Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-07-17
"GENEsE FlFTY-QNE...
A Spurious Chapter That Has Puzzled
Biblical Scholars for Years


For the past 500 or 600 years the follow
ing so called Genesis Fifty-one" has been
puzzle to Biblical scholars; and today,
were it read aloud in any mixed company,
it is questionable if it's fraudulent nature
would be discovered, SO beautiful is the
spirit and language of the Old Testament
initiated. Below we give this unique
fraud in full:
l. And it came to pass after these things
that Abraham sat in the door of his tent at
about the going down of the sun.
2. And behold man, bowed with age,
c1,1ie from the way of the wilderness, lean
ing on a staff.
g. And Abraham arose and met him and
said unto him, Turn in, pray thee, and
wash thy feet, and tarry all night, and
thou shalt arise early on the morrow and
go thy way.
4. But the man said, Nay, for Twill abide
under this tree.
5. And Abraham pressed him greatly, SO
he turned and they went into the tent; and
Abraham broke unleavened bread, and
they did eat.
6. And when Abraham saw that the man
blessed not God, he said unto him, Where
fore doest thou not worship the most high
oOSis SiCettOI VI Hcdfcu ttIlu CtTUl!
z. And the man answered and said, do
not worship the God thou speakest of,
neither do l call upon his name, for have
made to myself god which abideth al
ways in my house and provideth me with
all things.
s. And Abraham's anger was kindled
against that man for what he had said and
he arose and drove him forth with blows
into the wilderness.
8. And at midnight God called upon
Abraham, saying, Abraham, where is the
stranger that came by the way of the tent
at the going down of the sun.
10. And Abraham answered and said,
Lord, he would not worship thee, neither
would he call upon thy name, therefore I
have driven him out from before my face
into the wilderness.
II. And God said, Have not borne with
him these hundred and ninety and eight
years, and nourished him, and clothed him,
notwithstanding he has rebelled against
me? Couldst thou not, thee thyself being
a sinner, bear with him one night?
u. And Abraham said, Let not the an
ger of my Lord wax against his servant.
Lo! I have sinned; forgive me Epray of
thee
ID. And Abraham arose and went forth
into the wilderness and sought diligently
for the man until he had found him and
returned with him to the tent, and when
he had entertained him kindly he sent him
away on the morrow with many gifts.
IA. And God spake again unto Abraham,
saying, for this thy sin against the stranger,
thy seed shall be afflicted 400 years in
strange land.
15. But, for thy repentance, will deliver
them, and they shall come forth with
power and with gladness of heart.
The author of this pseudo-Bi blical curios-
ity is unknown. 1t has been traced back
over 700 years to Persian poet, who SIM
ply says SIT was so related to nest
Louis Republic.
Secretary Foster and the Monument.
When Secretary Foster first came to con-
gress the Washington monument was
literally the national laughing stock, look
ing, as it stood there, like the trunk of a
storm severed mast-apparently the tower
which the parable speaks of which the
builder could not finish because he had not
counted the cost. 1t was the sneer of the
tourist and the shame of the resident. It
was perfectly evident that it was not going
to be finished with the contents of the
little collection boxes labeled For the
Washington monument" which stared at
you as you entered any public building,
any more than with the memorial" or
votive stones sent by countries, cities and
societies. 1t was equally evident that no
other private means would suffice. 1t
would have to be completed by the govern
ment if completed at all.
Samuel j. Randall was chairman of the
committee on appropriations, of which
Foster had been made member by
Speaker Kerr. Randall, who liked Foster,
jokingly created him a subcommittee on
monuments, and turned over to him as
such lot of bills for monuments to this
man and that memory. One day there
came over from the senate bill which
John Sherman had gotten through there,
providing for the completion of the Wash
ington monument by the government, and
appropriating 100000 for that purpose.
Foster was watching, and just as Ran
dali, scowling at it, was about to pigeon
hole it, he spoke up and said: s'No, no, Mr..
Chairman. Pm the subcommittee on
monuments; that bill belongs to me-" with
that persuasive smile which has moved
more obdurate hearts than Randall's.
''Take it, them" said Randall, throwing it
over the table. Foster did take it, and
went to work at once collecting the data
for a report on the subject, which was so
fnll and SO strong that it convinced ma
jority of the committee then, and after
ward majority of the house passed the
bill The work then begun never ceased
till the aluminium cap was put on the apex
of the pyramidal top. No wonder Foster
finds Satisfaction every time he looks at
his handiwork. Washington Cor. Phila-
delphia Record.