The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-04
BY WALTER ID. HICKMAN

III ~.
A GAIN great mind has dis
IA covered the greatest book ever
written
The late Albert J Beveridge of In
dianapohs ": ote The Bible as
Good Reading" and it has been
given a 1893 edition by Houghton
Mihhn Company, jus; published.
The author made me realize again
me great drama. history, beauty of
poetry, the recital of the laws of
Moses the extraordinary expert
ences that few people know about
and hundreds of other things.
The point is driven home that
1.-THE Bible is the most quotable book
IN all literature This book may be
read for entertainment alone.
Consider these lines in The Bible
rs Good Readings Il recommend
you TO read, Just as a matter Of en-
tertainment. the whole story OF
Sauls conversion and. as the re-
named Paul. Of his travels, adven-
lures and final end
And again. the words of the au-
thOr-"And If in the search for good
reading YOU want a little very solid.
very sensible and very beautiful
ethics philosophy that passes that
OF Emerson. both in its ~harm and
IN its truthfulness tanL ,,.at is
saying a good dead)-then read the
twelfth of Romans
II is this honest. every day APP
preach. a most reasonable one. that
makes this Beveridge treats such a
gem. And a gem it is One that
may be placed in the lap of every
man. women and child
You approach the Bible as good
reading when you go with several
business men on a vacation rip in
the big woods. far away from cities.
These men first resolved that they
would take no books or magazines.
but they all loaded up with the latest
publications. One man took a Bible
These men discovered the great
beauty of good reading even of
romance and travel nj the Bible.
TINE author quotes the owner of
Il the Bible with the vacation
party as follows L had read 1t
tthe Bible over and over again in
the church and in my own home,
and always with that monotonous
nonintelligence. that utter lack Of
human understanding that makes
all men and women of the Bible. as
ordinarily interpreted TO us. putty
like characters without any human
attributes"
But that day as a fact has
changed. Mr. Beveridge recognized
that fact when he discovered
poetry. adventure. politics. maxims.
oratory" all in the Bible Hundreds
and hundreds of Bible school teach
ers and members are today viewing
the Bible in that light.
Mr. Beveridge approached the Old
Testament as short stories and he
led out with the story of David. He
has this declaration in the second
chapter First of ALL the Bible is
by far the most admirable compend-
ium of the best short stories 10 be
found in the literature of the
world"
The author makes this splendid
deduction: Big men make big mis-
takes II they are good men. they
survive. Peter thrice denied his Lord
and lived his cowardice down.
Mr.. Beveridge approached his con-
tinuation OF Old Tests rent short
stories under the title of Love,
CourtShip and Intrigue
He points out that in every Bible
story there is always something do
ing
NOU will find in the Bible the
story Of strange courtShip
by proxy of Isaac and Rebekah and
ISaacs Is declared to be the first
gentleman in literature
The author has asked YOU after
reading magazines and new fiction
10 turn 10 the Bible for intellectual
refreShment" and just as good read
Ing and read Proverbs or
FcclesiaStes. This is 10 be found
in the chapter on The Bible and
Common Sense.
was unusually interested in the
chapter on The Story OF Moses"
as the author has recorded his
opinion that the story of Moses
illustrates how Fate plans great
mems entrances into the world as
carefully as she arranges the whole
pattern of their lives"
While Mr.. Beverage was living
have heard him say exactly what he
has recorded in his conclusions in
this book have advised every
law student who has ever consulted
me 10 study the laws of Moses be-
fore he studies his Blackstone. and
keep on studying the laws OF Moses
after ne has completed his law
course
Again I repeat that The Bible as
Good Reading" is gem. II Sparkles
and will always sparkle.
And l am glad that 1t sells for
one dollar.