them were, to mere skeletons, seemed to understand that labor and blows were done with, and, for- getting thetr loads, shambled unurged down the stony path. One man lingered, how- ever. Clearly he was a person of rank. for eight or ten attendants surrounded him. - “Go,” he said. “I will follow presently.” And they bowed to the earth and went. The mon was young, five or six and ty enty years of age, perhaps, and his dark skin, burnt almost | to blackness by the. heat of the sun, together with the fashion of his shert, square-cut beard and of his garment proclaimed him of Jewish or Egyptian blood, while the gold collar about his neck and the gold graven ring upon his hand showed that his rank was high. Inceed, this wanderer was none other than the Prince Aziel, nicknamed the Everliving. because of a curious mole upon his shoulder and, al- bearing a resemblance to the crux ansata, he symbol of life eternal amo é Egyptians. reiaon By birth he was a grandso of Solomon, the mighty King of Tarael, born of a royal mother, a princess of Egypt. Jn stature he was tall, but some- = having small bones. His face was oval in shape, the features being fi nd sensitive, especially the ~ yes were large, dark and full the eyes cf a man with a des- part, indeed, they and overfull of thought, but could light up with a strange at slimly made, Aziel. the prince, placed his hand aga’ Fis forehead in such fashion as to Snaaa 's eyes from the rays of the setting sun, from beneath its shadow gazed long earn ly at the city of the hill. “At length I behold thee, thanks be to God,”" he murmured, for he was a wor- shiper of Jehovah, and not of his mother’s deities, “and ft is time. for, to speak the truth, T am weary of this traveling. Now what fortune shall I find within thy walls, oh, City of Gold and devil-deserved?” "Who can tell?” sald a quiet voic? at his elbow. “Perhaps, prince, you will find a Wife or a throne, or—a grave.” Aziel started, and turned round to see a man standing at his side, clothed in rcbes that had been rich, but wer? now torn and stained with travel, and wearing a black cap in shape not unlike the fez that is common tn the east today. The man was of middie age, having a grizzled beard, sharp, hard features, and quick eyes, which with- al were not unkindly. He was a Phoent- ¢ian merchant of Stion, much trusted by Hiram, the King of Tyre, who had made him captain of the merchandise of this exp2dition. “Ah! is it you, Metem?” said Aziel. “Why do you leave your charge to return to me?” “That 1 may guard a more precious charge—yourself, prince,” replied the mer- chant, courteously. “Having brovght th> son of Solomon so far in safety, I desire to hand him safely to the governor of yon- der city. Your servants told me that by your command they had left you alone, so I returned to bear you company, for after nightfall robbers and savages wan- d>r without the walls.” “I thank you for your care, Metem, though I think there is little danger, and at the worst I can defend myself. “Do not thank me, prince; I am a mer- chant, and now, as in the past, I protect you, knowing that I shali be paid for it. The governor will give me a great reward when I lead you to him safely, und when, | in years to come, I return with you still safe to the court of Jerusalem, then the great king will fill my ship's hold with gifts."" “That depends, Metem,” replied the prince. “If my grandfather still reigns, it may but he is very old, and if my uncle wears his crown, then I am not sure. Truly you Phoenicians love money. Would you, then, sell me for gold, also, Metem?” “I said not so, prince, though even friend- ship has its price—" “Among your people, Metem?” “Among all people, prince. You reproach us with loving money; well, we do, since money gives everything for which men strive—honor, and place, and comfort, and the friendship of kings.” “It cannot give you love, Metem.” The Phoenician laughed contemptuously. | “Love! With gold I will buy as much of it as I need. Are there no slaves upon the market? And no free women who desire ornaments and ease and the purple of Tyre? You are young, prince, to say that gold cannot buy us love.” “And you, Metem, who are old, do not | understand what I mean by love, nor will | I stay to explain it to you, for were my words as wise as ‘my grandsire Solomon’s, ‘WHE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1898-24 PAGES. pray that the mules may not stir. Pres- ently she will go and we can fiy the holy place.” The Israelite obeyed and waited, watch- ing eagerly. Now the edge of the great moon appeared upon the horizon, and by degrees her white rays of light rev2aled 2 strange scene to the watchers. About an open space of ground, perhaps fifty paces in diameter, grew seven huge baobab trees, so ancient that their presenc> here must have been attributable to nature rather than to the hand of man. It was behind the urunk of one of these trees that Aziel and his com- panion were hidden with their muljs, and looking around it they perceived that the open space beyond the shadow of the branches was not empty. In the center of th> space stood