Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-31
THE NOTORIOUS THREE.
Off-Hand Sketches of Beecher,
TiltOn and Mrs. TiltOn.
Some of TiltOn's Queer Charac.
teristics.
New York Correspondence OF the Louisville
COurier-JOurnai

Strange as 1t may seem, none OF the three
persons most prominent in this unhappy
business are well known by sight to the
people who live in the same city with them,
outside of their individual circle Of influ-
ence and acquaintance. Mr.. Beecher is
seldom to be seen in the streets. During
several years residence in Brooklyn, can
recall meeting him but twice. He still re-
tains his vigorous, sturdy appearance,
though he has aged considerably of late
years. lie walks firmly, and with leOnine
tread, looking neither to the right nor left,
and he has every appearance of man ofpow-
er and self-pOssessiOn. Tilton is frequent
" to be seen on the ferTv-bOats, or
vending his way between his home
and his Office in the Times building, New
York. lie is a striking looking man,whOm
most persons will turn to look at a second
lime as he passes by. He has magnificent
physique, and both his stalwart figure and
naughty bearing remind one a good deal of
Charles Sumner. His hair is now quite
gray, and his features carewOrn; though the
expression is rather one Of defiance than
Inartyr-like patience. He usually wears a
blue frOck coat, and, at this season, duck
pantalOOns, and a straw hat. His manner
is often absorbed, and he viii pass by peO-
pie without noticing them He usually
l,eps alOOf from the crowd, especially Of
late years, and, when crossing the ferry,
goes into the mems cabin.
Mrs. Tilton Is Of small, delicate, and al
most fragile physique, and, in comparison
to her tall husband, she seems like a child.
Her face is full of WOmanly sympathy and
sweetness, while the ewes are inexpressibly
and mental suffering. No one can see or
converse with her without feeling a deep
interest and pity for her suffering.
Lastly, it should be added, she possesses
no physical destinations, but is Of senSi-
tive nature; which one would think would
be repulsed by even the thought of such
thing. This is one of the strongest argu-
menis, to my mind, against the idea of any
continuous criminal intercourse on her
part, with any one, as alleged by Mr.. Til
ton.
1t may assist in unravelling this CON-
pick and puZZling affair to mention some
thing of Tilton's personal history. He is a
native Of New York, and was left, when
quite boy, dependent upon his own exer-
tiOuS, owing to the death of his father. He
went to the college Of New York for a time,
and while there learned TO write shorthand.
This enabled him TO find employment in
the Tribune. Frank OttarsOn, who was
then city editor, gave him his first piece
of work, and took quite a fancy to him.
He soon left daily newspaper work TO take
a position in the Observer office. where he
worked faithfully. writing, as he once said,
enough verse to hang any man, and doing
general utility work. FrUm this position
he went to the IndepeRdeRt, of which
Beecher was editOr-in-chief. The latter
betriended him in many WAYS, and TiltOn
owes more of his advancement to Mr..
BeecheT than to any other person. When
the latter resigned the editOrship Of the
independent, his young assistant succeeded
him at his recommendation, and thus, at
the age Of about twenty-five, TiltOn came
into public prominence. His position has
scarcely been paralleled for one so young.
He had a salary which, in time, was equal
to that paid to Horace Greeley; he was
paid 5000, with the privilege OF occurring,
having refused 81, 600 without that priv
lege. His duties consisted mainly Of
writing one dOuble-leaded leader every
week, all the routine work be-
ing performed by Oliver johnson,
eHt. This was certainly extraordinary
pay, but TiltOn deserved it. He
is brilliant writer, and, when inspired by
a great theme, he can write in the grand
style. The trouble was, however, that he
treated all subjects in this style, and thus
sometimes gave unmerited prominence to
articles on trifing themes. During each
winter he would fiji about one hundred en-
gagements to lecture; and thus he gained
national reputation by his elOquence, in
addition TO the eclat which his position as
editor of the Independent brought him. In
his case, the natural waywardness Of genius
had never been balanced by either severe
scholastic training or by the discipline Of
repeated failures. ii he had had to win his
laurels against repeated diseOuragements,
or had fought through years for mere sub
Sistence, as scores Of other successful men
have done, he would have been stronger
and more self-cOntrOlled. Perhaps Mr.
Beecher himself is to blame for TiltOn's
undue advancement when 50 young. Had
he checked the aspiring youth it would
have been better for both Of them.
TiltOn's downfall was as rapid as his rise.
His removal from the editOTship Of the In
was largely owing to the damage
done TO its subscription list and reputation
by his open advocacy Of free-lOve doctrines
in lis columns. The quarrel with Bowen
relative 10 the Beecler scandal was an az
ter-matter. 1t may have been the pretext
for Tilton's dismissal, but it is likely that
Bowen was most influenced by business
i'm the matter. Tiltou failed,
at the same time, while editing the Brook
lsm Union, where the dOuble-leaded leader
style of doing things didn't work. He then
founded the Golden Age, and from that
time till the present his career is well
known. This latter phase Of il may we'll Oe
with the course Of another man,
who had also failed and lost a high posi-
ton. | refer to John Russell Young, who
has endured far more violent attacks than
those of Leonard Bacon, and has lived |
down the Odium which his errors excited. |
and, to 4 large extent, has regained his |
former position in the public eye. Had
TiltOn followed a like course, his future
would be more hopeful than it now prom
ises.
At present, the credibility of the Op-
posing statements Of Beecher and Tilton |
depends considerably upon the trustwOrthi-
ness of either party. If we compare the |
lives Of the two men and their personal |
a marked difference will be seen. |
On the one hand, the pastor of Plymouth |
Church, though naturally Of an egOtistical
nature, and fond of praise, has constantly
humbled himself, publicly and privately. |
There is nothing sordid in his nature, and |
be is VIGOROUSLY Indifferent to money.
While much of his WORK gives him publicity
and praise, yet a large portion Of il is per-
formed in private and in a spirit Of sincere |
In comparison with most |
men who exercise anything like the same |
powers, or who are subjected to equal |
Beecher must be called |
modest, and his life record, on the whole, |
IS a series of public-spirited acts, perform
cd consistently and earnestly. TiltOn, on |
he other hand, while he has a chivalric |
aud elevated enthusiasm for humanity, has |
devoted himself rather to ideal than to /
practical ends. It is one thing to blow the |
trumpet and wave the banner, and it is an
)ther to personally succOr the wounded /
and encourage the weary. TiltOn's service |
m the cause Of humanity has been that Of /
ak, and his entire performances, whether /
If writing or speaking, seem infinitesimal 1
IN comparison with the ar1uOuS labor, both /
IN the pulpit and as pastor, which Mr.. /
Beecher has performed. Again, TiltOn is
nothing if not sensational, and he /
las an intense love of display. He /
5 a man Of arrogant nature, and in cOnse-
,taroo il unDoDuIar with most of those