davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
POULTRY AND GAME.

Slim receipts Of Poultry enabled dealers to
get an advance for several kinds. Game con-
tinued dull.
PoTLTRY-Dressed Turkeys. 14a16c; live
Turkeys lld13c for Gobbers and 11d13c for
Hens; Geese per pair 81 50@1 70: Goslings, 81 25
az 75: Ducks $5d6; Hens, S5d5 80; young
boosters, s79S; old Roosters, S5d6; Fryers,
s6 80: Broilers, s. 50@6 for large, s4q5 for
small; Pigeons. 81 50q1 75 per dozen for old
and $2 2562 so for Squads
GAME-Gray Geese. s2@2 So: White Geese.
75c6s1: Brant, SOL 25; Hare, 81; Rabbits. 81 80
for Cottontails and 81 for small.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
DEc1DUoUs AND CITRUS FRUITS.

The market is unchanged and quiet. Fresh
Mexican Lines are expected to-day.
DECIDUOUS FRUITS
Apples 75c6$1 25 for common. 81 50G1 10 per
box for No. / and s2@2 80 for choice to fancy
CITRUS FRUITS : Navel Oranges S2G3 25
per box; Seedlings. $1@1 rs; Mandarins. =;
Lemons. 75cQs1 so for common and s2Q2 so
fornia Lines, s1G1 % per small box; Grape
Fruit, s2d3 80; Bananas, 81 25G2 80 per bunch;
Pineapples, $294 so per dozen.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16

Of the Increase this year $14S. 42O,SS7 is repre-
sented by gold coin, 81, 000, 900 by standard dol
lars 81 900 900 by fractional silver coin, $751;
600 by silver certificates. $44 900, 900 by green
backs and nearly SIS. 900 by bank notes:
There has been a decrease of Sc, 900, 900 in gold
certificates 81 OOO 900 in treasury notes and S25
900 900 in currency certificates.
The circulation per capita is given at SO 81:
The net increase in circulation for the month OF
February was SO $50, ,055.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
BEANS AND SEEDS.

The rain gives the Bean market easier
feeling, though quotations show no change
worthy of note.
BEANs-Bayos, 81 75@1 s5: Small Whites,
81 1902 2O Large Whites. 81 S0G1 80; Pinks,
81 O5G32 15 Reds, SO 25G3 So: Blackeye. SO $50
8 s5; Buffers 81 25G2 80: Limas, 50 65d3 70; Pea,
81 25@2 so; Red Kidneys 81 50G2 so per ctl.
SEEDS-Brown Mustard. 81 50g4 IS per ctl;
yellow Mustard, 50 1904; Flax. 81 15G2 25: Ca
nary Seed. 2Ad2a4c per lb Alfalfa. SQ815c:
Rape. 2Aq224c; Hemp. 212q3c; Timothy. 5Q5!3c
DRIED PEAS-Niles, 81 65q1 20; Green, S2Q
Q OF
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
LONDON WOOL SALES.

LONDON. March 15.-The wool auction sales
were continued heavy to-day, after days in
terruption owing to the fog. with a large
number of buyers present. The offerings ag-
gregated 13, ,095 bales, and were of a good selec-
ton Good secured merinos sold at 10 per cent
above the January sales. The Continental ouy-
ers were unusually active and secured the ma
iority of good greasy merinos, which brought
large prices Crossbreds were eagerly bid for.
the Yorkshire huYers securing the bulk.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
FLOUR AND M1LLsTUFFs.

FLOUR-California family extras s4 bakers
extras. So S5d3 80; Oregon and Washington.
S3@3 65 per Dbl.
NILLSTUFFs- Prices in sacks are as fol-
lows usual discount to the trade: Graham
Flour. SO 25 per 100 pounds: Rye Flour, 81 Is
per 100; Rice Flour, 81; Cornmeal, 81 50 extra
cream CornmeaI, 50 25; Oatmeal. 81 5Oq4 IS;
Oat Groats 81 70; Hominy 50 25@3 5o Buck
wheat Flour. S4d4 20; Cracked Wheat. SO 10:
Farina 81 SO; Whole Wheat Flour. So so; Rolled
Oats (barrels), Sc 5596 90; in sacks. Sc 35Q6 IS;
Pearl Barley, $5; Split Peas, 81 25: Green Peas,
81 30 ner 100 hounds.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
COMMERCIAL WORLD.
SUMMARY OF. THE MARKETS.

