Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-20
VERSATILE YOUNG RICH MAN
A. ]. Drexel Biddle, Crack with
Gloves and Bible.
BOXES WITH REAL PUGnISTs
MuItimiIIiOnaire Quaker Also Teaches
the Scriptures to YOUNG Men and
WieIds Spiritual as Well as
Fisttc weight.

Millionaire society man, star pugilist, sue
cessful Bible class leader. II is not usual
TO find these three qualifications in the
person OF one man at the same time, says
the New York Tribune. In fact, II is highly
probable that a search of the entire con-
tinent, or possibly of the world, would
reveal only one solitary individual who
could qualify for all three. Yet such a
person Is to be found, and only the other
day he Increased his claims to distinction
By posing as amateur der1natologist-
at least he spread the report in Atlantic
City that heavy coat of sunburn on his
bald spot had produced a growth OF hair,
The perpetrator OF this hoax is A. J..
Drexel Biddle Of Philadelphia, and since
he made his announcement a small army
OF baldheads with scorched pates and fiery
Dyes have been seeking him in vain.
At this time, when the religious world is
almost in despair over the difficulty OF
getting men 10 attend church services, It
might be we'll 10 invite all religious leaders
to give careful consideration TO the Biddle
philosophy, for his Bible class in Phila-
delphia is one Of the largest and most sue
cessful in that town and Its leader among
the most popular opponents OF sacred writ
to be found in the country.
reason men with good red blood in their
veins stay away from church is that the
church does not afford them the kind of
manly association that is essential to the
existence OF such men, In striving 10 bridge
over this gulf between the church and the
nom going church male element, daring
olergymen have in some instances barred
women from the services and have had
tobacco, pipes and free tobacco handed
around. They have invited the men to
shed their coats In hot weather and be
comfortable. They have added vaudeville
entertainments TO the church program, and
have gone the limit in banishing the at.
mosphere that tends to make a man think
he is present at a mothers meeting.
Some success has attended these radical
efforts but the objection has always beer
raised-and with reason-that they make
a church anything but a place of religious
service. The secular features supplant the
religious ones, and although the men have
enjoyed themselves little good results along
the lines that the minister is chiefly work
ing for.
Now, Drsxsl Biddls's plan is different
He has made the features that appeal L
men an adjunct to the religious side Of thu
church work. They have been kept sspa
rate. and yet made to dovetail 30 oleverl,
that men who have come TO the manly ex
ercises have found themselves listening Il
Bible teachings, while scarcely realizing
that the experience is one at which 4
would be natural for them 20 shy.
The result OF the work done by Mr.. Bid
die Ii most interesting. both to laymen an'
to religious workers. To so back a littl
and tell the story consecutively. Mr. Biddl
was at one tims newspaper reporter
Belonging as he did 20 the exclusive Drexe
family. he doubtless had hopes OF one da,
coming into money, but az that time h
had TO get living. and he chose the news
paper profession as the means of obtain
ing IL.
At the age OF - he was an athleu
young fellow. with a perfect passion 70