Itisanevilgrowingoutofourrepublicaninstitutions，thathereamanoflargepursehasusuallyaverylittlesoulwhichhekeepsinit。
　　Thecorruptionoftasteisaportionorapendantofthedollar-manufacsure。Aswegrowrich，ourideasgrowrusty。Itis，therefore，notamong_our_aristocracythatwemustlookifatall，inAppallachia，forthespiritualityofaBritish_boudoir。_ButwehaveseenapartmentsinthetenureofAmericansofmoderns[possibly“modest“or“moderate“]means，which，innegativemeritatleast，mightviewithanyofthe_or-molu’d_cabinetsofourfriendsacrossthewater。Even_now_，thereispresenttoourmind’seyeasmallandnot，ostentatiouschamberwithwhosedecorationsnofaultcanbefound。Theproprietorliesasleeponasofa-
　　theweatheriscool-thetimeisnearmidnight：arcwillmakeasketchoftheroomduringhisslumber。
　　Itisoblong-somethirtyfeetinlengthandtwenty-fiveinbreadth-
　　ashapeaffordingthebestordinaryopportunitiesfortheadjustmentoffurniture。Ithasbutonedoor-bynomeansawideone-whichisatoneendoftheparallelogram，andbuttwowindows，whichareattheother。
　　Theselatterarelarge，reachingdowntothefloor-havedeeprecesses-
　　andopenonanItalian_veranda。_Theirpanesareofacrimson-tintedglass，setinrose-woodframings，moremassivethanusual。Theyarecurtainedwithintherecess，byathicksilvertissueadaptedtotheshapeofthewindow，andhanginglooselyinsmallvolumes。Withouttherecessarecurtainsofanexceedinglyrichcrimsonsilk，fringedwithadeepnetworkofgold，andlinedwithsilvertissue，whichisthematerialoftheexteriorblind。Therearenocornices；butthefoldsofthewholefabricwhicharesharpratherthanmassive，andhaveanairyappearance，issuefrombeneathabroadentablatureofrichgiltwork，whichencirclestheroomatthejunctionoftheceilingandwalls。Thedraperyisthrownopenalso，orclosed，bymeansofathickropeofgoldlooselyenvelopingit，andresolvingitselfreadilyintoaknot；nopinsorothersuchdevicesareapparent。Thecoloursofthecurtainsandtheirfringe-thetintsofcrimsonandgold-appeareverywhereinprofusion，anddeterminethe_character_oftheroom。Thecarpet-ofSaxonymaterial-isquitehalfaninchthick，andisofthesamecrimsonground，relievedsimplybytheappearanceofagoldcordlikethatfestooningthecurtainsslightlyrelievedabovethesurfaceofthe_ground，_andthrownuponitinsuchamannerastoformasuccessionofshortirregularcurves-oneoccasionallyoverlayingtheother。Thewallsarepreparedwithaglossypaperofasilvergraytint，spottedwithsmallArabesquedevicesofafainterhueoftheprevalentcrimson。Manypaintingsrelievetheexpanseofpaper。Thesearechieflylandscapesofanimaginativecast-suchasthefairygrottoesofStanfield，orthelakeoftheDismalSwampofChapman。
　　Thereare，nevertheless，threeorfourfemaleheads，ofanetherealbeauty-portraitsinthemannerofSully。Thetoneofeachpictureiswarm，butdark。Thereareno“brillianteffects。”_Repose_speaksinall。Notoneisofsmallsize。Diminutivepaintingsgivethat_spotty_looktoaroom，whichistheblemishofsomanyafineworkofArtovertouched。Theframesarebroadbutnotdeep，andrichlycarved，withoutbeing_dulled_orfilagreed。Theyhavethewholelustreofburnishedgold。Theylieflatonthewalls，anddonothangoffwithcords。Thedesignsthemselvesareoftenseentobetteradvantageinthislatterposition，butthegeneralappearanceofthechamberisinjured。Butonemirror-andthisnotaverylargeone-isvisible。Inshapeitisnearlycircular-anditishungsothatareflectionofthepersoncanbeobtainedfromitinnoneoftheordinarysitting-placesoftheroom。Twolargelowsofasofrosewoodandcrimsonsilk，gold-flowered，formtheonlyseats，withtheexceptionoftwolightconversationchairs，alsoofrose-wood。Thereisapianoforterose-wood，also，withoutcover，andthrownopen。Anoctagonaltable，formedaltogetheroftherichestgold-threadedmarble，isplacednearoneofthesofas。Thisisalsowithoutcover-thedraperyofthecurtainshasbeenthoughtsufficient……FourlargeandgorgeousSevresvases，inwhichbloomaprofusionofsweetandvividflowers，occupytheslightlyroundedanglesoftheroom。Atallcandelabrum，bearingasmallantiquelampwithhighlyperfumedoil，isstandingneartheheadofmysleepingfriend。Somelightandgracefulhangingshelves，withgoldenedgesandcrimsonsilkcordswithgoldtassels，sustaintwoorthreehundredmagnificentlyboundbooks。Beyondthesethings，thereisnofurniture，ifweexceptanArgandlamp，withaplaincrimson-tintedgroundglassshade，whichdependsfromHeloftyvaultedceilingbyasingleslendergoldchain，andthrowsatranquilbutmagicalradianceoverall。