Silver weaker.
Wheat lower.
Bad break in Barley futures.
Oats firm. Corn and Rye dull.
No Hay market.
Bran and Niddlings unchanged.
Beans easier.
Potatoes and Onions the same.
Butter weaker. Eggs unchanged
Slight advance in Poultry.
Game dull.
Fresh and Dried Fruits unchanged.
Beef firm. Hogs weaker.
New York Exchange lower.
Decreased exports of Produce.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
HIDES, TALLow, WOOL AND HOPS.

HIDES AND SKINS-o;dlls and brands sell
about 1c under the quotations. Heavy salted
steers, 10c; medium, &c. light. S4S1ec; Cow
hides, S11Qgc: Stays, &c; Salted Kip, &c; Calf,
10c; dry Hides sound. 15c; culls and brands,
12c; dry Kip and Veal. 15c; dry Calf. lie;
Sheepskins shearlings, 10q30c EACH short
Wool S5@6Oc each; medium 70q9oc; long Wool,
s0c9s1 10 each; Horse Hides. salt. 81 1902 25 for
Hides dry, 81 50@2 for large and 81 for small
TALLoW.No. renddered, sAg3hc per n;
wOOL@Spring cIips-Southern Mountain 12
months. 7G9c; San Joaquin and Southern, I
months, sqsc; Foothill and Northern free, 100
12c; Foothill and Northern defective. 9@11c:
Humboldt and Mendocino. 14q15c; Nevada. 100
12c; Eastern Oregon. 10Q12c.
Fall Wools-
Humboldt and Mendocino. .................9 oil
Northern Mountain ........................7 @10
southern W lt2
Plains NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. a
HOPs-1sss crop, 1oG11c per ID for ordinary,
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
STOCK AND BOND EXCHANGE.
WEDNESDAY
Bid. Ask

DAY, March 15-4 p. m.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
EXPORTS OF PRODUCE.

Exports OF produce from this port during the
first two months of the year were s50Ss.70o,
against Sc 1O9, 500 for the time in 1895, the
leading shipments being follows: To At
lantic ports $40, ,S00 Great Britain, ssh, 800;
100: British Columbia, $134. 500; Mexico, S25s-
200; Central America, SS43 300; Hawaiian
Islands, S1,1l3, 400 Philippines, $13I, 400.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
The 0, R. & N. co,

DISPATCH FAST STEAMERS TO
p O r I'll A N .
From Spear-street Wharf at 10 a. m.
FADE SIP First Glass Including Berths
THnE So Second Glass and Meals.
Columbia sails March Il. "a; April 3. 13. g.
State of California sails March 49, %; April
Short line to Walla WaIla, Spokane, Butte,
Helena and all points in the Northwest.
Through tickets to all points East.
E. c. WARD, General Agent
$50 Market street
GoODALL. PERKINS & CO..
Superintendent
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
CLOSING QUOTATIONS.
WEDNESDAY. March 15-4 p. m.
Ael
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS.

