It was quite different when the characters of well-known individuals were subjected to an assault.
People could listen for hours to an attack upon celebrated persons.
If Mr.Holland's book had only dealt with the characteristics of the religion of the Jews, it would never have attracted attention, these critics said.

It had called for notice simply because of its trenchant remarks in regard to some of those Bible celebrities who, it was generally understood, were considered worthy of admiration.
Why could Mr.Holland not have followed up the course indicated in his book by showing up some of the other persons in the Bible?
it was asked.
There were quite a number of characters in the Bible who were regarded as estimable.

Why could he not then have followed up his original scheme of "showing them up ?"--that was the phrase of the critics.

There was Solomon, for instance.

He was usually regarded as a person of high intellectual gifts; but there was surely a good deal in his career which was susceptible of piquant treatment.