Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-09-12
Mt


In the last number of the Ledger Henry
Ward Beecher has an amusing article. In
which he discusses the question whether
men can remember what never happened.
He shows that such stretch Of memory
is possible by one or two instances. We
extract part of the article, the whole of
which is in Mr.. Beecher's happiest vein:
Some eighteen or nineteen years ago
soon after coming TO Brooklyn. heard
the following story told of the now veneta-
bic DIR. Samuel Cox. the father of many
brilliant sayings as we'll as of Bishop Cox.
of Western New York. The story ran
thus: ION "A Sunday morning ia August
DIR. Cox rising to the sermon. without
warning or prefix begun. It's id hot.
Looking around ia a calm and pious way,
he wiped his forehead, and again said II is
id hot Waiting till he thought the
words had burnt in, he proceeded. These
words. my brethren. ! heard from the lips
of a profane young man rs entered the
door, of the church. Thcreupon, the
story goes. he proceeded to give an ediiy-
ing discourse on the sin and folly OF pro-
fame swearing.
When | first heard 1t | recognized the
story. II was an old acquaintance. IL
was told of Rev. Rowland Hill. ouly Ia
his case the topic was not the weather.
but the theatre on which the young mans
profanity wa, expended. But stock sto-
ries like couriers. like to change horses.
Before | knew 1t. the saddle was shifted To-
INV back nor have | ever been able To
shake L OF | have denied it. twice III
print. many times by letter. and a hundred
times IN conversation. all ia vain. The
saddle sticks. and every month we find
new fool riding II.
Denying one ofthesc stories is like fight
lug Canada ihistles. Ii you cut them up.
ten more will snrout from each root. and
if YOU let them alone. million will spring
from the seed. The only way to extermin-
ate the Canada thistle j. To plant it tor a
crop and propose to make money ont uf il.
Then worms will guaw II. bug. will bite
Il. beetles will bore il. aphides will suck
Il. birds will peck IL. heat will scurch H..
rains will drown it. mildcw and blight will
ride IT, All nature helps weed aud runs
down crops. We are afraid to deny It, I,
would start of n walking like Western.
A new batch of letters would come moan
ing aud inquiring at our door. Fresh Wig
or would be given 10 It's wiihercd limbs,
and. like the Wandering jew. il would 20
tramping up aud down creation till the
propose to deny Il any more. IL would be
the ruin of innocent souls. a this nara
tive. which now Shall give will prove.
Aud the narration of the incident bring.
me back To- the question whether one can
remember what ever happened. II Will
be seen that he can.
sitting al friends table one evening
was telling an incident that hcirl m.--in
this Wise;
\ young man from Buffalo called To- see
M to-day. He said that be- had heard
Young lady, in a large company. relating
the story of my beginning a sermon with
the phrase 1t j. Did hot lie ~ once
coutradictrd it. She affirmed IL positively.
H. replied 4 have lately read pub
ii~hcd denial OF the story from Nr. Be,rh-
cr himself She answered: Why, | was
present ms self at HI church. and heard ii
Win IA, own ears. Of course he coul1
uui -ay what hc thought. but replied | Am
going to New York, and will myself call
and ak Nj. BecchcT."
tn" ease scented ,o inc 80 ilagiani shat
| ,aid "a him w hen you 60 back wish
you would take occasion. before illnesses.
{" -ay t. this lady from mc that -hc iits.
aud that -he know, that .he llcs. and she
knows that know she lies
This was very improper language bat |
va Ai'-iA alla. hf~ipt>, HAu bffA ftAAing
the IrltuHr.
When had got thu, tar. a sweet youu.
girl ~h" sai opposite me, brough; up uu-
der ms rye almost from the cradl, ana H.
Incapable OF knowingly telling ial-chood
n rosebud would Dee of committing burg
Larry tiu- innocent and charming child nf
fifteen backed over ~ me and said:
Bat y"u dl -ay 40. didn't you. Mi
Beochcr: | heard YOU
For moment there Wa, silence. Thou
catne crash Of laughter from the whole
company. Confused and blushing scarlet.
Why. always thought that had
heard you say Il.
For the first time | then believed that /
person might distinctly remember Dlsi
- The Rnfialo lady. and humbly apologize
Tor supposing that one could not recall
thing which never happened.