Artists and artisans 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; wearing the face of benevolence and clothed in the raiment of Heaven.  There were feasts of which the German people knew nothing, and to which foreign ambassadors were not invited.  At these feasts the wines were furnished by Belial.  They were occasions for the glorification of the German god of war; of greed and conquest; ambition and vanity; without pity, sympathy or honor.

Ruthless, vain, arrogant minds met the same qualities in their leader.  Some knew and welcomed the fact that the devil was their guest of honor; perhaps others did not know it.  Deluded as they all were and blinded by pride and self-seeking, the same handwriting that told Belshazzar of disaster was on the wall, but they could not or would not see it.  There was no Daniel to interpret for them.