The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-11-03
ALMOST QUIT HIS BIBLE.
Terrible State of Affairs Resulting
From the Production Of Good
Newspapers.

Mr. II. w. Bowie, who sold all the land last
Sale Day at such high prices, Is q good citizen
of Long Cane, but the Abbeville newspapers
have become SO In teresting TO him that he has
almost quit reading his Bible.
Long ago he used to read fand study the
Scriptures every Sunday. but now since he
has subscribed for the Abbeville newspapers,
the Bible stories are beginning to be of less
interest to him.
He used to read the story of the Hebrew
children and the fiery furnance. He now
reads of the Klondike region. the North Pole,
and Andres pigeons.
From the newspapers he learns that the
common miners of today may fill their plain
iron buckets with the dust Of Alaska that
would, in value-if not splend ndor-rival the
golden vessels that were taken out OF the
temple at Jerusalem.
The story Of the excursion upon which
Jonah embarked upon q tempestuous sea
once had thrilling interest, but now he
reads the newspapers and learns how great
ships may ride the storm. or disappear be-
meath the waves.
children OF Israel in the day time. and the pill
| lar of fire which lighted their pathway in the
night, is not more interesting than the sto.
OF Africa's scorching sands or come those
who traverse the reptile infested jungles OF
that far.of land.
The recital of the great tragedy which re-
suited from the rushing together OF the wall
ed waters Of the Dead Sea, finds It's counter
part in the frozen waters OF the Yukon which
| for nine months in the year. stand as solid as
masonry, and upon which all OF the Kings
army might have marched In safety.
| The story of Noah's food and his great ship
which rode the waves in majestry, and land
| ed our grandfathers and grandmothers on the
solid earth, losses its thrill when compared to
| the account Of railroad wrecks in which i'm
mense trains loaded with our neighbors and
near relatives are plunged into the waters
that instantly swallow them up.
| The story OF Daniel In the lions den Is
ecipsed by the menagerie that travels the
country and shows greater deeds OF daring.
Ferocious animals cover and crouch before
the gaze of man. Although Daniel was
among the first of the historical lion tanners,
yet the Great Wallace Shows give more thrill
wild beasts.
The war stories Of the Bible, including the
battles in which the great commander placed
Uriah In the front rank, dwindle into little
fights when compared to the slaughter at
Gettysburg, Or the sublime effort at Chicka-
maug ga, where twenty thousand men were
slain.
1t will thus be seen that the newspapers of
today are dividing time with the Bible, and
that the readers Of the wonderful stories re-
lated In the sacred Book, find their counter
part In the history OF the times in which we
live. But as truth is stranger than fiction. so
the Bible stories will live and survive the
everlasting hills, while the stories which we
read in the newspapers will be forgotten TO.
morrow.
But somebody bad better look after Mr..
Bowie If be were TO subscribe for another
good newspaper there Is no telling the conse-
ouence In the act of his reading the news
papers instead Of the Bible we have an i'm
pressive lesson as to the Importance OF max
ing the newspaper pure in Its thought and
correct in expression.