Solomon Dedicates the Temple at Jerusalem

The first particulars of a description of the Temple are given in the First Book of Kings: a few more are added in the Second Book of Kings and in Jeremiah. The parts wanting in these three books are given in Ezekiel, and nowhere else in the world.

It is as if the writer of the Kings, and Jeremiah and Ezekiel, had examined each what the other had written, and then each supplied what the others had omitted. Thus, in Kings, many inside measures of the house are given, but no outside ones; while in Ezekiel the outside measures are supplied, together with some inside measures which were omitted in Kings: and, when all the measures are put together, they perfectly agree, and make one house.

In general, it is a truth which will be established by a hundred examples, that parts which are fully described in Kings are only mentioned in Ezekiel, and those which are only mentioned in Kings are fully described in Ezekiel. Thus

it is barely mentioned in Kings that the Temple had courts, gates, altars, and little chambers; but no measures or descriptions are given of them: while in Ezekiel the courts, gates, and altars are minutely described, and the little chambers are shown to be watch-towers, three each side of each gate, PI. XIII. and XV.; and are fully described and measured, with the distances between the groups and between each other, Ezek. xl. 7-10. So, on the other hand, two pillars — Jachin and Boaz — are minutely described in 1 and 2 Kings and Jeremiah, together with the porch in which they stood.

The same porch is described in Ezekiel, with the bare mention of two pillars, one each side of it. But the length of this porch is given as twenty cubits in both places, bb', PI. VII.; while the width in Kings is ten cubits, but in Ezekiel it is eleven cubits, 1 Kings vi. 3; Ezek. xl. 49. But in Kings the measures are taken from the inside of the house, outwards: while in Ezekiel the measuring begins at the east gate of the outer court, at o, PI. XIII., and proceeds inwards, on the dotted line, to the house in the centre; thus from without inwards, and then into the house. Hence the width of ten cubits is an inside measure, gd', PI. VII.; and eleven cubits is an outside measure, gb'. Hence the porch had a wall one cubit thick, b'd'. That it had a wall is further evident in that it had a gate (Ezek. xl. 48), which was six cubits wide, cc' (same); and, if there were no wall, there would be no need of a gate.

Solomon Dedicates the Temple at Jerusalem, c. 1896-1902, by James Jacques Joseph Tissot (French, 1836-1902) or followers, gouache on board, 10 5/16 x 7 1/2 in. (26.2 x 19.2 cm), at the Jewish Museum, New York.

Date: c. 1896-1902

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 in this case c. 1896-1902, are now in the public domain.

This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case James Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836-1902) and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year. +sookie tex

James Joseph Jacques Tissot [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

TEXT CREDIT: Solomon's temple: or, the tabernacle ... Volume 61 of Solomon's Temple: Or, the Tabernacle, Timothy Otis Paine. Author: Timothy Otis Paine. Publisher: Phinney, 1861. Original from: Harvard University. Digitized: Jan 24, 2008. Length: 99 pages. Subjects: History › General, History / General, Solomon's temple.

Guy Fawkes and The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators

January 27, 1606 – Gunpowder Plot: The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins, ending with their execution on January 31.

The name of Guy Faukes has, by reason of the all-important part assigned to him in the conspiracy, become so closely identified with its formation and its direction, that we are apt nowadays to look upon him as the principal plotter, whereas he was really subordinate to another, whose name is not quite so familiar to the man in the street. This, the principal plotter, was Robert Catesby. It was, ab initio, Catesby's Conspiracy. It was from his restless brain that the idea of blowing up the House of Peers with gunpowder first emanated.

Having laid his plans, Catesby looked round for confederates, upon whom he could implicitly rely, to help him; and, on his solicitation, they one after another promised to assist and obey him. He was from beginning to end the captain of the band. He hesitated at nothing to gain his own ends.

Promises that he could not fulfil, statements about others that could not be true, I cannot agree with the theory that it was Thomas Winter who put the idea into Catesby's head. All the original evidence tends to prove th it Catesby was the founder of the plot he made from time to time with the utmost assurance. A lie was not a lie, if told in the interests of the plot. 'Master Catesby,' complained Garnet, 'did me much wrong, and hath confessed that he told them he asked me a question in Queen Elizabeth's time of the powder action, and that I said it was lawful.

