The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-04-25
producing and diffusing happiness around her,
finds her dearest hopes Of happiness in life,
realized. aShe stretched forth her hands te

producing and dittuslng happiness around her,
finds her dearest hopes of happiness in life,
realized eShe stretched forth her hands to
the needy
The Albany Evening Journal gives histo-
ric sketch of the bible, which we think will be
interesting to our readers, and we quote 1t IN
full:
The books that compose the bible were first
collected under the name of John Chlysos-
tenn, at Constantinople, in the fifth century
For several centuries after it was translated
only into Latin. There was no English YER.
sion in print at all at the reformation, nor un-
til some years after the establishment OF the
presbyterian, Anglican, and the Lutheran
churches. Whatever doctrines the early re-
formers promulgated, they drew from the Latin
version, then, as now, published and sanction
ed by the Roman catholic church. In 1539
the first English translation was printed, made
by John Wyckliffe - ssz.r.s
Others were soon put forth by Tyndal Cover
dale and Mathew. Il those good men had
been as learned as they were pious, their yer-
sion would not have abounded, as they do,
in omissions and blunders in grammar and
spelling 1t was to correct these defects, and
to supply the people of Great Britain with an
authentic and carefully made version, that the
two new translations were commenced in the
latter part of the same century; the one at
London, by convocation of English divines
and lingusts and the other by similar con-
vocation, about the same time, at Douay. a
small town in the north Of France These
came Immediately into use in England; the one
by the protestants, the other by the catholics,
Both made were from the Greek text, and both
follow it, as nearly as possible, word for word.
Both, like all translations, doubtless have i'm
perfections. But they resembleeach other so
closely that not one man in a hundred could
tell the difference, except by looking at the title
page. sa..aa ss Ga aAu's 8s4 .a .
Put the London version, of which he has
such dread, into the hands of catholic, and
even with priest to aid him, he would be puz-
zled to find single sentence that conflicts with
the doctrines of his church. Put the Douay
version into the hands Of the protestants who
are so much afraid Of it, and if they can find
doctrines therein, that are not preaching from
protestant pulpits, they are wise beyond their
generation.
Yet from the quarrel they have got into one
would suppose they were two different bibles,
translations of one and the same thing. .
About the only point of difference between
the two versions that has been made the occa-
sion of doctrinal dispute is the translation of
the Greek word metanoia. In our version it is
rendered Repentance in the Douay version
it is rendered spenance," and in latter editions,
with note at the bottom of the page, saying
the reader may translate it if he prefers.
The baptist, who takes exception to both
versions, for their rendering of the Greek word
baptizo, and the unitarian who disputes their
correctness in passages relating to the trinity
might, with much more consistency refuse to
read either one at school than the catholic re-
fuse to read the London version or the protest
ant refused to let him use the Douay
With the Interpretation put upon the text by
the different churches, we have nothing to do
The text itself is the subject of the quarrel
and that is, in both substantially the same.
| We know there Isl sort of superstition
among uneducated catholics that the English
bible makes divers furious attacks upon the
pope; we know that many uneducated protest
ant firmly believe the catholic bible commands
fish to be eaten on Friday land the like And per-
haps in US laymen, who donot read any YER
sion as often as we ought to- such childish no.
tons may be excusable. But protestant cler-
gymen and catholic priests know better, and
they are much to blame if they encourage dis
pute which can have origin only in ignorance on
one side, and petty sectarian bigotry on the
other z= SD,
For our own part we have never yet seen
the copy of scriptures, well translated or i'll,
that it would harm children, or grown folks
either, to read. In the good time coming, when
christian charity shall bear some sort of proper
ton to sectarian zeal, we hope and believe it
will be SO thought The bible is. older than
the sects, and we trust, is destined to outlive
all their controversies. #.r
We find the following account of a most sim
gular, but hitherto unnoticed phenomenon, in
the Evansville Journal. The explanation of
it, however, is very simple, and any one can
satisfy himself as to the probability of the story
by stirring up puddle Of stagnant water CON
tanning putrid substance. The bubbles that
rise to the surface contain an nfammable gas,
which will burn for minute with pale, blu
ish blaze.
We have never seen in print notice of the
following strange fact, although every steam
boatman acquainted with Green river naviga-
tion can verify its truth. Just above the locks,
when the river is in certain stage, very low,
for several miles steamboats, shut down their
furnace doors. and allow no torches to be light
ed for fear of what the deck hands call 'sset-
ting the river on fire." Frequently boats using
torches or keeping their doors open at this par
ticular place, have found themselves engulfed
in blue flames to the alarm of passengers, and
in several cases setting the steamer on fire.
In some instances the passengers have only
been prevented by the strenuous exertions Of
.he officers, from leaping overheard in their
alarm. The cause of the phenomenon is sim
oly this: The bottom of the river becomes
covered with forest leaves and rubbish to the
lepth of some inches, probably several feet
5oats IN low water run through this vegetable
natter. their wheels stirs itup thoroughly. An
nhammable gas is thus permitted to escape,
which, on communication with flame, at
nee takes fire and burns with blue blaze.
vt such times the boat stops and the flames
ease. When out, the boat goes on again, ia
ing the precaution mentioned above. Unless
flowed to continue some little time, this burn-
ng gas is notvery apt to communicate its flames