San FFaassc0 Gas Light CoPBany to
western Hes 'x5S dst9n G5 boeRs 20 and 81 q qut
claim deed; SO
9. W. and Elizabeth e. McAfee to Maud H
Clark (wife of Warren D. Clark, lot commenc-
Laurel, N25 by w $50; $500.
Mary B. Taylor to same, lot on NV corner
Of Clay and Laurel streets, w 34:412. n 127:SA,
W S4:lk, n 25 E $50, 152 :s14; $500
n line of Clinton Park Quinn, 100 E Of
Guerrero, f 25 by n 70: gift
(Potrero avenue). 275 S of Helena, E 100 by
so. lots 2S6 and 2S7, Silver Terrace Home
Mary shohay to Albert J. schohay, lot on
W line of Scott place, 1925 of Broadway,
aTo aS hsn of o AZ ey MauG IP lot
Sc line of Stevenson street, $50 SW OF Sixth
sW 25 by Sc IS; $500.
James l. and Lulu 3. Wilson, lot on n line of
California street, 1915 E of Twenty-fourth ave
Solomon and Dora Getz to Sofia and Axel
Lomquist, lot on s line of K street 1915 E OF
Tenth avenue. e % by S 100; $40
Axel and Sofia Lomquist to Sarah L.. Souther
(Hife of Charles H Southern, lot on S line of
K street. 1926 w of Ninth avenue, 20 by
Aiphonzo and Emma Harrington to same
Sarah Lar L. and Richard E. Doran to Alice G.
NJ. Doran lot on N line of California avenue
sos from Coso avenue N 100 by E 25. P. V. lot
Fannie Mott to William Havard, lots 294 and
2s6, Gift Map 3; SO ~ ,o.4,o Y
Vaughan (wife. of Hiram G. ,Vaughan), lot
&c. Ben Franklin Homestead; SO
Hugh B. and Richard c. Jones, F. R. King,
Harris and Jones, J. NJ. Masten and Richard
C. Jones & Co. to c. M and Mrs. c. M. Santa
Cruz. lot on w line of Andover street, 150:2A S
of Courtland avenue. S 25 :0&s w 93:712, n 25, e
92:5, lot %. block 9, Fairs subdivision of Holly
Park; also lot on w line of Andoyer street
1251% of CORTLAND avenue. 25:04s, w S2;5,
n %, z 91:2%, lot 81 block 3, same; $40.
San Francisco Savings Union to Wtnifred w.
Potter, lots IL, 13 and IA. block E, Bella Vista
Park, East Oakland; SO
Alameda County.
Lucy R Lincoln to Lucy W. Dewing. lot IS.
block g. San Pablo Avenue Villa Tract. war
ranty deed, Oakland Township; $40.
Dominic NJ P. Fennon to Annie A. and John
J. Kennedy. all interest in lot on line Of
Seventh street $50 E of Jefferson. w 90. 100,
E so, 100 to beginning, being lots 10 and IL,
Margaret Tierney to John F. Dingwell. lot
on W line of West street, 51:1014 N Of Four
teenth n 51:1OK by w 90, being lot H. block
A, North Oakland Homestead Association.
Oakland; $2750.
Jacob and Josephine villier to Albert ].
Villier, lot line of Fifth street, 100 S of
Grayson, S so by 1856, being lots Is and 16,
block 173, Grayson Tract Berkeley; $500.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
FOREIGN MARKET

LONDON, March 15-Consols, 110ss; silver,
27Ibd: wheat cargoes off coast, nothing doing;
cargoes on passage buyers, indifferent opera
tors; English country markets, generally I'd
cheaper.
wheat in Paris quiet; French country markets.
steady.
COTTON-Uplands. Sasd.
CLOSING.
wHEAT-Spot. steady.
CORN-spot steady: American mixed. 3s
5atd Futures steady; March, 3s 4ssd; May,
3s 4d; July, IS 41sd.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
TINE BALL.

TINE BALL.
Branch photographic Office, q. s. N, Mer
chants Exchange, San Francisco. Cal.
March Is. 1899
The time ball on the tower of the new Ferry
building was dropped at exactly noon to-day
T. e. at noon Of the 10th meridian, or at 8
o'clock p. m. Greenwich mean time
w. s. HUGHES,
Lieutenant, L. S. N. in charge
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
cash ouotations were as follows:

Cash quotations were as follows:
Flour. dull and unchanged; No. rlI spring
wheat 66@6sc; No. spring wheat Eat, 65qo';sc'
? 20 oats 261s@26s.; No 2 white, 2s@@5O; No 8
white 2S1A029l4c; No rye. SAC; No. barley.
seed 50 55; mess pork. per barrel, $s@s o5' lard.
per 100 pounds, s. 25q5 271k; short ribs SIDES
4HG4$sc; short clear sides (boxed), 81 1894 ~;
whisky, distillers' finished goods, per gallon
81 e.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
CASH IN THE TREASURY:

WASHINGTON March 15.-To-days state
nent of the condition Of the treasury shows:
Available cash balance, $277, sos, 81: gold re-
serve, $241, 81, BAT.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16

on The Produoe Exchange to-day the Butter
market was steady; Creameries. 14q19hc; Dali
ries 111b017c Eggs steady; fresh, 13c. Cheese.
steady; Creameries, 1012@1lc
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
INVESTMENT BOARD.
Morning Session.

