The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-06-30
DR.. EIIiot's Book Shelf.

The former president of Harvard, in
undertaking to name the books of his
wonderful library which is to give us
on one shelf, five feet in length, the es-
sentials of a liberal education, has ex-
posed himself to the batteries of an in
dignant popular opposition.
There is hardly q point on the hori-
zon which is not covered by a gun,
the muzzle of which is aimed directly
at the breast of DIR. Charles w. Elliot.
Like the Greecian. Ajax, he has de-
lliberately defed the tightening and he
must take the consequences.
For nowhere in this brief list OF
books in which he is supposed to dis
till for US the wisdom of the ages can
be found one single drama of the i'm
mortal Bard of Avon. 1872
By almost universal consent, Shake
speare stands at the apex of the pyra-
mid of letters.
From no other orator are we such
constant and inveterate borrowers.
His quips and phrases belong to the
currency of everyday speech. Uncon-
lsciouslv we utter the language which
he has put upon, our tongues, for this
marvellous magician with the key OF
genius has invaded all treasure houses
and unlocked all vaults.
Well has he been called the myriad
minded Shakespeare.
For to quote an admiring common
l~tator: "He was an intellectual ocean,
whose waves touched all the shores OF
thought" .
YET this potentate of the drama is
given Eo place on this shelf of books.
We can find the Autobiography of
BENJAMIN Franklin" and the Jour
nal of John Woodman," but in vain
do we look for "Hamlet."
Most of US have been taught to rev.
erence the old Bible. 1t has become a
target of late years for the shafts OF tue
higher criticism; and 'impious hands
have sought to destroy the buiWark OF
truth. But in countless millions OF
| homes it has been the very lamp,oi
life. Few are the novels too squalid
to contain this one precious asset. 4t
has softened the couch OF pain. 1t mas
lbeautiied the hour of death. 1t has
lsuryiyed sword and famine and pestl-
Ilence and fire. To multitudes OF the
human race it has been the sole substi.
ltute for an education. Upon it count
less books have been written. 1t has
|tutored both the head and the heart.
And today It constitutes the divine ba-
sis of the worlds a~ll.conquering reilg-
ion.
Some of US may recall a packet
which was put into our hand when we
quit the doorsteps of the old home
stead; and on the fly leaf in mothers
own familiar hand was written the ad-
Duration:
May this blest volume ever lie
Close to thy heart and near thine
Till life's last hour thy soul en-
gage,
And be thy chosen heritage"
And the contents of this little vol
ume have revolutionized the phllos.
ophies of men.
Yet the Bible is given no place on
DIR. Elliot's shelf of books.
We can find the philosophy of Plato
and the lay of Tam O'Shanter, but in
vain do we look for the proverbs of
Solomon or for the songs Of David.
Is it any wonder that the great edu-
Gator should have provoked the pro.
test of men who have been reared in
the atmosphere of the Christian fire
side?
Perhaps DR.. Elliot took it for grant
ed that both the Bible and the
dramas of Shakespeare were already
included among the household be-
longinge.
Butemark you-he claims to be
giving us in this list of books the es-
sentials of the worlds literature.
And he cannot omit from this list
the great classics which we have
named without rightfully mourning
the criticism which he has thus in
vited.