rtisans of the highest skill had been summoned to the work
of beautifying the enormous palace; its gardens and grounds, innumerable
slaves furnishing the labor. The gold and silver of the nation was
gathered and beaten into ornaments and woven into beautiful designs to
grace the occasion. There was a profusion of the most gorgeous plumage
and richest fabrics, while over all were sprinkled in unheard of
prodigality, the rarest gems and jewels. It was indeed to be a fitting
celebration of the glory of Bel, and the power and magnificence of his
earthly representative; heathen opulence, heathen pride and sensuality
were to outdo themselves.

The revel started at a tremendous pace. No such wines and viands ever
before had been served. No such music ever had been heard and no such
dancers and entertainers ever before had appeared, but, fool that he
was, he had reckoned without his host; had made a covenant with Death
and Hell and had known it not, and the hour of atonement was upon him;
the handwriting on the wall of the true and outraged God, conveyed the
information; short and crisp, that he had been weighed; he and his
kingdom in the balance and found wanting; the hour--his hour, had
struck; the time of restitution and atonement long on the way, had come;
Babylon was to fall--FELL!--and for twenty-five centuries its glory and
its power has been a story that is told; its magnificence but heaps of
sand in the desert where night birds shriek and wild beasts find their
lair.

In the Kaiser's heart was the same barbaric pride, the same ambition,
the same worship of a false god and the same belief that he was the
especial agent of that deity.

His extravagances of vision and ambition were no less demoralizing to
humanity and civilization, than those that brought decay and ruin to the
potentates of old. He graced them with all the luxury and exuberance
that modern civilization, without arousing rebellious complaint among
his subjects, would permit. His gatherings appeared to be arranged for
the bringing together of the bright minds of the empire, that there
might be an exchange of thought and sentiment that would work to the
good of his country and the happiness of the world. Frequently
ministers, princes and statesmen from other countries were present, that
they might become acquainted with the German idea--its kultur--working
for the good of humanity.

Here was The Beast mentioned in Revelations, in a different guise;
wear