1877. who seems to have occupied an equally prominent place. Arguing from the analogy of Assyria, the Jewish library would have been public and attached to the royal palace, and in it would have been deposited those “chronicles of the kings" of Israel and Judah, to which reference is so often made in the historical books of the Old Testament. It is true that in Babylonia and Assyria the abundance of clay caused the greater part of the literature of the country to be inscribed on baked bricks. But other writing materials—such as papyrus-were also used, though they have long since perished, through the dampness of the climate. In Phoenicia and Jerusalem, on the other hand, papyrus or leather were chiefly employed; and hence the reference made in the Bible to the "rolls" on which the denunciations of the prophet were written. But, whatever may have been the case in Phoenicia, it is certain that clay tablets, as well as the more fragile writing materials, were used in Jerusalem, though probably not till after Judah had been brought into contact with Assyria. There is a passage in Jeremiah (xvii. 1) upon which much light has been thrown by the cuneiform inscriptions. The prophet declares that "the sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron and with the point of a diamond. It is graven upon the table of their hearts." Now the word translated "table" is the very word used by the Assyrians to denote one of those clay tables upon which the literature is engraved ; and the “pen of iron” is the metal stylus employed for the purpose, a specimen of which was discovered at Konyunyik, by the late Mr. George Smith. Still more curious is the expression rendered "the point of a diamond.” The first word of the expression literally signifies "a finger-nail," and it is frequently met with in those Assyrian contract-tables on which witnesses who were too poor to possess a seal impressed a nail-mark instead. From these nail-marks must have been derived the use of the word, to denote the point of a stylus made of some substance like a diamond.—Independent. Poetry. (Ezekiel xxxiv.) Sweet pastures are around the hill Ah no, for far on mountains lone, An Appeal for the Poor who Visit the THE Command of our Lord is to preach the Gospel to every creature, irrespective of class or condition, and I am very thankful to say I have the privilege of making known the unsearchable riches of Christ to not a few of my brethren of the house of Israel, who are well to do in this world; yet not a single day passes without my having to listen and to behold the distress and privations of the poor in Israel, besides the much tried inquirers and converts. I am not speaking of the idle and the careless, but of the industrious and the thrifty, of the aged and the ailing, who are not ill enough to be admitted into a hospital, of the stranger, who has been but a short time here, and is not conversant with the English language, who is seeking employment, and who comes to the missionary hoping to find in him a good Samaritan, besides those who, every winter, without any fault of their own, are for a considerable time out of work. Having pledged everything, they come, as a last 1877. resource to me, and with downcast eyes pour out their sad tales of distress and privation, expecting that at least the messenger of salvation will sympathise with them, and render them temporary help, and when told I have no means to assist them, if your Christian friends could see with me the blank expression of disappointment on their countenances, you, like me, would give vent to the wish, "Oh that I had the power of Jesus to feed the hungry and relieve the distressed!" It is no use to say to them "go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving those things which are needful for the body. (James ii. 15, 16). Will you, dear Christian friends, who are blessed with plenty, and have never known a day's want, send help for the needy who daily come to the "House of Call," especially during the winter months? Left off clothing of every kind will also be very useful indeed and acceptable. (Matthew xxv. 34-46). JOHN B. LAZARUS. November, 1877. Judaica. THE JEWS IN HUNGARY.-A correspondent of the New York Herald writing from Budapest, says: the position of the Jews here is worthy of special comment at a time when America is excited by a discussion of the rights and wrongs of the Jews. There is probably no larger city in the world where the Hebrews are so numerous, or, if as numerous, are so powerful as they are here. Taking the population as a whole more than one-third of it are Hebrews; but counting only the better classes (embracing the commercial, industrial and financial branches of activity) I should say that threefourths are Jews. The wealthy bankers, merchants and business men generally, speculators, brokers, etc., are nearly all Jews. The Stock and Produce Exchanges are altogether Hebrew institutions. Most of the influential editors are Jews, and even among the professional classes among the wealthy lawyers, doctors, etc., the Hebrew element is both numerous and influential. Dr. M. Falk, the chief editor of the Pester Lloyd, and probably the most influential Deputy in the Diet, is a Hebrew, and several other Deputies belong to the same religious persuasion. Among the Jewish women beauty seems as common an article as wealth among the men, and here, as in most other countries, they are conspicious for their richness, I am almost tempted to say extravagance, of dress. And yet while the Jews occupy so powerful a position here-all the wheels of commerce and industry are kept in motion by them and by them only-the religious prejudice are still kept alive to some extent. "Hier stinkt es ja von lauter Juden" ("Why it stinks here of Jews"), said a gentleman to me the other evening at Clemens' Garden. And yet the telegraph director, in a conversation on the telegraphic service with foreign countries, England, France, America, etc., said to me a few days ago, "My dear sir, if it were not for the Jews we should have to shut up that branch of our service entirely. It is the Jews that keep 1877. our foreign service alive." It is almost needless to add that that gentleman was a Christian. To the Doung People in Christian Families who Thing about and Love the Hebrew Nation. NATIONAL SORROWS. THE year 1877 is fast drawing to a close. How sad have been some of its national events. You must have heard a great deal about the war still raging between Turkey and Russia, and perhaps have shuddered at some of the details your fathers and grown up people have talked about. War is indeed a cruel bitter curse. How terrible are the sufferings not only of the soldiers, but the people who live in those countries where the conflict is being carried on. Among those who have thus suffered in this war are multitudes of Jewish families with their poor innocent children, driven from home and birthplace, to seek refuge in strange lands, or doomed to perish from want and sorrow before reaching a place of safety. We hope you have thought of them in your prayers, and, to encourage your faith, read over that beautiful prediction of the prophet Isaiah, fourth chapter and second verse, and do not doubt the time will come when war shall cease all the world over. Meanwhile, as there is a faint prospect of the Russo-Turkish war coming to an end, let us pray the more earnestly that the God of Peace may quickly bring it to pass. Another terrible event has been as you know, the Indian famine. And do you not feel thankful, we may even say proud to belong to a nation that has shown such generous sympathy to the starving millions of that vast empire? The liberality of British Jews in the same direction should not be overlooked; for though they have not listened to the teaching of Jesus so full of loving sympathy and care for the distressed and sorrowful, yet have they hearts which feel like ours for the patient dying sufferers, and have generously stretched out a hand for their relief. Australia too, (and many of you have friends or relatives there) has nobly joined to swell the contributions by several thousands of pounds; and many dear young people have been making articles of slight clothing, suitable to the Indian climate, which will be most acceptable to the dear little orphan children and others cared for by our various mission schools. Oh! there is something very beautiful and touching in this world-wide bond of union, this Christian chord of sympathising pity. Happily India's prospects are brightening. Rain has fallen in the parched and arid districts, and their crops of rice bid fair to flourish abundantly once more. Let us then mingle thanksgiving with our review of the past few months, and go steadily forward in all works of usefulness that may open before us, ever keeping a warm corner in our hearts for the too often despised and neglected Jewish people. K. P. R. |