an altar, and by it a rude figure of a divinity carved in wood and painted. On its head was a crescent, sym- bolical of the moon, and round its neck hvng a chain of wooden stars. It had four wings, but no hands, and of these wings two were outspread and two clasped to its breast—a shapeless object-intsnded, ap- parently, to represent a child, symbols from which Aziel Knew that before him wes a figure sacred to the goddess of the “0 QUEEN OF HEAVEN, HEAR THE PRAYER OF THY PRINCESS.” still you would not understand. At the least, your money cannot bring you the blessing of God, nor the welfare of your spirit in the eternal life that is to come.” “The welfare of my spirit, prince? No, it cannot, since I do not believe that I have a spirit. When I die, I die, and there is an end. But the blessing of God, ah! that can be bought, as I have proved once and again, if not with gold, then otherwise. Did I not in bygone years pass the first son of my manhood through the fire to Baal-Sidon? Nay, shrink not from me; it | cost me dear, but my fortune was at stake and better that the boy should die than that all of us should live on in penury and bonds. Know you not, prince, that the gods must have gifts of the best, gifts of blood and virtue, or they will curse us and torment wu “I do not know, Metem, for such gods are no gods, but devils, children of Beelzebub, who have no power over the righteous. Truly, I would have none of your two gods, Phoenician—upon earth the god of gold, and in heaven the devil of saughter.” “Speak not ill of him, prince,” answered Metem, solemnly, “for here you are not in the courts of Jehovah, but in hic land, and h2 may chance to prove hia power on you. For the rest, I had sconer follow after gold than the folly of a drunken spirit which you name, love, seeing that it works its votary less mischief. Say, now, it was love that drove you hither, was it not, prince? Well, be careful, l:st love should keep you here.” “The sun has set, “Let us go forward.’ With a bow and a murmured salute, for nis quick courtier instinct told him that ke had spoken too freely, Metem took the bridle of the prince’s mule, holding the stirrup while he mounted. Then he turned tc seek his own, but the animal had wan- dered, and a fuil half hour went by before he could be captured. By now the sun lad set, and as there is little or no twilight in southern Africa, it became difficult for the two travelers to find their way down the rough hill path. Still they stumbled on till presently the lorg, dead grass brushing against their knees told them that they had lost their road. They knew, indeed, that they were riding in the right direction, for the waich- fires burning on the city walls were a guide to them. Soon, however, they lost sight of the fires, the boughs of a grove of thickly leaved trees hiding them from view, and in trying to push their way through the wood Metem’s mule stumbled against a root and fell. “Now there is but one thing to be done,” said the Phoenician, as he dragged the ani- mal from the ground, “and it is to stay here till the moon rises, which it should do within an hour. It were better, prince, had we waited to discuss love and the gods till we were safe within the walls of the city, fer the end of it is that we have fallen into the hands of darkness, and he is the father of many evil things.” “That is so," said the prince, “and I am te blame for it. Let us bide here, since we must.” said Aziel, coldly. So, holding their mules by the bridles, they sat down upon the ground and waited in silence, for each of them was lost in his own thoughts. CHAPTER Hl. The Grove of Baaltis. Presently, as the two men sat thus silently, for the place oppressed them, a scund broke in upon the quiet of the night that, beginning with a low wail, such as m’ght come from the lps of a mourner, erded in a chant or song. The voice, which seemed close at hand, was low, rich and passionat>. At times it sank almost to a scb, and at times, taking a higher note, it thrilled upon the air in tones that would have been shrill were they not so sweet. “What is that?” whispered Aziel to Me- tem. “B2 silent,” answered the other in his ear. “We have wandered into one of the sacred groves of Baaltis, which is death for men to enter save at the festivals, and @ priestess of the grovs chants her prayer to the goddess.” “We did not come of our own will, so doubtless we should be forgiven,” said Aziel, indifferently; “but that song moves me. What are the words of it. I can scarcely und>rstand them.” “Prince, they are holy words that I have Wttle right to hear and none to repeat. She sings of life and death, and she prays that the goddess may touch har soul with the wing of fire and make her great and give her vision of the things that have been and that shall be; more I dare not tell yeu, Crouch down, for the moon ris3s, and Phoenicians, who, in differ:nt countries, Passed by the various names of Astarte or Ashtoreth or Baaltis, and who, in their | ccarse worship, was the personfication cf the moon and the emblem of fertility. Standing before this rude object aid be- tween