Board
125 vigorit Powder Observation-Disclosures. 275
so Hama Plantation Co ................. 16 so
so Hutchinson S P Co ...................- 80 121
25 Hutchinson Co ................... SS %
80 Oceanic S S Co ........................ 70 so
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
LOCAL MARKETS.
EXCHANGE AND BULLION.
WHEAT AND OTHER GRAINS.

wHEAT-Weaker prices at Chicago coupled
with the rain, again depressed quotations, as
will be seen. The market was active on CALL
but dull on the spot.
Spot wheat-shipping. 81 1901 121a; milling.
81 15Q1 1714 per ctl.
CALL BOARD SALES.
Informal session-9:15 O. clock-December-
1000 ctIs 81 14fs; $1,000, 81 14si "a coo. 81 147s
1lay-4OOO 81 1S; 2S, 600, 81 1915; 5000. 81 13A ;
1000 81 137s.
Second Observation-Disclosures ctIs. 81 14A;
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
COmpagnle Generate TransatIantique
FrenCh Line

AMERICAN LINE.
NEW YORK SOUTHAMPTON, LONDON, PARIS.
From New York Every Wednesday. 10 a N.
St Paul...February 22TSt Paul. ...... March u
St. Louis. March l St. Louis. March =
RED STAR LINE,
New York and Antwerp.
From New York Every Wednesday. II noon
Kensington- .Feb'y Is Southwark. March q
Noordland. Feb'y % westernland. March Is
FriesIand. March 4 lKensinGton March u
EMPIRE LINE.
Seattle, St. Michael, Dawson City.
For full information regarding freight and pas
sage apply to
INTERNATIONAL NAVIGATION COMPANY
80 Montgomery St, ny of its agencies
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
TOYO KISEN KAISHA,

& TEAMERS WILL LEAVE WHARF, COR
- First and Brannan streets. / .. m. for
YOKOHAMA and HONGKONG, calling at
Kobe (Hiogo). Nagasaki and Shanghai, and
connecting at Hongkong with steamers for
India etc. No cargo received on board on day
of sailing.
HONGKONG Friday. March II
NIPPON MARU Wednesday ApriI 13
AMERICA AMARU...............S Saturday May
Round-trip tickets at reduced rates. For
freight and passage apply at company's office,
&H Market street, corner First
w. B. CURTIS. General Agent
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
WEATHER REPORT.
.1anth Nreridinn-Paoihc Time !

d20th Bferidian-Pacifc Time)
SAN FRANCISCO March Is, p. m.
The following are the seasonal rainfalls to
date as compared with those of same date
last season. and rainfall in last twenty-four
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
LONDON MARKET.

NEW YORK, March 15-The Commercial
Advertisers London financial cabegram says:
The markets here were slightly iivelier to-day.
Paris was strong Spanish fours reached 5s3s
and coppers were in demand. Tintos were 397s.
Calls to end in March were offered at Il.
JJtahs were S5s Calls to end in middle April,
a Anacondas were 9k. Bostons nominal.
Americans opened steady. dropped, then
hardened on New York purchases and finally
rclapsed. They In the street.
Money was hard.
The weeks bullion movement was only sS000
received.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
SUN. MOON AND TIDE.

United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
Times and Heights of High and Low
Waters at Fort Point, entrance to San
Francisco Bay. Published by official
thority of the Superintendent.
NOTE-The high and low waters occur at
the city front CMission-street WHARF about
twenty-five minutes later than at Fort Point;
the height of tide is the same at both places.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16

