New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-22
"REMINISCENCES OF DIR. BEECHER.


IN course in q country church s; an e1tr.>soDAu A.
terpoon service by lsyman still residing Nesark.
New.Jersey. He was q very admirable resier, and
gave as much animation TO the burning sentences Of
the SIX Sermons" q. couli be expected iron Soy
one but the author himself. /, was an snusins CIR.
cumstsnoe that our excellent resier, having had a
very srge crop of apples that year hsd large amount
OF cider and whisky in ais cellar. In fact he urged
this IS reason why he should lot read the sermons
fcT u.s. but was overued in his objection. The valley
and mountains were truly burned over with run, anl
one Of the most ben.fcent witnessed
wrought by Dr. Beechers substitute sthe reader
of hi. disoourses really was. 1t is very to
such q gathering Of people in one way or other
involved in the rum business. There were de-
tillers, taven-keeper, all kinds OF rumssllsrs,
rum-nakers and um.driukers aud the shame, rage,
and conviction wrought we're curious TO behold Some
swore and some scolded and some vowed never to 20
into that house again, but the next Sunday afternoon
rot only they but more were there. The result vas
the shutting up the di'tery and tavern and the re-
formation Of scores of drunksris The effects of thst
Temperance revival are perceptibls to this day.
In July, ls39-if have not forgotten the year,
saw the Doctor for the fret time at Marietta, ONO
His coming had been looked for with great interest,
ard, personally he was not what | supposed him TO
he, solemn locking man, with eye rolling IN one
frenzy" and other marks of genius. He was seen
walking through that beautiful town with such an e1
hilsration as might be expected in boy home from
school, without any attempt at dignity. And then,
too he laughed outright in the public street, not bois-
terousy but right merrily. This was the famous Dr.
Beecher, quite different person from the one my
imagination conceived him to be. | was doomed 10
a greater disappointment that evening, when he
pre- ached very dull sermon TO q large sniience, at
least il seemed dull to me. lie referred constantly 70
biz notes put on and put of his spectsces udicrousy
often and was not in single particular the great
thunderer expected TO hear in the author OF the SIX
sermons. The feeling of the congregation, most OF
whom had never seen him, was evidently one OF DIS
appointment Among the young men of the College
who had elected the Doctor their orator, there was
great disappointment, and Il tho election Tor
orator had been held that evening after the
sermon, | am afraid DR.. Beecher would not
have received a large vote. On Wednesday
the Commencement exercises we're attended AT the
conclusion Of that service DR.. Beecher was TO deliver
his oratios. During the performances of the gradu-
sting oass, the Doctor was busy with his paper
scraps, seemingly strung on pin. These scraps
looked az If some Of them had been torn from letters
Some were large, come small, come white, and some
evidently ditcolored. The movements of the orator
were source of great amusement to those who could
see them. At last he WAS introduced, and announced
" Eloquence as his theme. Forthwith he dashed
into HE e1orium with no reference to his notes, and
instantly every body began to have those sensations
which proved the presence of an eloquent man TO o.
empfy his theme in himself. The Grafton was not an
hour in length but proved to be one Of the Doctors
hsppest efforts combining the finest specimens OF his
wit, bumor Imagination, enthusiasm, fervor, srgs-
ment and power. One by one, the impaIed
pieces of paper were taken from she PIN,
40, % bs n,ed but for references. OF
and on went the spectacles marvelcusly often,
sometimes wrong aide up and sometimes right side
down. Now he would whir the spectacles round IN
. manner putting Thorn in jeopardy, and now he would
double up his handkerchief into a sort Of hard wad
and suddenly pull il out straight-a gesture have
noticed in his Brooklyn Now his right arm would
describe a curve like blacksmith, and now, in his
excitement, he would turn completely round in the
pulpit. Never was an audience in moro hearty sym
psthy with an orator. One passage convulsed his
hearers. He was declaiming in magnificent style
sgar. the habit of reducing all speakers to certain
get of rules regardless of their natural tastes or apt
II.
auence to speak of bis own experience at Yale Col
lege and the criiicisms made on his declamalons
by the Professors. Beecher, you step too
quick when you noun, the stage. You should
leave your seat, and advance 10 the stage with
greater dignity of manner And when the speech
was delivered, perhaps he was pruned by the proes
siopal critic, who would say, Beecher, your gestlcu
latiOn is very ungrsceful! You hammer away as IT
YOU were blacksmith! You must cultivate more
grace OF attitude and gesticulatior And such eI
posous of the voice now loud, now soft, what kind
A" ofaway i. that TO speak and what kind OF mo-
ton Wa it for you TO whirl completely around IN
your violencel" This is hint at the orator
description Of the honest attempts made by his teacher
10 lex HIM into some sort of q shape The whole
,cens acted out with the utmost fidelity and hui
NOR ara, as he proceeded, the old Congregational
Church Witnessed an absence Of stad decorum, and
heard ordinations very unusual there. The whole
performance was one delightful example OF true clio
quence which entirely redeemed the Doctors chsrao-
ter a. orator in the e,tsem OF those who were Dis
appointed in his preaching.
Tie GRAFTON which DR.. Beecher delivered on the
occasion Of the Commencement at Western Reserve
College, was mighty performance. He did not reacn
Hudson until after the advertised time for his aidre.
on account Of come detention Of the stsge-coaeh.
large audience KEEP; in suspense Tor some time,
and when al lat rather anal man WAS seen
busting along the sisle, il wss a. much As bargain
70 make people believe that that was the CREST Dr.
Beecher. However ne pleaded his cause 70 the gen
sral satisfaction before be VS. through HIS speech
wa. As al Marietta, composed OF pieces torn from e'
tel. ard after being dotted with certain nieroglyphc'
impaled on pin. This was the unpromiiing origina
condition ont which came Tie Plea for the West,
performance Of 50 animated character, tina, man
cannot now read II without qu!ckered pulse.
once heard d.. Beecher presch in tie Filth street