it and the altar, whercon lay some flowers, in such fashion that the moonlight struck full upon her, was a white-robed woman. She was young and very beauti- ful, both in shape and feaiur2, and even with her black hair streaming almost to her knees she se2med tall. Her rounded arms were outstretched, her swe>t and pas- sionate face was upturned toward the sky, and even at that distance the watchers could see her de>p eyes shining in the moonlight. Her song was finished, and ncw she was praying aloud, praying from her very heart, not to the Idol before her, however, but to the moon above. “Oh, Que2n of Heaven,” she said, “thou whose throne I see, but whose face I can- not see, hear the prayer of thy priestess. Oh, as thou fillest the night witn light, so fill the darkness of my soul with the wis- dem that I crav>. Oh, whisper into my ears and let me hear the voice of heaven, teaching me that which I would learn. Read me the riddle of my life, show ime my destiny, and let m2 know wherefore I am not as my sisters are; why feasts and sac- rifices delight me not, why I thirst for krowledge and not for wealth, and why I crave such love as here I cannot win. Sat- isfy my being with thy immortal lore and love that does not fail or di2, and if thou wilt, take my life in payment. Speak to me from the heaven above, or show me some sign upon the earth beneath. Fill up the vess21 of my thirsty soul and satisfy the hunger of my spirit. , thou that art the god, thou that hast the gift of power, give me, thy servant, of thy power, of thy godhead, and of thy peace. Hear me, oh, heaven-born, hear m>, Elissa, the daugh- ter of Sakon, the dedicate of thee. Hear, hear and answer now in the holy hour, ee by voice, by wonder, or by sym- ol.” She paused as though exhausted with the passion of her prayer, hiding her face in her handg, and as she stood thus sflent and expectant the sign came, or, at least, thai chanced which in after days she believed to have been an answer to her invocation. Her face was hidden, therefore she could not see, and fascinated by her beauty as it appeared to them in that unhatlowed spot, and by the depth and dignity of her wild prayer, the two watchers had eyes for her alone. Therefore it happened that not until his arm was about her to drag her away did either of them perceive a huge man, black as ebony in color, clad in a cloak of leopard skins, and having in his right hand a broad-bladed spear, who, fo!l- lowing the shadow of the trees, had crept upon the priestess from the further side of the glade. With a guttural exclamation of triumph, he gripped her with his left arm, and, despite her struggles and her shrill ery for help, began half to drag and half to carry her toward the deep shade of the baobab grove. Instantly Aziel and Metam Sprang up and rushed forward, drawing their bronze swords while they ran. As it chanced, however, the Israelite caught his feot in one of the numerous tree roots which stood above the surface of the ground, and fell heavily upon his face. In a few seconds, twenty, perhaps, he found his feet again, to see that Metem had come up with the black man, who, hearing his approach, suddenly wheeled around to meet him, still holding the struggling priestess with his left arm. Now, the Phoenician was so close upon him that the savage could find no time to shift his grip upon his spear, but drove at him with the knobbed end of its handle, striking him full upon the forehead, and felling him as a@ butcher fells an ox. Then once more he turned to fly with his captive, but before he had covered ten yards the sound of Agiel’s approaching footsteps caused him to wheel round again. At the sight of the Israelite advancing upon him with drawn sword, the great barbarian freed himself from the burden of the girl by throwing her heavily to the ground, where she , for the breath was shaken out of hei then snatching the cloak from his throat he wound it over his left arm to serve as a shield, and, with a savage yell, rushed straight for Aziel, pur- posing to transfix him with the broad- headed spear. Well was it for the prince that he had been trained in sword play from his youth, also that, notwithstanding his slight build, he was strong and active as a leopard. To await the onslaught would be to die, for the spear must plerce him before ever he could reach the at- tacker’s body with his short sword. There- fore, as the weapon flashed upward, he sprang aside, avoiding it, at the same time, with one swift sweep of his sword, slashing its holder across the back as he ering the handle from the spear, which fell to the ground. Casting away the useless shaft the warrior drew a long knife from his girdle and tefore Aziel could strike again faced him, for the third time. But he no longer rushed onward like a bull, for he had learned caution; he stood still, holding: the skin cloak before him shield fashion and peering at his adversary from over the edge of it. Now was Aziel’s turn to take the offensive, and slow- ly he circled argqund,the huge barbarian, watching his opportuhity. At length it came. In answer'to #feint of his the