　　IntensosrigidarninfronternascenderecanosPassuserat-
　　_-LucanDeCatone_-
　　abristly_bore。_
　　_Translation_
　　LETushurrytothewalls。”saidAbel-PhittimtoBuzi-Ben-LeviandSimeonthePharisee，onthetenthdayofthemonthThammuz，intheyearoftheworldthreethousandninehundredandfortyoneletushastentotherampartsadjoiningthegateofBenjamin，whichisinthecityofDavid，andoverlookingthecampoftheuncircumcised；foritisthelasthourofthefourthwatch，beingsunrise；andtheidolaters，infulfilmentofthepromiseofPompey，shouldbeawaitinguswiththelambsforthesacrifices。”
　　Simeon，Abel-Phittim，andDuzi-Ben-LeviweretheGizbarim，orsub-collectorsoftheoffering，intheholycityofJerusalem。
　　“Verily。”repliedthePharisee；“letushasten：forthisgenerosityintheheathenisunwonted；andfickle-mindednesshaseverbeenanattributeoftheworshippersofBaal。”
　　“’Thattheyarefickle-mindedandtreacherousisastrueasthePentateuch。”saidBuzi-Ben-Levi，“butthatisonlytowardthepeopleofAdonai。WhenwasiteverknownthattheAmmonitesprovedwantingtotheirowninterests？MethinksitisnogreatstretchofgenerositytoallowuslambsforthealtaroftheLord，receivinginlieuthereofthirtysilvershekelsperhead！”
　　“Thouforgettest，however，Ben-Levi。”repliedAbel-Phittim，“thattheRomanPompey，whoisnowimpiouslybesiegingthecityoftheMostHigh，hasnoassuritythatweapplynotthelambsthuspurchasedforthealtar，tothesustenanceofthebody，ratherthanofthespirit。”
　　“Now，bythefivecornersofmybeard！”shoutedthePharisee，whobelongedtothesectcalledTheDashersthatlittleknotofsaintswhosemannerof_dashing_andlaceratingthefeetagainstthepavementwaslongathornandareproachtolesszealousdevotees-astumbling-blocktolessgiftedperambulators“bythefivecornersofthatbeardwhich，asapriest，I
　　amforbiddentoshave！-havewelivedtoseethedaywhenablasphemingandidolatrousupstartofRomeshallaccuseusofappropriatingtotheappetitesofthefleshthemostholyandconsecratedelements？Havewelivedtoseethedaywhen-“’
　　“LetusnotquestionthemotivesofthePhilistine。”interruptedAbel-Phittim’“forto-dayweprofitforthefirsttimebyhisavariceorbyhisgenerosity；butratherletushurrytotheramparts，lestofferingsshouldbewantingforthataltarwhosefiretherainsofheavencannotextinguish，andwhosepillarsofsmokenotempestcanturnaside。”
　　ThatpartofthecitytowhichourworthyGizbarimnowhastened，andwhichborethenameofitsarchitect，KingDavid，wasesteemedthemoststronglyfortifieddistrictofJerusalem；beingsituateduponthesteepandloftyhillofZion。Here，abroad，deep，circumvallatorytrench，hewnfromthesolidrock，wasdefendedbyawallofgreatstrengtherecteduponitsinneredge。Thiswallwasadorned，atregularinterspaces，bysquaretowersofwhitemarble；thelowestsixty，andthehighestonehundredandtwentycubits-inheight。But，inthevicinityofthegateofBenjamin，thewallarosebynomeansfromthemarginofthefosse。Onthecontrary，betweentheleveloftheditchandthebasementoftherampartsprangupaperpendicularcliffoftwohundredandfiftycubits，formingpartoftheprecipitousMountMoriah。SothatwhenSimeonandhisassociatesarrivedonthesummitofthetowercalledAdoni-Bezek-theloftiestofalltheturretsaroundaboutJerusalem，andtheusualplaceofconferencewiththebesiegingarmy-theylookeddownuponthecampoftheenemyfromaneminenceexcellingbymanyfeetthatofthePyramidofCheops，and，byseveral，thatofthetempleofBelus。
