"HOW READEST THOU?"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 21 November 1928, Page 2

"HOW READEST THOU?"

(To the Editor) Sir.—" Out of evil cometh good" sometimes, and if this "mix-up" over Shake-speare-IngersolLAtmore and Harley, only results in directing our people's attention to the man}' glories of English literature (including Ingersoll, who wrote some of the finest things in our language) it will certainly do good. Much of what is produced to-day is frothy and ephemeral and destined to the oblivion it so richly deserves. "Jazz" largely predominates to-day in the realm of literature as in music. Personally, I am honestly of opinion that Air Atmore's chief object in publishing this now celebrated article was to give pleasure to. the people. Possibly lie emitted reference to Ingersoll because of his (Ingersoll's) hostile attitude regarding'the Bible, lie had quite a lot lo say on "The Mistakes oif Moses" for instance. This attitude 1 am now inclined lo regard largely as a pose and to-day if would not attract nearly as much attention as it did two generations ago when the literal and verbal inspiration of the scriptures had to be accepted without one quibble. An infallible Rook had replaced an infallible Church. To doubt even the crossing of a "I" or the dotting of an' "i" from the. opening verse of Genesis to- the last in [lie Rook of Revelations was to earn damnation without doubt. Few of us hold this rigid view to-dav.— I am. etc., READER. Nelson, 21st November.