pro- tecting cloak was-dropped a little, enabling rim to prick its bearer in the neck, but only with the point of his sword. The thrust delivered, he leaped back, and not too soon, for, forgetting his caution in his fury, the negro charged straight at him, with a roar like that of a lion. So swift and terrible was his onset that Aziel, h ing no time to spring aside, did the only thing possible. Gripping the ground with his feet, he bent his body forward, and, with outstretched arm and sword, braced up his muscles to receive the charge. An- other instant and the leopard-skin cloak fluttered before him. With a quick move- ment of his left arm he swept it aside. Then there came a sudden pressure upon his sword, ending in a jarring shock, a flash of steel above his head, and down he went to the ground beneath the weight of the black giant. “Now there is an “en he thought; “heaven receive my spirit,” and his senses left him. When they returned again he perceived dimly that a white-draped figure bent over him, dragging at something black which crushed his breast, in her grief and fear sobbing as she dragged. Then he remem- bered, and with an effort sat up, rolling from him-the corpse of his foe, for his sword had pierced the giant through breast and heart and back. At this sight the wo- man ceased her. sobbing and said, in the Phoenician tongue: “Sir, do you live? Then the protecting gods be thanked, and to Baaltie the Mother I vow a gift of this hair of mine in grati- tude. “Nay, lady,” he answered, faintly, “that were pity, and if any, it's my hair which should be vowed.” “You bleed from the head,” she broke in. y, stranger, are you wounded?” “I will tell you nothing,” he answered, with a smile, “unless you promise that you will not offer up your hair.” “So be it, stranger, since I must. I will give the goddess this gold chain instead. It is of more value.” “You would do better, lady,” said the shrill voice of Metem, who now found his wits again, “to give the gold chain to me, whose head has been broken in rescuing you from that black thief.”” “Sir,” she answered, “it is this young lord who killed the man and saved me from worse than death, and he shall be reward- ich ed. “Listen to me,” said Metem. “Did I not rush in first in my folly and receive what I deserved for my pains? But I am to have neither thanks nor reward, who am but an old merehant; they are for the young prince who came after. Well, so it ever was; the thanks 1 can spare, and the reward I shall claim from the treasury of the goddess. Now, prince, let me see your hurt. Ah, a cut on the ear, no more, and thank that | God you worship it is so, for another inch and the great vein of the neck had been severed. Prince, draw out your sword from the carcass of that brute, and then perhaps this lady will guide us to the city before his fellows com®:toygsek him, seeing that tor one night I #avechad a stomach full of fighting.” Re “Sirs, I will indeed. It is close at hand, and my father shall thank you there; but if it is your pleasure, tell me by what names I shall make you known to him.” “Lady, I am Metem, the Phoenician, cap- tain of the merthandise of the caravan of Hiram, King of Tyre, and this lord who | slew the thief is-none other than the Prince | Aziel, the twice! royal, for he is grandson to Solomon, the glorious, King of Israel, and through his mother of the blood of t-¢ Pharaohs of Egypt.” risked his life to save me,” the girl murmured, astontshe ping to her knees ‘before him, the ground with her forehead giving him thanks. “Rise, lady,” he broke in, chance to be a prince I have not ed to be a man, and no mun could have seen you in such a plight without striking a blow in your behalf.” No,” added Metem, “none, that is, as you chance to be rich and young and lovely. Had you been old and ugly and poor, then the black man might have car- ried you from here to Tyre ere I risked my neck to stop him, or for the matter of that, the pritice either, though he will deny it.” “Men do not often show their hearts so clearly,” she answered, with sarcasm, “but he touched in obeisance, “because by hesitating, “but savages such as he haunt the outskirts of the city, seeking to steal white woman to be their wives. Doubtless he watched my steps, following me into ees mot place.” “Why, then, did you venture there alone, lady?” “Cannot Baaltis. protect the priestess, prince, and did she not protect her?” “I thought, iady, that I had something to do with the matter,” he answered. “Aye, prince, it was your hand that struck the blow which killed him, but Baal- tis, and no other, led you to the grove to rescue me.” “I understand, lady. To save you, Baal- tis, laying aside her power, led a mortal man to the grove, which it is death that mortal man should violate.” “Who can fathom the ways of the gods?” she replied, with passion, then added, as though reasoning with a new-born doubt, “Did not the goddess hear my prayer and answer it?” “In truth, lady, I cannot say. Let me think. You prayed for heavenly wisdom, but whether or not you have gained it wi in this last hour I do not know. And then you prayed for