Modern readers of the Christmas...
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Modern readers of the Christmas story according to Matthew tend to gloss over the enormity of Mary and Joseph's dilemma. Paternity was a serious issue in Israel, and the idea of having the Holy Spirit father their child left them facing a seemingly impossible situation.
More humorously, the question of paternity also plagued John Gilbert, a well-known actor in the first half of the twentieth century. On one occasion he was called upon, at short notice, to play the role of the heroine's father in a play being staged in Chicago. He learned his lines in record time, but when the play opened he was still struggling to remember the name of the character he was playing. It didn't help that the character's name was obscure: "Numitorius."
A colleague suggested a mnemonic device. "Just think of the book of Numbers," he suggested. That seemed to Gilbert to be a good idea. Alas, when the play opened, he rushed on stage and delivered his opening line: "Hold, 'tis I, her father -- Deuteronomy!"
More humorously, the question of paternity also plagued John Gilbert, a well-known actor in the first half of the twentieth century. On one occasion he was called upon, at short notice, to play the role of the heroine's father in a play being staged in Chicago. He learned his lines in record time, but when the play opened he was still struggling to remember the name of the character he was playing. It didn't help that the character's name was obscure: "Numitorius."
A colleague suggested a mnemonic device. "Just think of the book of Numbers," he suggested. That seemed to Gilbert to be a good idea. Alas, when the play opened, he rushed on stage and delivered his opening line: "Hold, 'tis I, her father -- Deuteronomy!"
