The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-09-26

ity OF the older poets verse simple
as II il we're singing itself in the
streets OF Athens amidst her primi-
tive, vigorous sons by the sources OF
the river of time. While Homer's
poetry has by modern criticism been
restored In the full integrity Of its
text II is still too often the pitiablc
victim of the literal methods OF a
housing and pedestrian scholarship
The literalists have time and again
tried TO improve on the wisdom and
consummate art Of Shakespeare, the
Hottest OF all the singers that time
is heir TO. These literary Journalists
by false standards of excellence SO
perverted the tastes as TO obscure
from many generations OF English
men the richness OF Shakespeare In
truth TO the universal and his min
istry TO the imaginative reason and
to all the elements by which the hu-
man spirit, II L would live Alright has
chiefly 10 live.
To come to document with
which Americans are more familiar,
the constitution of the United States
though expounded by a slowly chang
ing body that is supposed TO be re-
mote from the moods OF the multi
tude has yet felt the tendency OF the
age TO abandon word-by-word in.
above the letter: for as Mr.. Dooley
half seriously observed the decisions
of the supreme court always follow
the election returns.
There has likewise been a period
lof strict construction Of the Bible.
A willingness TO rest In the literal
meaning rather than to find and ap-
ply its universal significance has
many a time played havoc with the
scriptures. This Pharisaic tendency
to give to the literal. the temporary
and the local, the place that belong.
TO the spiritual. the abiding and the
universal. has often not only com
pletely distorted the meaning Of the
Bible but ii has Initiated Christian
life. And by il the fine enthusiasm
for goodness has been turned int
heat for some fayorite interpreta
ton or some particular form OF be
lief This religious intensity, goot
in itself but diverted by a wronl
Interpretation of the Bible. has un
fortunately been reinforced by an
other trait in human nature. Maj
in his state of nature is gregariou
animal: in the next place he Is |
member Of a clan: and in late
stage OF development he Is an ad
herent Of a faction. sect. or
party. This blind championship o
neighborhood interests, community
feelings, inherited prejudices. an'
preconoeived opinions, transmitte,
as II is from primitive conditions. !
an Unborn bias that is hard to resist
and the ability 20 see the other man
: point of view and 70 enter int
sympathy with him who holds ar
tagonistic beliefs. is the mark an
! final test OF cultivated man Tn
: natural tendency to clanishne.., par
tisanship. and separation has cause
many man in the past to devote {
D party or sect or faction gifts tina
e we're meant for mankind. and is r,
2 sponsible for the religious wars an
J prosecutions or the dark ages whic
I make up one Of the maddest chat
r tiers Of human history. as ii Is ais
i responsible for the later warfare {
: science and religion. itself almost q
Z destructive Is the feuds Of faith
the remoter past. Il is responsible
too, for sectionalism which curss
all peoples. FOR the dissidenee th;
sets men into warning politics
9 camps, arrays the country again