The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-11-14
lngersoll and the Bible.


Probably nobody will be more sur.
prised at the story which follows than
the big.headed and gcnialCol. Bob"
Ingersoll himself. says the New York
Tribune:
Strange asst may seem, it is never
tlleless the solemn truth that Col.
lngersoll was the cause.-the direct
and certain cause-of the purchase
of II bible in one of the printing Of
fees OF the country, The office is
situated not thousand miles from
the carved figure of Justice on the
dome Of the New York City hall.
This plain tale from II printing Of
flee begins with the circumstance
that Col. Ingersoll onceupon Il time
wrote an article in which he had oc-
casion to make IL quotation from
the bible. 1t is commonly believed
that he is fonder of falling ioul
OF that book and criticizing 1t with
relentless terecity than he is OF qnot-
ing from it. But this time he exact
ed q verse from the old testament
in order to add point and emphasis
to the argument he was making.
Taking the colonels un amiliarity
with the bible Tor granted the proof
reader when he came to the question
Instantly surmised that something
was wrong. In fact, the suspicion
was born in him that the quotation
was not correct. He, therefore,
reached out for the office bible in
order to verify his suspicious or else
to send it whistling down the wind.
1t was the first time in years that
any one in the office had had oc-
casion to consult the bible. Quota
tions from it has come and quota
tons had gonc-all on the general
principal that they must he all right
since they had been used as Il rule l'y
ministers. and il ministers could not
quote the bible correctly. surely it
was not the business OF the proof
reader to correct them
When the !rool-rcader in question
reached out his hand to pick up the
bible and prove or disaprove Col.
Ingersoll's tamilaraty with that,
book he was somewhat astonished
to find he could not find it. a brief
examination of he reference books
Mt hand showed that the bible was
not among hem. The general util-
ity boy OF the Office was them sum
monel and ordered to produce the
bible instanter.
The boy grumllc'l something to
the effect that lie thought he had
seen it summer a.ore last" With
not very good grace liz began too Yer
haul pile of dus,-covrred books
and papers in which it was supposed
that the missing book mi light he con-
cealed. He discovered fragment
OF a French dictionary. IL Tribune
Almanac" OF the early 70's, an old
Atlantic Monthly, IL few torn pages
of nm old encyclopedia of an early
date, and other more or less worth
less odds ana ends of things. But
no bible. The boy emerged from his
quest in II sorry-looking condition.
His hands. face. and clothing were
smeared with dust so thickly that it
was several days before he began to
resume his normal appearance. lie
had certainly merited success in his
search, though lie had not won it.
The proprietor of the office was then
consulted He was positive, lie said,
that they had had Il bible number
OF years before. Indeed, lie had had
occasion to consult it oncc-llc
couldn't remember for what or when,
for that mattcr-but il certainly was
as much as nine or ten years ago.
What hadhappened in the mean time
lie couldn't say. The Office certainly
ought to have Il bible. but as he lla,
bought one and the men did not
think enough ot it to take proper
care OF it he didnot ieellike investing
in another.
A number OF compositors had le-
come interested by this time, The
search had already occupied nearly
half day. The question was
broachel OF takingup II subscription
in order to supply the needed book;
but one man suggested that if the
Bible society was aware OF the pitt
tul condition to which the office had
found itself reduced it would lie glad
to send down an agent with IL bible
as IL free gift. The idea found little
favor, however, MS it WIS thought
that mention in the society's an
nnal report Of the fact that "thc-
shifting Office had been supplied with
se bible, it being found to- be with
It any copy of the sacred word"
ould not lie precisely The sort OF adj
'ertisement that the proprietor
iould like to see.
FINALLY the head prooi-reader, with
sudden access OF generosity, de-
AIRED that ila would supply the of.
lice with bible at his own cost.
He stopped at n wcll-known book
store the next day and asked for the
cheapest bible they had. The cheap.
est proved to be an English edition
with gilt edges; the cost was 30 cents.
He might have got u cheaper one,
he said, if he had taken the time to
look further, but still lie thought he
could go 30 cents on it.
When Col. lngersoll reads this he
will learn how it came about that
he was the immediate, though un-
whiting. cause OF the purchase of
3O-cent bible.
1t may interest him and the ''gen-
tie reader" rs we'll to know that the