All which is most untrue. He did it to draw in others.' A man of great courage and resolution, he possessed a wonderful power of making his friends both like and serve him. Utterly unscrupulous, he never repented. He never lost heart, and was always sanguine of success. Even when all was up, and his atrocious plans had utterly failed, he died game, falling in a desperate fight with the officers of the Crown, being determined that he should never be taken alive. He expired from his severe wounds, with his arms clasped round the feet of an image of the Virgin, to whose protection he had commended his sinful soul.

The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators, 1605. by Crispijn de Passe the Elder, engraving, circa 1605.

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 in this case circa 1605, are now in the public domain.

This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case Crispijn de Passe the Elder (1637) and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year. +sookie tex

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: A history of the Gunpowder Plot: the conspiracy and its agents. Author: Philip Sidney. Edition 2. Publisher: Religious Tract Society., 1905. Original from: Harvard University. Digitized: Aug 14, 2007. Length: 313 pages. Subjects: Great Britain, Gunpowder Plot, 1605.

3,106 carat Cullinan Diamond

January 25, 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond is discovered. Weighing 1.33 pound it was the largest diamond ever found and was the largest polished diamond in the world until the 1985 discovery of the Golden Jubilee Diamond, 545.67 carats, also from the Premier Mine.

Cullinan I is now mounted in the head of the Sceptre with the Cross. The second largest gem from the Cullinan stone, Cullinan II or the Lesser Star of Africa, at 317.4 carats, is the fourth largest polished diamond in the world. Both gems are in the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

The Premier Diamond Mine in South Africa where the Cullinan was found was comparatively new, having only been worked since 1902. It had, however, already produced over $25,000,000 worth 'of the precious stones, and its size is so enormous that it was feared by other diamond mine owners that the output of the Premier in the future will seriously affect the diamond market. This great mine as yet has only been worked on the surface, and when it is considered that it can be worked for thousands of feet deep its estimated value is beyond man's comprehension.

In its rough state the Cullinan was irregular in shape, and it was without doubt only part of a much larger stone, for there were indisputable evidences that on three sides large pieces had been broken off. In fact, by many of the experts who handled it it is believed that it was only a small piece of a very much larger stone, but there was less possibility of reconstructing it than to reconstruct the statue of Venus de Milo. Perhaps, however, the mystery may some day be solved by the other pieces of the stone being found.

In recent years when large stones were discovered it has been a problem as to what disposition should be made of them. This was notably so in the case of the Jubilee and the Excelsior, but when the Cullinan was discovered the problem was further complicated for it was out of the question that any individual buyer could be found for it, as its value in the rough was three-quarters of a million dollars— in other words the stone was priceless.

Of course it could have been broken up into marketable size pieces but such a course would have greatly diminished its value; and so pending a decision of the best adjustment to te made of it the diamond as large as a tumbler was sent to London to repose in the vaults of the Rough Syndicate for safe keeping. Then the Transvaal government conceived a happy thought of presenting the gem to King Edward, and so the historic pebble becomes the property of the Crown of England.

After the decision was reached to present the King with the diamond the serious question arose as to the manner in which it should be cut and polished, for an unpolished stone to the unpracticed eye has about the same luster as a piece of camphor. With this end in view the great diamond firm of J. Asscher, of Amsterdam and Paris, was brought into requisition.

This firm was originally started by the father of the present manager, who descended from a long line of diamond workers. This diamond factory is the largest of its kind in the world, and surely the best adapted to have undertaken such a complicated and intricate work as the cleaving and polishing of a diamond such as the Cullman. The stone was consequently turned over to the Asschers to do with it as their good judgment might dictate. After the diaimond was received at the factory it.was photographed in all possible positions.

Two Views of the uncut stone



The stone cut into several parts



The Stone after Completion

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 in this case 1904, are now in the public domain.

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: Technical world magazine, Volume 11 Author: Armour Institute of Technology. Publisher: American school of correspondence at Armour Institute of Technology, 1909. Original from: the University of Michigan. Digitized: Dec 12, 2008. Subjects: Technology & Engineering › General Industrial arts, Technology, Technology & Engineering / General Technology & Engineering / Social Aspects.

