Hudson High School - True Blue Yearbook (Hudson, WI)

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6 The streets of the city were alive with the btfsy multitude and it was evedent that the men were preparing for a military expedi- tion. The soldiers had a resolute and determined look, but their was none of the light-hearted gaiety among them which showed expectation of success. Most of the men wore helmets fitting close- ly to the head and surmounted by a spike. All carried shields, those of the soldiers of bronze; those of the officers of bronze, copper and gold with elaborate designs. In their belts were daggers and swords, while at their backs were flung quivers of arrows and bow. Their outside garments were of leather covered with small pieces of metal Inside the palace the bustle of preparation was as marked as without. The king of Nippur and his principal councilor were as- sembled in a great chamber in the palace. The king himself was a warlike figure. He had led hiswirriors on manyisuccessful expeditions against the neigeboring city-states, and had repulsed the invasion of the Elamites many times. Standing behind him was his son, Sargon, a lad of some eight een years of age. After listening for some time and perceiving that there was no prospect of the council’s breaking up, the young Prince Sargon, retired to an adjoining apartment where his motner was. They have not finished talking yet, mother. They are decid ing whether we shall give battle to them outside the gates or re main and defend the city. Don’t you think we shall overcome these Elamites in open battle, don’t you, mother?” “1 hope so, Sargon, but I am afraid not. They are much strong- er than they have ever been before. They have conquered nearly all of Babylonia. But listen! There is the trumpet sounding!” Sargon hastily left the apartment and went to the walls. Far across the plains the rapidly approaching army of Elamites could be perceived. In another hour the Elamites had reached the walls of the city and commenced the siege of the city. Large wooden towers were moved against the ramparts and the Elamite soldiers stationed in them were on a level with the walls of the city. Battering rams were used and the walls under-mined. The Elamites were well

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HOW I BUILD A FIRE I am not telling you, please understand, how a tire should be built, but how I build a fire. Let critics say what they will, it it the only way I ever induced one toburn. First, I rakemostof the ashes out of the firepot, leaving jusl enough for a nice bed. Then I select a stout hardwood stick for a back-log and place it as far back in the firepot as it will go; in front of this i place sticks of light wood; and lastly long stripsofpaper, together with many chips and kindling, I place in front, so that the paper ends stick out of the front draft. I next replace the lid and light a match to the p-o- jecting paper ends. They blaze up and foi a few minutes I have an excellent tire. But it is short-lived. The flame flickers and dies down; in vain I blow and fan, but I cannot bring it back. I add more paper, which blazes up at first; then slowly flickers out, until discouraged by repeated failures, I haila passing boy and say, “Johnnv, please won’t you come in and start this fire for me?’’ He comes in looks at it, snifs and seizing the kerosene can, dumps in something less than a gallon, slams down the lid, sets a match to it, and in two minutes I have as tine a fire as one could wish. M. Me.— '15. THE IDOL AT SUSA The sun was blazing down upon the western shore of the Eu- phrates River. It was a primitive city, and yet its size and popu- lation rendered it worthy of the t' rm. It consisted of a large ag- gregation of buildings constructed upon a great rrmpart of earth. In order to have a firm foundation for their buildings and to render them more easily defended, the Babylonians raised enormous plat- forms of earth. This structure was many acres in extent and was raised to a height of forty feet above the level of the plain. Upon this platform the ouildings were Incite.!. The surrounding country of this city-state oi Nippur afforded neither timber nor stone and recourse was had to sun dried bricks as the chief building material, burnt bricks being used only for the outer casing of the walls. The buildings were one storied, with thick and heavy walls, and with Hat roofs of massive cedar beams. In the centre of the eitv were the palaces of the king and the great temple of Bel.

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accustomed to ruining operations and drove an excavation into the embankment and then up to plain above, where the buildings of the city were located For two weeks the Elamites endeavored to take the city. Then one dark night while the Babylonians were repelling the assultsof their foes, they were attacked bv Elamites who had come up by way of the excavation. The completeness of the surprise, the number of foes in their rear, and the darkness rendered it im- possible for the Babylonians to retrieve their fortunes. The next day the remaining inhabitants surrendered All were required to pay a ransom and one hundred young men of the high- est rank were selected to be taken to Susa, the capitol of Elam, as hostages and slaves Prince Sargon was one of the young men chosen as a hostage, consequently he accompanied the Elamites to Susa. Sargon and Asshur, a friend of his, were assigned to the service of the chief priest of the great temple of Susa The lads were well treated and soon became partly reconciled to their lot. They became fast friends of Saracus, the priest's son and of Nysa, the priest’s daughter. Two years after entering the household of the high priest, a serious mishap occurred. Sargon and Saracus were in the great temple of Susa, working around the image of the chief god. Some workmen had been employed to elevate the statue, consequently the image was resting on a scaffold and the massive idol crashed to the pavement and was crushed. The lads, horrified at the mishap, hurriedly left the temple and went home. They told the high priest how the accident occurred. The high priest remained silent fora minute, and then said, :‘I do not think that the accidental breaking of this idol is a deadly offense against the gods. The people worship many idols, believing them to be gods. I believe this image merely typifies the god. But the common people are incapable of appreciating this and would surely kill you if they knew you broke the idol. Therefore I think you had best make your way Babylon.” The Elamites were very superstitious and were angered upon finding the image destroyed. At this time Hammurabi, the king of Babylon, was conquering the territory of the Elamites and a pesti-