The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-10-26
A True History
of Jonah

- ~ ooA
descent; now they were limp and bag
gy, the ,creases III his trousers ali
obliterated and his Klen soiled and
stained with sea grass and blubber
grease. How our hearts bleed FOR
you, my Jonah, when we think of
what You underwent to maintain the
dignity Of your ministerial position.
Jonah would have made a great labor
leader had there been an organized
effort in his day-as it is labor has
Jonah's enough, in the shape of scabs,
for all practical purposes. Jonah
stood in the sun and dried his clothes
and proceeded towards ->inevah, which
he eventually reached: tired and foot
sore, for the Oil and heat had soften
ed his burlions, saturated his shoes
with the u%nctuous grease SO that the
sun shining on them dre.W them sc,
tightly to his feet that he suffered
excruciating agony, on tho way I'm
der no circumstances would Jonah
preach in a church, he snelt too much
of the sea, and his ship, to retain that
placidity or conduct III closed quarters
SO essential to successful preaching.
So he roarued the streets, where the
| zephyr breezes could watt away the
OuOI WHICH, Tellldt1lGu as Il IeIllilleS-
cence Of his life beneath the ocean
waves, riding the gray hound OF the
deep, and he proclaimed the destruc-
ticn of Ninevah with as much vehem-
ence as an old ironside Baptist does
of the duration and specific gravity OF
hell-fire. Jonah never liked the Min
evites and wanted them destroyed root
and branch, and if he had been per-
mitted TO decide their case. they would
have been wiped out quicker than
Adulterous could tax a boot-legger.
Jonah. naturally, was not vicious.
He was intensely Jealous. and went
too far in the advocacy of measures,
which, to an enlightened understand
ing, seems ~barbarous. but considering
the age in which he lived, his exper-
, fence a whale-board, the sadness OF
temper caused by his degenerated APP
p~earance, which he very unjustly held
the Ninevites responsible for, we can
lao blame poor Jonah for being pre-
JUDGED against the citizens whom he
thought infirectly1 responsible for ali
his woes, misfortunes and adorous-
ness. @ssEE
We can overlook many of the faults
Of Jonah since we can find preachers
depraved enough, even in this en-
lightened age. to endorse the present
city administration.
The life of Jonah contains many
episodes and incidents which may be
probably used for the direction of
mankind. 1t teaches the ~absurdity
OF rebellion against the desires and
wishes of the public, and the setting
up of personal rights against the pub
lie weal-as eNemplified in the perscl-
al government of FOLEY against the
expressed wishes of the people.
His life teaches that punishment
ollow the act of rebellion, in heart
felt contrition. which comes after a
cOnfesSiCI Of guilt.
1t shows that one mans opinion can
not count against a majority as is az
emplified in the case of his obduracy.
James A. Holley-who would have his |
way. though it destroyed the Demo-
cratic party. The people of Ninevah
~hearke.1ed to the prophecy of Jonah,
~repented, and We're saved. Had they
stitfened their necks and refused, they
would have been destroyed, just as
as the people, backed by the