Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-03-28

PINNACLE OF
GOOD READING
Appeases Most Virile Mind
Presenting Stiff Fights,
Intrigue, Adventure.
BEVERIDGE IS EXPONENT
Special to The Times

FIT. WAYNE, March 2S.-Albert J.
Beveridge discussed THE Bible as Good
Reading" in an address at the Y. NJ. C.
a. here Sunday afternoon. The former
United States Senator declared the Holy
Writ to be "the best compendium in
existence of entertaining literature"
While in the United States Senate Mr..
Beveridge wrote several magazine articles
upon the same subject, which finally were
collected into a small book. He told how
he came to discover the Bible to contain
the best reading to be found anywhere
and how he came to write the articles
when a boy of Il I went logging"
said the speaker. There was literally
nothing to read, except a Bible, which
I found in my packet. This did not at
tract me; rather it repealed me. We had
what was at that time called Bible read
ings in our house; and these readings
were done with much solemnity, such
unctuous severity, and there was about
these exercises such an atmosphere of
gloom that l could not imagine any
thing more depressing than to read what
l had so often heard under such unin-
spring circumstances.
ENHANCING AND
HUMAN PAGES"
However, 1t was either the Bible or
nothing; so finally one night | opened
the book and began to read. | was as
founded: for here was no dizziness, no
preachmeRts, no scourging nor rod of
punishment Instead here was the most
enhancing and thoroughly human pages
that l ever had read. American history
l. &hoN
time-the real history of our country,
and not the denatured, colorless and
misleading stuff that IS now passed up to
US. But I found the Bible history sto-
ries more captivating even than the alb
sorbing narrative Of the heroic deeds of
the men who founded our republic. So
that is how l became interested in the
Bible. merely as a matter Of literature
not in the least as a matter Of religion
or of ethics, mind you. but ms. as a
matter of entertaining reading. From
that day to this whatever other books I
take with me on journeys. l always III
clude he Bible. because when | get tired
or bored with the other volumes, l always
can lay them down and pick up the Bible
and find entertainment and relief"
During one of his vacations, while
Senator Mr. Beveridge and a college
cldSS[9dte went on trip INTO the Wills
Of Maine. Both being thoroughly tired
out, IL was decided to take absolutely no
books along. Mr.. Beveridge. however,
slipped a Bible into the pack and of
they went to lose themselves from the
world. For four or Eve days they did not
feel the desire to read and then the lack
OF literature began to be felt. Mr.. Bev-
erldge produced the Bible only to be
berated by his friend who said he wanted
"to be entertained and not bored to
death with celebrations to be good"
GOOD BOOK HAS
MANY ADVENTURES
But" said Mr.. Beveridge, do you
really know what there is in the Bible
What would you like? Would you Ike
to hear a story of a good stiff fight. or Of
red-bloOded love making. or Of intrigue
and adventure, or would you like some
poetry, or some philosophy Or how
would some sound. practical business
advice suit you? Because you can find
any Of these right here in this Book"
Twice daily the Bible was read there
after. Mr.. Beveridge said. and It got so
interesting that the guides asked to be
included in the circle. The articles grew