TEXT RESOURCE: Cullinan Diamond From Wikipedia

Olive Oatman

Olive Oatman Historical counterpart on which character Eva on AMC's Hell On Wheels is loosley based.

"In The Blue Tattoo: The Life of Olive Oatman, Mifflin's 2009 contribution to the subgenre of American historical studies known as the pioneer captivity narrative, she recounts the slaughter of Oatman's family by marauding Yavapai Indians near the Gila River in Arizona, Oatman's abduction, and her subsequent assimilation into Mohave tribal culture---so much so that she consented to the chin tattoo that was a traditional signifier of femininity, among the Mohave. Mifflin considers Oatman's transformation from Mormon pioneer girl into what the Victorians melodramatically called a "white savage," analyzing the significance of her years among the Mohave and ultimate return to white society in light of Victorian gender politics."

Summary / Description: Lorenzo D. and Olive Ann Oatman, brother and sister, traveled with their family in 1850 across the Plains. While encamped on the Gila River,they were attacked by Indians who killed most of the family, left Lorenzo for dead, and took Olive and her sister Mary into captivity. Although Mary died in captivity, Olive was eventually ransomed and joined her brother in 1857.

Subject: Oatman, Lorenzo D., ca. 1837- Oatman, Olive Ann Genre / Form Tintypes Studio portraits.

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 in this case ca. 1837, are now in the public domain.

IMAGE CREDIT: Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library By unattributed (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

TEXT RESOURCES:

• Margot Mifflin Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Olive Oatman Biographer
• Olive Oatman Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Satan's Fall From Grace Paradise Lost

Illustration for John Milton’s “Paradise Lost“ by Gustave Doré, 1866.

This most extraordinary man, this prince of English poets, this consistent champion of civil and religious liberty, was the son of John Milton and Sarah Caston; they had two other children, Anna, who married Edward Philips; and Christopher, bred to the common law.

Mr. John Milton was born in Bread-street, in the city of London, December 9, 1608,* descended of an ancient family of that name at Milton, near Abingdon, in Oxford, shire, where it had been a long time settled as appears from the monument still to be seen in the church of Milton; till one of the family having taken the unfortunate side in the contest between the houses of York and Lancaster, was sequestered of all his estate, except what he held by his wife.

The poet's grandfather, whose name also was John Milton, was under ranger, or keeper, of the forest of Shotover, near Horton, in Oxfordshire, he being a zealous papist. His father was a polite man, a great master of music, and, by profession, a scrivener, in which calling, through his diligence and honesty, he got a competent estate in a short time; for he was disinherited by his bigoted parents for embracing the Protestant religion, and abjuring the popish idolatry. He lived at the sign of the Spread Eagle, (the armorial bearings of the family,) in Bread-street.

Of his mother, it is said, "she was a woman of incomparable virtue and goodness." John Milton was destined to be a scholar: and partly under domestic tutors, (whereof one was Thomas Young,* to whom the first of his familiar letters is inscribed; and afterwards, Dr. Gill, the chief master of Paul's School, to whom, likewise, the fifth of the same letters is inscribed,) he made an incredible progress in the knowledge of words and things, his diligence and inclination outstripping the care of his instructors; and after he was twelve years of age, such was his insatiable thirst for learning, that he seldom went to bed before midnight.

Being thus initiated into several tongues, and having not slightly tasted the inexpressible sweets of philosophy, he was sent, at the age of fifteen, to Christ's College, in Cambridge to pursue more arduous and solid studies.

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 in this case 1866., are now in the public domain.

This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case Paul Gustave Doré (January 6, 1832 – January 23, 1883) and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year. +sookie tex

TEXT CREDIT: John Milton: his life and times : religious and political opinions : with an appendix containing animadversions upon Dr. Johnson's Life of Milton, etc., etc. Issue 232 of PCMI Collection. Author: Joseph Ivimey. Publisher: D. Appleton & Co., 1833. Original from: the University of California. Digitized: Dec 3, 2007. Length: 300 pages. Subjects: Literary Criticism › Poetry, Literary Criticism / Poetry, Poetry / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh Poets, English.