Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-14

nothing new in the literary work Of Profess
SCR Carruth. He has given US many of
them. and anything from his pen in this
line is accepted as standard by the best
judges of English and German literature
so standard. in fact. that more than one of
Professor Carruth's editions of German
classics are used as college textbooks.
The history of the people of Israel. as
treated in this work. which. by the way,
comes from the press of the Open Cour
Publishing Company, in Chicago. COM
mences with the tradition which fixes the
origin Of the Jewish people in Mesopotamia.
1900 years before Christ, and then traces
their records down through the exodus
from Egypt to the organization of the
national kingdom with Saul and David
following from there the devious pathways
of Jewish history to the wal in Judea and
the destruction of Jerusalem by the Rom
ans seventy years after the beginning of
the Christian era. Since that destruction
have been wanderers on the face Of the
earth. without i home or kingdom. The
story is told with straightforward SIM
plicity, though Professor Carruth has
turned it into beautiful English which holds
the interest of the reader as does a thrill
ling novel.
But, nevertheless and Notwithstanding,
we have found a source of grief in Pro-
lessor Cornill's writing. With the cold and
professional heartlessness of a surgeon who
lops off a leg without stopping to inquire
whether or not it hurts. he has applied the
knife to our dearest traditions and beliefs.
He tells us that much that has passed as
Biblical history Is entirely unworthy of
credence. We are permitted to accept
Abraham as a historical character. but ere
informed that We must reject most of the
other patriarchs. However plastic and
distinct the Municipalities of Ishmael and
Edom, Israel and Joseph may seem to US"
says the author, they are only personifi-
cations and representations of the races or
tribes whose names they bear" When
asked on what ground he rejected Isaac, for
example. Professor Cornill explains that
Isaac. too, is only a patronymic." and that
he stands as a synonym Of Israel.
When asked for an explanation of why
he ignored the Goliath episode. the author
said: The episode of Goliath is a pure
legend. inasmuch as the giant Goliath was
killed in Davids wars with the Philistines.
and by the Bethlehemite Elhanan." And
right here it is proper to say that Ameri-
can childhood will go into tremendous re-
volt against the iconoclast who thus is tear
ing down their idols. Believe that David
didn't put a rock in a sling and go out and
| smite the wicked giant? Not a bit of ii.
And Professor Cornill can write and talk
till doomsday without shaking the faith of
childhood in that heroic story. And while
We are about 1t, it is just as we'll to serve
notice that the story of Joseph is going to
stand, too, and that in coming ages child
hood will retain implicit belief in the coat
of many colors, in the wicked brothers,
| and in all the glory of Joseph's life. And
childhood is not going to thank Professor
Carruth. either. for trampling its idols I'M
der foot after Professor Cornill has torn
them down. He may protest all he pleases
that he is not responsible, that he has only
conscientiously performed the duties of a
scribe and word-changer. but notwithstand-
ing. he will be placed in the category of
the enemy, and he need not think to es-
tablish a truce by any explanations or de-
malls. If he was not looked at reproach-
fully by every scholar in his Lawrence SUM-
day school. it is indeed surprising. and if
he is not barred from boyhood confidence
from now forever, then he may thank his
lucky stars. m