CHAPTER II.
HANDWRITING ON THE WALL Likened to Belshazzar--The Kaiser's Feasts--In His Heart Barbaric Pride of the Potentates of Old--German Madness for War--Insolent Demands--Forty-eight Hours to Prevent a World War--Comment of Statesmen and Leaders--The War Starts--Italy Breaks Her Alliance--Germanic Powers Weighed and Found Wanting--Spirit Wins Over Materialism--Civilization's Lamp Dimmed but not Darkened.
Belshazzar of Babylon sat at a feast.

Very much after the fashion of modern kings they were good at feasting in those olden days.

The farthest limits of the kingdom had been searched for every delight and delicacy.

Honeyed wines, flamingo's tongues, game from the hills, fruits from vine and tree, spices from grove and forest, vegetables from field and garden, fish from stream and sea; every resource of Mother Earth that could contribute to appetite or sensual pleasure was brought to the king's table.

Singers, minstrels, dancers, magicians, entertainers of every description were summoned to the palace that they might contribute to the vanity of the monarch, and impress the onlooking nations about him.
He desired to be known and feared as the greatest monarch on earth; ruling as he did over the world's greatest city.