II; Apr. /, and every fifth day thereafter:
change at Seattle to this company's steamers
for Alaska and G. N. Ry.; at Tacoma to N
P. Ry; at Vancouver to C. P. Ry.
For Eureka (Humboldt Bay), p M, Mar
10. Is. 90 25. 30; Apr. L. and every hrth day
thereafter.
For Santa Cruz. Monterey. San Simeon,
Gayiota t1' santa Barbara, Ventura. Hueneme;
San Pedro. East San Pedro CLOS Angeles ana
Newport a. m. Mar g. 13, II. Il. rs. 70; Apr.
q and every fourth day thereafter.
For San Diego. stopping only at Port Har-
ford fSan Luis obispo), Santa Barbara, Port
Los Angeles and Redondo CLOS Angelesl. IL a;
M, Mar. II, Is, 49, %, q, 81; Apr 4. and every
fourth day thereafter
For Ensenada. Magdalena Bay. San lose del 1si
and Guaymas (Sdex.). 10 a. m. Mar 10;
April 6.
For further information obtain folder.
The COMPANY reserves the right to change
without previous notice steamers. sailing dates
and hours of sailing.
TICKET OFFICE4 New Montgomery
street palace HoteD.
GOODALL. PERKINS & CO. Gen. Agts.
10 Market st. San Francisco.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
GENERAL MERCHANDISE.

12@121sc for good and 13@15c for choice TO fancy
from first hands
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
THURSDAY. MARCH 16.

NOTE-In the above exposition of the tides
the early morning tides are given in the left
hand column and the successive tides of the
day in the order Of occurrence to time. The
second time column gives the second tide of
the day the third time column the third tide
and the last or right hand column gives the
last tide of the day, except when there but
three tides as sometimes occur. The heights
given are additions to the soundings the
United States Coast Survey charts, except
when minus sign q precedes the height.
and then the number given is subtracted from
the depth given by the charts. The plane of
reference is the mean of the lower low waters.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
Morning Session.
D1o-1

Board
65 Alaska Packers Assn ................1092 25
Alaska Packers Assn ................1 .109 90
30 EQUITABLE Gas Observation-Disclosures. 10 90
100 EQUITABLE Gas Observation-Disclosures. 90
I25 Giant Powder Con ..............-..... 60 80
270 Hama Plantation Co .................. 16 37L
35 Hama Plantation Co .................. 10 90
100 Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar.. 70 %
100 Hawaiian Commercial 6, Sugar, g. 79 %
125 Hutchinson Co .................... SO 90
1870 Paauhau S P Co Observation-Disclosures. 40 121
80 r Gas & Electric Co ............. 81 70
100 Vigorit Powder ..........-............. rs
Street
so Hutchinson P Co ................... 80 90
Afternoon Session.
Board
80 Alaska Packers Assn ;;..:............1o 1o9 90
90 Alaska Packers Assn, 3............109 90
20 Alaska Packers Assn. 5............109 90
175 Contra Costa Water ..........,... Ga 90
$1,000 Market St Ry con per cent bonds. lis so
so Paauhau S P Co Observation-Disclosures. 30 12I
50 Paauhau S P Co, b 5................ 40 12H
25O Pacific Auxiliary Fire Alarm ...... l so
$1,000 Park & Cliff House per cent BIDS. 1O6 50
$4,000 S F & S ] bonds.....-.,..-........115 90
40 Spring Valley Water ..................103 90
200 Vigorit Powder ........................ 70
Street
200 Oakland Gas ........................... 49 25
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
OCEAN TRAVEL.
Pacific Coast Steamship Co.

Steamers leave Broadway
wharf. San Francisco:
For Alaskan ports. 10 a. m,
Mar. IL, II. %, q; Apr. 1;
change at Seattle.
For Victoria, Vancouver CB-
b. Port Townsend. Seattle,
Tacoma, Everett. Anacortes
and New Whatcom (Wash-).
N m Mar u. II. %.
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
COTTON MARKET.

NEW YORK. March 15.-CoTToN-Dull;
rniddling, 7-f6c -
Steady; midding, 57sc-
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
OREGON.

OREGON.
PORTLAND, Or, March 15.-Wheat-Walla
Walla. 57Gl5sc; valley 59c; blue stem, 611ac
WASHINGTON.
TACOMA, March 15.-Wheat-Club, 5Sc; blue
etern 61M62c
The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
PORTLAND'S BUSINESS
NoRrHERN WHEAT MARKET.

PORTLAND, Or, March 15.-Clearanc
s257. .912. balances, sS3;230.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
The COllnpke of China.