love, an immortal love. Qh, maiden, has it come to you since yonder moon appeared upon the sky? And you prayed——” “Peace!” she broke in, “peace, and mock me not, or, prince that you are, I will make known your crime in hearkening to the prayer of a priestess of Baaltis. I tell you I prayed for a symbol and a sign, and the prayer was answered. Did not the black giant spring upon me to bear me away to be his slave? And is he not a symbol of the evil ard the ignorance which areson the earth, and that would drag down the beauty and the wisdom of the earth to their own level Then the Phoenician ran to rescue me and was defeated, since the spirit of Mammon cannot overcome the black powers of ill. Next you cume and fought hard and long till in the end you slew the mighty foe, you, the prince born of the royal blood of the world,” and she ceased. “You have a pretty gift of parable, lady, as it should be with one who interprets the oracles of a goddess. But you have not told me of what I, your servant, am the symbol.” She stopped in her walk and looked him full in the face. “I never heard,” she said, “ihat either the Jews or the Egyptians, being instruc- ted, were blind to the reading of an alle- But, prince, if you cannot read this it is not for me, who am but a wo- man, to set it out to yor Just then their glances met, and in the clear moonlight he saw a wave of troubie sweep over her dark and beautiful eyes, ard a faint flush appear upon her brow. He saw, and something stirred at his heart that till this hour he had never felt, and of which even now he knew he could never more be rid. “Say, lady,” he asked, his voice sinking almost to a whisper, “in this fable of yours I am even for an hour deemed worthy to play the part of that immortal love em- bodied which you sought so earnestly a while azo?” “Immortal love, prince,” she answered in a new voice, a voice low and deep, “is not for one hour, but for all hours that are and are to be. You, and you alone, can know if you would dare to play such , lady, there lives a woman for whom I might dare it.” “Prince, no such woman lives, since im- mortal love must deal, not with the flesh, but with the spirit. If a spirit worthy to be thus loved and worshiped now wanders in earthly shape upon the world, seeking its counterpart and its completion, I can- not tell. Yet happy would it be for such spirits were it so, and should they chance to meet, for then the answer to the great rid- @le would be theirs.’ Drawn by an overmastering impulse, Aziel bent over her to make reply, when suddenly round a bend in the path, but a few paces from them, came a body of sol- Giers and attendants, headed by a man c! in a white robe and walking with a staff. He was gray bearded and keen-eyed, thin in face and ascetic in appeara: with a brow of power and a bearing of great dig- nity. At the sight of the pair he halted, looking at them wonderingly, and with dis- ”’ he said in Hebrew, reh is ende “for here is he we seek, and alone with him a heathen woman. “What do you here, Issachar?" asked Aziel somewhat conf for the sudden ance of the Levite disturi s do I, prin your absen: seems that you have found a guide looked at his companion sternly. “That guide, Issachar,” answered Aziel, is none other than the Lady Elissa, daugh- ter of Sakon, the governor of thi city. and our ho: whom it has been my good fortune to rescue from a woman stealer yonder in the grove of the goddess Baaitis.” “And whom it was my bad fortune to try to rescue in the said grove, as my broken head bears witness,” added Metem, who by “WITH A QUICK MOVEMENT HE SWEPT THE CLOAK ASIDE.” now, lords, I will guide you to the city be- fore more harm befalls us, for this dead man may have companions. “Our mules are here, lady; will you not ride mine?” asked Aziel. “I thank you, prince, but my feet will carry me.”’ “And so will mine,” said Aziel, ceasing from a fruitless effort to withdraw his sword from the breastbone of the savage. “On such paths they are safer than any beast’s. Friend, will you lead my mule with yours?” + “Ay, prince,” grumbled Metem, “for so the world goes with the old; you take the fair lady for company and I a she ass. Well, of the two give me the ass.” Then they started, “How are you_pamed, lady?” said Aziel, “or rathar I need Not ask; you are Elissa, the daughter of Sakon, governor of Zim- bee, are you not?" *: “ am so caved, princ know it I cannot syess. “I heard you pare, yourselr, lady, in the prayer you @ béfore the altar.” “You heard my Pfayer, princ3?" she sald, starting. “Do-yow not know that it is death to that ‘inat°who hearkens to the prayer of a pHéstess of Baultis uttered in her holy grove? Stitjnone know it save the gcddess, who 4; therefore I beseech you, for your®#ake “end the sake of your ccmpanion, say'notting of it in the city.” “Certainly if’would have be2n death to you had I not°Chaheed to hear it, having Icst my way in the darkness,” answered the prince, laughing. “Well, since I did hear it, I will add that it was a beautiful prayer, re’ & heart high and pur2, though I grieve tnat it should have been of- fered to one whom I