The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-09
Voice Of the People.
CONTINUED From Fourth Pages

(SonllHueu fdsp-t
souls we exclaim. "Peccavi peccava-
mus"
And now, to crown our sorrows and
complete our unrest, In a recent ser
mon we are solemnly informed that
the coat of many colors" in which
Holy Writ invests the youthful Jo-
seph was only a plain. colorless. or
binary long-tailed sarment--possibl bly,
the incipient Prince Albert of modern
society and social functions. This at
tempted destruction of one OF tho
charms that not only characterized but
idealized Joseph, coming a 1t does, eX-
cathedra, saddens our heart and we
exclaim, What next?' The virtues of
Joseph have always heen extolled: he
has been characterized as the only true
gentleman in the Bible 1t is true his
reputation has been attacked by a
pamphlet published some years ago,
purporting to give Mrs Potiphar's
side" of the affair that occasioned his
disgrace at the hands of Pharaoh. but
Joseph's implement by this nameless
writer did not disturb our trust in
his integrity nor cause us to lose
| turbing doubts have occasionally as
sailed our mind as to his loyalty and
, devotion to his aged father. When. for
years. he let the old gentleman pine
| in ignorance of his safety. although
he was in few days journey of his
residence. he seems singularly wanting
In filial love, but Notwithstanding all
this, I thanked God and took courage
that no one had the temerity to strip
him of that beautiful coat of MANY
colors "-this coat that invested him
with glamour, peculiar charm, an
enchantment, that distinguished him
as the favorite of his father-the other
boys may have worn colorless. long
tailed coats. but surely not Joseph,
who was "the son of Israels old age"
else the record is NOT true
The description of Joseph's Goat of
many colors" gives to the story an
Oriental tinge, imparts a natural truth
fulness and beauty, readily recognized
by those who have visited the Eastern
country, where gay colors are worn
and tdolized. We have been so ac-
customed to Seeing, in our minds eye,
the comely youth clothed in this ira.
ditlonal garment that we cannot recog-
nize him without 1t, and we feel ma tur-
ally indignant a the effort to ncase
MIN In plain. long-tailed coat. The
belief In Joseph's coat has become so
established in the mind that 1t has for
ages been employed as SYNONYM for
saletS, variety. luxurtance, rides
cence of color in dress or personal
adornment, and now, after all these
ages. without the slightest warning or
eXcusable pretext. comes the knocker.
the iconoclast, and attempts to dc.
siroy the image. the beautiful picture
! mat has been implanted in our mind
since at our mothers knees we read
those sweet Bible stories in our child
mood days. We have in imagina tion
seen Joseph in his knickerbockers, bow
ike. with hands stuffed In his trousers
pockets, strutting around In peacock
fashion In the sight of his brothers
possibly making faces at them" This
IS limited In the fourth verse Of chapter
SXxvit., Genesis. We think this uncall-
co Tor effort to rob Joseph Of his coat
OF many colors" an outrage. almost
sacrllegious; 1t Is like depriving Mes.
sus or his shirt. angels Of wings. the
sunshine of Its warmth, the rose Of
us odor. And 10 what end? What is
ment? -
II the effort was purely philo-
logical one--to chase painting sylla-
PIE through time and space"--lt was
d lruitless one; the most learned Of
commentators interprets the original
'kethoneth passim" coat OF stripes
or dlfferent colored cloth: presume.
Ike the more modern Scotch plaid. II
Is generally known that the word many
70 an Interpolation, but all the common.
thtors VIC are familiar with agree that
me garment was Of variepated. or diff
tereni colors Why discredit the Scrip.
lures why occasion doubt by SAYING
lhe accepted version and translation Is
not correct If the minister sows the
seed Of doubt md uncertainty It may
lrucufy IN the layman.