II Is the outcome OF flrst-hand study OF the
present state Of things In the Middle King
dom that is presented in the volume compris-
inc some 900 pages and entitled The Break-up
OF 'hind. 10y Lord CHARLES BEREsFoRD liar
pcgsl The visit was made at the request Of the
associated Chambers of Commerce OF Great
Britain. and, consequently, the report Of its
results deals mainly with commercial QueS-
tons although it proved impossible entirely to
exclude political considerations. The aim Of
the book. an aim not preconceived. but evolved
from observations, is to set forth series OF ar
guments in favor Of what is known as the
policy Of the open door" contradstinguishcd
from that OF the sphere OF influence" The
authors conclusions are made known too late
for the furtherance of his purpose. BY the
time he had returned to ENGLAND the
British Government. by its agreement with
Russia. had practically abandoned the "open
door programme and acIuescrd in the divi-
sion Of China into spheres of influence.
Although. however. the authors chief intcn-
ton cannot lie carried out, owing largely. to
the refusal of the United States to co0ucrate
with Great Britain and japan in such effective
measures as might. in tho last resort. bc needed
to uphold China's territorial integrity. and thus
to assure the maintenance OF the open door. he
has collected Il vast amount Of trustworthy in
formation. which. although not digestrd. nut
printed Just ms it was let down in notebooks.
desire to comnrchcnd the difficulties and COM
rii"ations which will have 10 be surmountcd
by any solution OF the Chinese problem.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04

Lord Charles 3crcsforI reached Hong Kong on
Sept 70. lS!iS. nnd left Shanghai on his return
Journey by way Of Japan and the United States
on Jan o. 1871 During the hundred days Of
his -o!ourn in CHINA he visited those places
which contained British communities. and
wherever he found chamber Of commerce.
cOnyOkcd meetings and obtained tho opinions
Of the members, with the exception of three
so-callcd armies, he inspected the whole mil
iiary force II the Middle Kingdom, and hypcr-
mission of ~" Generals put the tr"ol through
various movements, IN order 80 ascertain their
efficiency. lie visited every fort every arsenal,
w.rhuu" ".crition, and all IT," naval a"d miI-
tary ~'hur.~ also the ships o. 10th N" Chimes"
nrr's and the one docEySrl II ne toes not
fuilydiN'losr the degree Of cilr"ttyrE"ss which
he III served, It j. out Of r"Hrtr,y the Chinese
Government. win" invited him TO inspect its
military and naval organizations, and to sug
gest II remedy for such .nriliclcncy ~ he might
discover The revelations on these points, how
ever which he deems himself at liberty TO
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
SOME NEW hooks.
The Jews Mt Certain obscure Periods of
History.


The part OF the history OF the Jews with which
most people arc least acquaintedfs that cover
ing the centuries which interviewed between
the destruction OF Jerusalem by Nebuchalnez-
Ear and the conquest OF Palestine by Alexander
1t Is mainly for the purpose OF concentrating
the light thrown by modern scholarship on
this comparatively obscure section OF the an
mails Of tho Jews that DR.. CHARLES FOSTER
kent. professor OF Biblical literature In Brown
University, has prepared 4 History OJ the JeU-
ish People During the BdbVtonidn. Persian and
Greek Periods lScribncrs). Up to relatively
recent date the four centuries which followed
tho destruction OF Jerusalem in $50 Is.
G. had been looked upon as the least
important OF those which constitute tho back
ground Of tho Bible. The results Of critical
study. however. have revealed their supreme
Significance. for 1t Is now generally acknowl-
edged By scholars that more than half OF tho
literature Of the Old TeStamc nt comes from
this period Tho most porpleNing problems
which confront the student Of the Bible. the
problems relating TO the date OF the Psalms. OF
the book Of job ana OF Isaiah NL.-LNNI. and
to tho composition Of the He xateuch. all belong
to this age, so that familiarity with 1t Is alb
solutely essential to an understanding OF the
literature OF the Old Testament. 1t is also tho
age which selected certain compositions
from tho common literary heritage OF the
Jewish race. and pronounced thcm sacred
and authoritative. so that. before 100 i. q.
the canon was. practically. closed with refer
ence to the Law and the Prophets. as distin-
guished from the Writings. technically 40
called To the student of Christianity also.
the four centuries in question are OF cXtraor
binary interest for then were developed m any
OF the religious rites and usageS which, SUISSE
ouently adopted with but slight notifications.
have become the institutions Of the Christian
Church.