hold to be a demon.” “I am honored,” she answereil, coldly; “but, prince, you forgst that, though you, being a Jew, worship Him they call J>ho- yah, or so I am told, I, being of the blood of the Sidonians, worship the Lady Baaltis, the queen of heaven, the holy one of whom I am a priestes: “So it is, alas!” he said, with a sigh. “Wall, let us not dispute of these matters, though, if you will ft, the holy Issachsr, though how you now had come up, dragging the two mules with him. “In the grove of the goddess Baaltis!” broke in the Levite with a kindling eye, and striking the ground with his staff to emphazise his words. “You, a prince of Israel and a servant of Jehovah, alone in the place of abomination with the priestess of a fiend? Fie upon you, fie upon you! Would you then also walk in the sin of your forefathers, and so soon?” “Peace,” said Aziel in a tone of c ; “this is no time or place for wrangling “Between me and those who follow after false gods, or the women who _ worship them, there is no e,”" priest fiercely. Peace,” replied the old ‘Bhen, followed by all the com: turned and strode toward the mates of the city. (To be continued.) eee Hocus-Pocus and That Sort of Thing. From the Humanitarian. I saw a Hindoo out in the open street take three good-sized balls; larger and heavier than hens’ eggs, and commence tessing them up in the air, catching them as they returned. Soon his hands were motionless, but the balls kept ascending, and, so far as I know, are ascending still. They did not return. Were they demater- falized by some invisible psychic power? Such is my opinion. During my stay in Madras there came down from a mountain a genuine psychic and seer. He was truly a venerable mys- tic. In a bungalow on a bright sunshiny @ay, 3 o’clock p.m., a dozen present,, this old Yogi burned the Levite, who is of my train, can set out | mand the truth of them fo you.” Elissa made no reply, and for a while they walked on tn silence. VALUABLE VOLUMES) Big Prices Paid by Bibliophiles for Rare Books, FIVE HUNDRED FOR A FEW PAGES Owner Appreciated His Treasure and Refused the Offer. DOCUMENTS IN DEMAND Written for The Evening Star. = VE HUNDRED dollers for eight pages of dingy read- ing! “That's a good deal of money, you will allow, to invest in four small leaves of Printed paper,” said a Washington dealer in rare books to a Star reporter yester- day. “However, that Price was offered a few days ago. The eight pages wanted were of old Pennsyl-| vania laws. Was the offer accepted? Not much: it was declined with thanks, the owner being something of a bibliophile him- self, ard knowing that the scarcity of these pages would permit him to fix his own fig- ure for the set. “The pages would be paseed over or de- stroved by the ordirary reader, yet there is not another known copy in existence. You will readily understand that they are valuable when you censider the size of the offer. It is a good deal of money to put into a few pieces of faded paper, but I know where I could dispose of them at a big profit even at that figure. “Yes, our business is a peculiar one. Some time ago I bovght a pamphlet from another bookseller for 50 cents and sold it within a few days for $0. That was merely a stroke of luck in business. I couldn’t do it every day. The pamphlet was on this Dookseller’s shelves for sale at a stipulated price fixed by himself and marked within the cover. “Should a man not in the business come to my piace with that pamphlet for sale I would not presume on his ignorance and offer him 50 cents. Such a proceeding would be no less than robbery. I would make him a fair offer, one that would en- able me in hat Cling it to make a fair profit. “No, dealers in rare books seldom make purchases from strangers unless they can give satisfactory information of how the books came into their possession. This is done partly frcm a selfish motive and part- ly from a desire to protect their customers. “The dealer in rare books has his regular customers. His mission is akin to the con- fidential lawyer with a client. He is famil- iar with the literary taste of each customer. | His first thevght in purchasing is that such or such a person woukd like that book. The book is put aside and word is sent to that customer. A Widespread Trade. “No; I do not depend on the trade of Washington alone. Were I dependent on any one city the business would be a dis- mal failure. There are in Washington a number of private libraries of rare books. I have customers in nearly state in the Union. One of my best customers lives in Portiand, Ore. There is Ettle chanee for deception, even were a dealer so inclined. “Hardly a day passes that I don’t have brought to me for sale old papers, ihe ov ers of which actually believe that they have something that will bring them a good price. In ninety-nine cases out of a hun- dred they are fac-similes, and my. heart | goes out for the people who bring them, because I am for to break the spell of their cherished hopes. “A true b phile knows the value of a book the ute he hears or reads the name. Therefore, when I get hold of a scarce volume, all I do