　　“Verily。”sighedthePharisee，ashepeereddizzilyovertheprecipice，“theuncircumcisedareasthesandsbytheseashore-asthelocustsinthewilderness！ThevalleyoftheKinghathbecomethevalleyofAdommin。”
　　“Andyet。”addedBen-Levi，“thoucanstnotpointmeoutaPhilistine-no，notone-fromAlephtoTau-fromthewildernesstothebattlements-whoseemethanybiggerthantheletterJod！”
　　“Lowerawaythebasketwiththeshekelsofsilver！”hereshoutedaRomansoldierinahoarse，roughvoice，whichappearedtoissuefromtheregionsofPluto-“lowerawaythebasketwiththeaccursedcoinwhichithasbrokenthejawofanobleRomantopronounce！IsitthusyouevinceyourgratitudetoourmasterPompeius，who，inhiscondescension，hasthoughtfittolistentoyouridolatrousimportunities？ThegodPhoebus，whoisatruegod，hasbeenchariotedforanhour-andwereyounottobeontherampartsbysunrise？Aedepol！doyouthinkthatwe，theconquerorsoftheworld，havenothingbettertodothanstandwaitingbythewallsofeverykennel，totrafficwiththedogsoftheearth？Loweraway！Isayandseethatyourtrumperybebrightincolorandjustinweight！”
　　“ElElohim！”ejaculatedthePharisee，asthediscordanttonesofthecenturionrattledupthecragsoftheprecipice，andfaintedawayagainstthetemple-“ElElohim！whoisthegodPhoebus？whomdoththeblasphemerinvoke？Thou，Buzi-BenLevi！whoartreadinthelawsoftheGentiles，andhastsojournedamongthemwhodabblewiththeTeraphim！isitNergalofwhomtheidolaterspeaketh？orAshimah？orNibhaz，orTartak？orAdramalech？orAnamalech？orSuccoth-Benith？-orDagon？-orBelial？-orBaal-Perith？-orBaal-Peor？-orBaal-Zebub？”
　　“Verilyitisneither-butbewarehowthoulettesttheropesliptoorapidlythroughthyfingers；forshouldthewicker-workchancetohangontheprojectionofYondercrag，therewillbeawofuloutpouringoftheholythingsofthesanctuary。”
　　Bytheassistanceofsomerudelyconstructedmachinery，theheavilyladenbasketwasnowcarefullylowereddownamongthemultitude；and，fromthegiddypinnacle，theRomanswereseengatheringconfusedlyroundit；butowingtothevastheightandtheprevalenceofafog，nodistinctviewoftheiroperationscouldbeobtained。
　　Halfanhourhadalreadyelapsed。
　　“Weshallbetoolate！”sighedthePharisee，asattheexpirationofthisperiodhelookedoverintotheabyss-“weshallbetoolate！weshallbeturnedoutofofficebytheKatholim。”
　　“Nomore。”respondedAbel-Phittim-“nomoreshallwefeastuponthefatoftheland-nolongershallourbeardsbeodorouswithfrankincenseourloinsgirdedupwithfinelinenfromtheTemple。”
　　“Racal“sworeBen-Levi，“Racaldotheymeantodefraudusofthepurchasemoney？or，HolyMoses！aretheyweighingtheshekelsofthetabernacle？”
　　“Theyhavegiventhesignalatlast！”criedthePharisee-“theyhavegiventhesignalatlast！pullaway，Abel-Phittim！-andthou，Buzi-Ben-Levi，pullaway！-forverilythePhilistineshaveeitherstillholduponthebasket，ortheLordhathsoftenedtheirheartstoplacethereinabeastofgoodweight！”AndtheGizbarimpulledaway，whiletheirburdenswungheavilyupwardthroughthestillincreasingmist。
　　“Booshohhe！”-as，attheconclusionofanhour，someobjectattheextremityoftheropebecameindistinctlyvisible-“Booshohhe！”wastheexclamationwhichburstfromthelipsofBen-Levi。
　　“Booshohhe！forshame！-itisaramfromthethicketsofEngedi，andasruggedasthevalleyofjehosaphat！”
　　“Itisafirstlingoftheflock。”saidAbel-Phittim，“Iknowhimbythebleatingofhislips，andtheinnocentfoldingofhislimbs。HiseyesaremorebeautifulthanthejewelsofthePectoral，andhisfleshislikethehoneyofHebron。”
　　“ItisafattedcalffromthepasturesofBashan。”saidthePharisee，“theheathenhavedealtwonderfullywithusletusraiseupourvoicesinapsalmletusgivethanksontheshawmandonthepsaltery-ontheharpandonthehuggab-onthecythernandonthesackbut！”
　　ItwasnotuntilthebaskethadarrivedwithinafewfeetoftheGizbarimthatalowgruntbetrayedtotheirperceptionahogofnocommonsize。
　　“NowElEmanu！”slowlyandwithupturnedeyesejaculatedthetrio，as，lettinggotheirhold，theemancipatedporkertumbledheadlongamongthePhilistines，“ElEmanu！-Godbewithus-itis_theunutterableflesh！”_