The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-01
A Copy of the "Bug Bible"
Now in This Country.
Only Three Other Copies
Known to Be in Existence.
Experts Do Not Judge Oysters BY
the Taste But by the Smell.

II 10 claimed that of what n known as
tEe "Bug Bible' only four copies are In
existence, and one OF these is In the DOS
session OF Mr.. James Vincent of Tabor,
Iowa. Mr.. Vincent says his copy OF the
"Bng Bible" was brought to this coun-
try In 1s4s and that the other three copies
are In English collections. His copy, he
says, bears the date of 1549 and has the
introduction by Miles Coverdaie. His
slIusion to the queer tr snslstion Of a
word, which has given this Bible the
name OF "Bug" Is correct, and II he
states the date accurately IL Is q more
precious copy than that generally called
the "Bug Bible" In the fifth verse of
the ninety-first Psalm the reading is:
"Thou shalt not need to be afraid for any
buggss by:night" whereas the authorized
version has sterror" for 9" "bugges"-pos-
sibIy . word akin with bogie, and not
an old English plural OF bug. Then Mr..
Vincent alludes to this curious note or
the editor to the third chapter Of the trst
epistle OF st. Peter. where tine text al
ludes to the wife, Sara: "And II she be
not obedient and helpful unto him (he)
sndeavoreth to beat the fear OF God into
her head. that thereby she may be COM
PEELED to learn her duty and to do it,.
ciplining O wife.
The "Bug Bible" has companions all
named from typographical errors, as the
~vinegar Bible" which calls the para
BILE of the vineyard that of the Swine
gar"; the "Piacemaker's Bible" which
contains the spoils doctrine by making
placemakers, and not psacemakers,
blessed, and not least of all. the "wicked
Bibls," which leaves "not" out of tho
Seventh Commandment. In 1877 there was
held in South Kensington, England the
Caxton memorial celebration In honor of
fhe-feuf hundredth- anniversary of
Caxton's printing press. Part OF the ex.
hibition was devoted to Bibles, and
therein was "Bug Bible" of 1851. 1t
was known as the Matthews translation.
q pseudopym for John Daniel. and the
text was that of CoverdaIe, the first trans
lator OF the complete Bible into Eng
ish from the "Douche and Latyn." But
the bug error 10 also in the Matthews
edition Of 1549. 1t was In these days
when the common people dared not pos
sess Biblo, and William Lyndale was
strangisd to death. But what this Caxton
exhibition solved, was what % q literary
mystery had elicited inquiry for three
centuries. Where was the Coverdale trans:
lation printed? II was settled to be Ant
werp. Belgium, and curiously enough
that 10 where Mr.. yincent's Bible was
printed.
This 10 the season when the oyster Is at
its psst, but Of the thousands OF persons
who are partial to tho pivalve, probab bly,
bot very small fraction are aware of the
method of judging oysters employed by
those In the trade. man who has had
many years experience In the business
says the. the best experts judge oysters
by the smell rather than the taste. He
goes on to explain; "There is something
about the smell OF any oyster that indi-
Gates Its condition to me much palmer
than docs the taste. People buy them
and eat them probably on account OF
their taste. So, also, do they buy tea,
coffee and the various grades OF whisky
and brandy for their taste, but all experts
on those things pass upon them entirely
by their smell. The professional tea
faster or wiskey faster, so-cslled. never
tastes them. but simply arrives at their
TASTE by their peculiarities of flavor, or,
30 speak plainly. smell. 81 can tell what
price load OF oysters will be rated at
when they arrive at the wharf by opening
up the hold OF the boat and smelling. In
eight cases out OF ten 1 am right. Il
strikes osytermen ss strange when they
pee persons going about from boat to
boat, as they lie at the wharf, tasting
oysters before they conclude to buy.
Taste is all right, but II thev don't smell
right they win never toste right"