The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-15
FISK,S RELIGION

ONE of the most profoundly pathetic things
we have experienced lately came to us yester.
day in the shape of homely business tele-
gram. Fisk, Jr., was the sender thereof, and
in stating it we feel that the case may seem
to be weakened at the start; but the reader
must not be too hasty. The precious amber
girls is imbedded in the head of the whale,
the costly pearl is nourished upon the breast
of the unresponsive oyster, and why may
there not be something good in Fisk, Jr.?
These, at least are the facts:-Mr. Fisk's
gorgeous regiment is in Boston. The COM
mander is in New York. having such multi
tudinous demands upon his time that he can
devote but portion of it to military af-
fairs. But after he has deserted his COM
mand, and retreated in good order to
the metropolis, there comes wall
from his adjutant, who is bear
ing the heat and worry OF the
day at the Hub. Fisk, Jr., is informed that
his company of Erie Railroad employees is
denied permission to worship in Boston next
Sunday in any public place, except forsooth-
the streets. Thereupon he writes in haste to
the Mayor of Charlestown, detailing the awful
thing that Boston has done, and praying that
the regiment may be allowed to march into
his lCharlestowns Mayor's) ''hospitable city,
and that the men may there indulge in that
worship of their Creator that has become such
q necessity to them that they cannot and will
not do without it. Here we see the result of
early piety. Here the lessons taught Fisk at
his mothers knee crop out, and in such tre-
| mendous devotional flowers that the eye aches
| in looking at them. Fisk's finance, railway
management, and conducting of the naked
drama are all wonderful, but his religion is
| the finest thing of all. 1t is so evident there
| is no humbug about it. He is so earnest, so
straightforward. 81 am only this moment
informed"-he abruptly, but forcibly, COM
mences, in speaking of the outrage to
the body of religious men under
his command - and the impetuosty
of noble nature may be recognized. An
instinct tells him what to do. Those things
hammered into him at his mothers knee
come into play, and all in a white heat he
writes. And yet we are at a loss to know what
religion Mr.. Fisk processes. From his con-
nection with the military he may be Fire
worshipper, but his patronage of leg thea
| tricals leaves all in doubt. But it is free
country. The Irishman's religion was his
mothers religion, which was that she ''tuk
whishky in her tay, and it may very well be
that Mr.. Fisk's religion is that he takes
brandy in his coffee. OF course Fisk,
Jr., does not think it worth
while to tell the Mayor of Charlestown
why Boston desired to be excused from any
exhibition of the regiments religion. Pro-
badly vast lot of marching and music and
fuss and feathers was insisted on. 1t will be
difficult to make people believe that old
Boston would deny man, or body of men,
any reasonable liberty, and, if it was any less
person than Fisk who said it they would
scout the idea. As long as he has set these
Sunday observances, however, he can do no
less than attend them, and it might add to
the attraction if he were to take with him
some of his opera 6ou6e favorites
MIR. SUMNER AND THE GENEVA
BOARD.