is to aequaint my customers with the fact and it= state of preservation. And very often orders come | for a book six months after it has been snapped up by some prompt collector. shington is a good town for the ccl- lection and sale of rare books, out it is by no means the best. Philadelphia stands at the head in our line of trate. All through the hard times New York book sellers have complained of poor business, but it has not been noticed to any great extent here. Of course, when money is scarce it affecis all trades more or less, but the people who collect rare works are usually those who have means to gratify what has grown to be a fad with them. It is a significant fact that some of the most valuable private libraries can be found in the smaller vil- lages and towns. “I- got $300 for the first Masonic book published in America, and it is no larger than the ordinary primer used by a child. It had a double value because of the fact that It was printed by Benjamin Franklin. There are very few copies in existence. They are to be fonnd in the clder Masonic lodges, and were purchased at good round figures. Varying Values. “A book that is valuable to one dealer may not be valuable to another. For in- stance, a book seller from another city came in to see me one day and asked if I wanted a book which he iad in his pocket, and for which he wanted me to make him an offer. I looked at i, and, as it was in a fair state of preservation, I told him I would give him #20. This was satisfactory to him, and he volunteered a willingness to trade the book for books on my shelves. He selected sixteen volumes, the combined list prices of which amounted to $20. I felt that I had bettered my stock, and I have no doubt that he uhought he bettered his in the transaction. “You will likely be surprised when I tell you that in this God-fearing country there is practically no demand for rare theolog- ical books. This is duc, probably, to a con- siderable degree, to the fact that there has been a change in the orthodox teachings from a century or more ago. It is almost impossible to get rid of rare theological books; that is, those books that are most rare because of their age. No one among the collectors seems to want religious ks. “T know a man who has a recognized edi- tion of Martin Luther's works, printed at Ienae, 1556. They are in four volumes, bound in old vellum. This particular copy to which I refer survived destruction by fire at the hands of the ecclesiastical au- thorities of the dey, who, history informs us, took exceptions to that great reformer’s writings. The covers show unmistakable evidences of having been in contact with flames, and the leaves are like punk, show- ing the effect of intense dry heat, and where the flames did not touch. For prac- | tical use these books are destroyed, al- though all the reading is there. But the demand for old religious books is so slight. that they would bring little more than an ordinary current publication. Books on American History. “Scarce books on American history sell &s fast as we can get our hands on them. Early colonial laws prior to 1776 are among the rarest of all American books. This is due to the fact that they have probabiy been destroyed. At least. only now and then does one bob up. During the war of the rebellion the price of er was 80 high that nearly everything in the way of old books, magazines, pamphiets and pa- pers was sold for paper pulp to be made “That was before invent rH devised other and cheaper oan oF meee facturing paper, and better qualities, too. Many volumes of American books must have been destroyed, particulariy in the southern states, where at times during the war newspapers were printed on the back of wall paper. “I want to tell you something that very few people know anything about. During the war and for many years after book- binders cut down the margins of magazines intrusted to their care to an outrageous ex- tent. I have on my shelves many volumes bound In those days, and in some there are absolutely no mergins to the pages. The binders did this because they could get 16 cents a pound for all their waste paper. “The si ing generations of bookbind- ers followed the pace of their predecessors without knowing why they did so. Close trimming is merely a relic of the oki prac- tice during the war, the same as the but- tons on the back of a frock coat are a re- minder of the garb of our forefathers. “The tailor of the present day can’t tell you why he puts the buttons there; neither can the modern bookbinder inform you why he trims the margins of his work We are getting back to antebellum days, though, so far as bookbirding is concerned The volumes from the best publishing hcuses nowadays are turned out with rough edges, as in the days of yore. A Rare Work. “Before going, let me show you a rare velume. See that? It is a copy of the ‘Geistliche Magezien.’ which was publish- ed by Christopher Saur in 1764 This ex- tremely rare book is of spectal importance because of its being the first religious azine ever published in America. It commenced by Saur shortly after the cc pietion of the second edition of his Bible in recognition of the great success of ‘nat work. “The numbers were not issued at stated intervals, but as he had the materials for them. And, as they were given away with- out charge, of course only few were pr served. There is but one other compl set of the fifty numbers known. Th: lvs, who contributed Nos. 34 and 36, w: the noted Alexander Mack, founder of th. Tunker Church. Nos. 40 and 41 were writ- ten by Christopher Dock, the pious ‘School- master on the Skippack.” “Works from the press of Benjamin Franklin are always in demand. I know cf books from his press, some of which are not larger than a child's spelling book and with a less number of puges, that «re werth several hundred doilars each. Ard there is an active demand for them, too. No better investment can be found, either, for Franklin's imprint will increase in value each year. The man who, a hundred years from today, has in his possession a beok printed by the great American j-hil- cropher and patriot, has something on which he may set his cwn price and cf which he will have no trouble in disposing. “Yes, our business is a fascinating one. I enjoy it. And I learn something new every day.” $< —_— Prince Henry and American Bicycles. From the Chicago Record. Prince Herry, who has gone over to China to represent his august and eccentric brother, is largely responsible for the in- troduction of American bicycles into Ger- many. He is fond of wheeling, and sev eral years ago, while visiting Frankfo: fcund an American machine which suited | his fancy better than any he had ever seen. He bought it and took ft to Homburg, where he was living with his mother, the Empress Frederick, and within a few days a number of the same make were ordered for other members of the imperial family That made American wheels the of course. and the lords and ladi ™m shion, of that st fashionable watering place of Ger- many would not appear on any other. Prince Henry is by far the most popular and beloved member of the imperial fam- !v, and is so different from his brother William that people wonder how they can be of the same blood. He ts very demo- cratic in his disposition, is gentle in his manners, quiet and unassuming, and seems to have an affectionate regard for his fam- ily and his friends which is very difere! from the selfish, autocratic and frrital temper of the kaiser. The people are prouc of him, and he fs idolized to such an extent not only by the members of his own family but by the Germans generally, that the empercr has frequently shown violent symptoms of jealousy. Three or four years ago he banished his brother from court for some fancied reason, and it required the united influence of all the other members of his family, including his grandmother, Queen Victoria, to bring about a reconcil- jation. It is therefore believed that the motives of William in sending Henry ‘o the other side of the world and placing him in a most difficult and in many re- spects critical position has not been gov- erned by the most generous moiives. Those who know Prince Henry will never believe that he willingly took part in that opera bouffe pe?formance at Kiel the other day or that he wrote the speech which came from his lips. He is as quiet, mod- est and unassuming as William is noisy, dramatic and imperious. The speech was very much like William, but very unlike Henry. Valuable Almanacs. From the Boston ‘Transcript. The most valuable almanac ever made is that now in thé British museum, which is Priceless. It is believed to be at least 3,000 years old. The days are written in red ink on papyrus, fn columns, and under each is a figure, followed by three characters signifying the probable state of the weath- er for that day. The most elaborate alma- nac in the world is that issued by the Chi- nese government in twelve thick volumes, which gives full information as to lucky times and p! for performing the acts of every-day life, which is considered an essential of success by every good China- man. The Nautical Almanac costs the British nation £3,042 a year. At its office, No. 3 Verulam buildings, Gray's Inn, Lon- don, the superintendent, A. M. W. Down- ing, doctor of science and fellow of the Royal Society, receives £600. Edward Rob- erts, fellow of the Royal Astronomi- and Statistical societies, the chief assistant, receives £450, and there are eleven other assistants, several of whom are graduates of universities or members of learned societies, who are paid from £100 to £300 each. The most curious calendar at present in use ts that of the natives of Central America, where the months are only twenty days, and these are named after animals. Among most modern European ones the “Almanac de Gotha” has been longest in continuous circulation, upward of 135 years. Soup can supply you. That our cooks are skilful is attested by the numberless “Blue Label” delicacies that have for years tempted your appetite. Now we offer ‘‘ Blue Label” Soups, with a rare and delicious quality all their -own. Nineteen varieties. Each geady for Made by” CURTICE BROTHERS CO., RocuEsTer, N. ¥, gtocer, He