The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-10-26
A TRUE
HISTORY
OF JONAH

In the entire range of history there
is not character so oft discussed, so
little understood, as the character
of Jonah. The intidel press, and skep-
tical OF every age, for thousands of
years have been heaping invective a.ad
hurting anathemas at poor Jonah
Millions of people, in trying to square
the original story of Jonah. as given
by himself:swith the scientific charac-
teristics of the big fish, have 40 hest
tency in declaring the entire story a
fabrication. pure and simple, because
of the fact that the throa OF he fish
is far.too small to admit of the ngress
and eSress of man. Now, if the Al
mighty had the power to arrange
things SO perfectly, make such close
connectio-. as to have the big fish at
the side of the ship at the psychologist
moment to receive tue body of.Jonah
as j. was thrown overheard by the
SuperstitiouS sailors, is it a very great
stretch of dmaginatic-l to presume
that He, who is all powerful, who
holds the destiny OF all things in His
keeping, could have made fish by
special plan for this particular pur-
pose with sufficient throat room
and sleeping berth accommodations
suitable for the occasion?
The skeptics evidently lose sight
of the fact that extraordinary occas-
ions demand extraordinary means and
methods, and that the eNigency in the
existence of Jonah at that particular
time demanded not only close con-
. .uectian, bGt n safe passaga'to sNinepab.
where, it seems, Jonah had been billed
to deliver i series of lectures-much
against his will Now we are per-
fcctly willing 10 concede that this
method of transportation is not to be
commended for general purposes ow-
ing to crowded quarters, want of
light, insufficient ventilation, nabili-
~ 10 walk the main deck and enjoy
the delightful sea breeze. and basil III
the general warmth o. the sunshine:
but be it renemb bered. Jonah was
not on a tour OF recreation and obser-
vation Or on leave of absence and full
pay provided by Jim Holley. He was a
castaway, wrecked on.the high seas
and was happy to become Il stow
away aboard a fishing smack, though
the quarters We're narrow. the larler
sree'l hay and gastric juice Jonah
was Just as contented to be alive,
though surrounded by blubbcr. and
mixed up with the digestive machin-
cry of the big fish. as is Friday Bedell
whilst sitting at the feet of the gam
aliel of political corruption-Jim-
Along-Holley.
Our sympathy has been with Jonah
He was IL very pious. irritable zeal
Gus man. full of magnetism and good
intentions and had made a wcndcr-
full success in the ministry a local
preacher in his native town Gath
hepher He had preached with such
power and fervencE, and had given
such proof of his usefulness and abil-
ity. that the Lord had ordered him TO
proceed at once 10 Ninevah and there
exert his great gifts of eloqucucc and
pleading to the end that sinners might
repent turn from the paths of folly
| into the ways of righteousness. be
! fore it was everlaStiugly too late. The
| Lord intended. if the Ninevites re-
| fused to hearken to the warning OF
! J Jonah. 20 wipe them off the map. as
/ effectuaily as the people will the Hol-
| ley administration the next election.
! Now Jonah was plain. unpret entious.
. unassuming man, dressed i'll home
! spun garments. in which he felt per-
, tectly at home. in Gath-hepher sur
| rounded by parishoners poor and viz
: tuous and all dressed as he was: utter
! ly unable TO provide himself such
| rament as the modern preachers de.
| tnand Gath-hepher was some such