The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-08-13

and filed the same away to be used af-
ter Solomon's death, he being too busy
with barn work to give attention to
work ola clerical nature. I'll give it
up. It is beyond me to follow such
flights of imagination.
The clause in my article to which L
D. refers, skiing of Jerusalem" is the
result of typographical error. My
original manuscript has it "king over
Israel in Jerusalem" but as published
it reads simply, skiing of Jerusalem"
which is incorrect.
The expert knowledge of our sage Of
many languages should have given
him better understanding Of English
than has ever been our lot to detect in
his speech or writings. He tells us
that the word "saith" of the 1st and
End verses of Ecclesiastes SHOWS that
someone else actually committed it to
papyrus." It will appeal to any one with
but an elementary knowledge of the
English language that it does not nee
essafily introduce third person. But
I. D. is not to be laughed at for this
mistake. He is not supposed to be IA
miliar with English, his stronghold be-
ing Chinese, Sanscrit, Chaldean and
old IceIandic. Herein is where he
shines and reaches the climax Of his
glory in statement upon which he is
certainly entitled to copyright, as it
truly originated with him, and am
sure no one will be selfish Tor insane)
enough to dispute his right. His state
ment reaches the summit of dazzling
splendor on the aorist tense of the verb,
which he says can be found in each of
these four languages SO familiar to
him. He has discovered what no liv-
ing man before him has been able to
discern. He stands without compel
itor, surrounded by a halo Of glory
of which none can deny him, and he
alone will posterity rise up and call
Great.
My statement that the aorist tense
was found only in the Greek was made
as the result Of my shallow and incom-
plete study of languages, supported by
but one single authority of SO frail and
imperfect reputation that almost re-
frain from mentioning it, namely, Web
ster's International Dictionary, which
states that the aorist tense is found
only in the Greek. By way of excuse
for mentioning such an unworthy
source of information, allow me to say
that during past illiterate days this
work was considered good authority in
J this country. This, however. was prior
to the arrival of 1. D., but such work
!, sinks into insignifcance compared
with the wisdom of the man Of many
languages. The article of I. D. reveals
to our darkened minds q superior
, knowledge which totally eclipses our
: former criterions.
If we may further impose upon his
indulgence, wish to say that If he
will favor lis with the conjugation of
any verb in the aorist tense in either
the Chinese or Sanscrit language and
> publish the same in The MIRROR over
| his initials, will present him with q
box Of cigars.
) He concludes his article with conclu-
. sive statements to the effect that Solo
mon wrote Ecclesiastes, assuming that
!, such conclusion is properly drawn
Q from his clinching arguments; yet we
Q cannot lose sight of the fact that his
Q only statement to prove such conclu-
. sion is that the original was Hebrew,
: not Greek, and backs that by the incon-
. testable authority of I. D. Play your
long suit, I. D., and give some real
Q facts. E.E. E.