The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-02
TILTON AND MRS. TILTOv.

ASAA1OAAAS1AD "
The correspondent of the Lou :syille Courier
Journal gives the following sketch of the three
prominent figures in the great BROOKLYN
scandal:
strange as 1t may seem, none Of the three
persons most prominent in this unhappy busi-
ness are well known by sight to the people.
VINO i've IN the same city with them, outside
OF their individual circle of influence and ac-
qualntance. Mr.. Beecher is seldom to be seen
IN the streets. During several years residence
In Brooklyn, l can recall meeting him but
twice. He still retains his vigorous, sturdy
appearance, though he has aged considerably
OF late years. He walks firmly and with
ieOnine tread, looking neither to the right nor
ieft and ne has every appearance Of man OF
power and self-possession. Tilton is frequent
~ to be seen on the ferryboats or vending his
way between his home and his office ia the
Times building, New York.
He is striking looking man, whom NEST
persons will turn to look at d second time as
ne passes by. He has a magnificent PHI sique
and both his stalwart figure and naughty
bearing remind one good deal of Charles
Sumner. His tair is now quite gray, and his
features careworn though the expression is
rather one Of defiance than martyr-like pa
nence He usually wears blue frOck coat
and, at this season, duck pantaloons and a
straw hat His manner is often absorbed
and he will often pass by people without
noticing them. He usually keeps aloot from
the crowd, especially of late years, and, when
crossing the ferry, goes into the mems cabin.
Mrs. Tilton is of small, delicate, and almost
fragile physique; and, in comparison to her
tall husband, she seems like a child Her
face is full of womanly sympathy and sweet
ness, while the eyes are inexpressibly sad.
with lines which imply great physical and
mental suffering No one can see or converse
with her without feeling deep interest and
pity for her sufferings.
Lastly. it should be added, she possesses no
physical destinations, but is Of sensitive ma
ture; which one would think would be re-
pulsed by even the thought Of such q thing
This is one of the strongest arguments, to my
mind, against the idea Of any continuous in
tercourse on her part with any one, as alleged
by Mr. Tilton.
1t may assist in unraveling this complex
and puzzling affair to mention something of
Tilton's personal history. He is native OF
New York, and was left. when quite a boy,
dependent upon his own exertions, owing to
the death of his father. He went to the Col
lege OF New York for time. and while there
learned to write shorthand This enabled
him to find employment ON the Tribune.
Frank Ottarson, who was then city editor,
gave him his first piece Of work, and took
quite fancy to him. He soon left daily
newspaper work to take q 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.
From this position he went to the hide
pendent. OF which Beecher was edtor-in- chief.
The latter befiiended him in many ways; and
NltOn owes more Of his advancement to Mr..
Beecher than to any other person. When
the hitter resigned the editorship OF the hide
pendent his young assistant succeeded him at
his recommends ion: and thus, at the age Of
about e. Tilton came into public prominence.
His position has scarcely been paralleled for
one SO young. He had salary which, in
time, was equal to that paid to Horace Gree
ley; he was pad $1,000 with the privilege Of
lecturing, having refused $l2, 900 without that
privilege His duties consisted mainly Of
writing one double loaded leader every week,
all the routine work being performed by Oil
yer johnson, then ofiice-editor Of the hide
pendent This was certainly extraordinary
nay, but Tilton deserved it. He is brilliant
writer, and, when inspired by a.great theme,
be can write in the grand sty e.
The trouble was, however, that he treated
all subjects in this style. and thus sometimes
gave unmerited prominence to articles on
triHin9 themes. During each winter he would
ill about one hundred engagements to lecture;
and thus he gained a national reputation by
his eloquence, in addition to the eciat which
his position as editor of the Independent
brought him. Is it any wonder that he
should have been carried away BY such sue
cess 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 discourtgements,
or had fought through years tor mere subsist-
ence o. scores of other successful men have
done. he would have been stronger and more
self-contr olled. Perhaps Mr.. Beecher himself
is to blame for Tiltons 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 editorship of the hide
penlenE wa. largely owing to the damage
done to its subscription list and reputation by
his Oman advocacy of free-love doctrines in its
columns The quarrel with Bowen relative to
the Beecher scandal was an after-matter. 1t
NAV have been the pretext for Tilton's dis
missal. but it is likely that Bowen was most
Influenced by business considerations III the
matter. :. Til,on failed, at the same time, while
editing he Brooklyn Union, where the double
loaded Leader style VI uoIiiS tAiHSo hiuH
work. He then founded the Colder, Age, and
from that time till the present his career is
we'll known.
At present the credibility Of the opposing
stateutents of Beecher and Tilton depends
considerably upon the trustworthiness OF either
party. Ii we compare the lives Of tie two
men and their personal character, marked
difference will be seen. On the one hand, the
pastor Of Plymouth Church, though naturally
Of an eCoti stical nature, and fond OF praise,
has constantly humbled himself, publicly and
privately. There is nothing sordid in his ma
tnre. and he is VIGOROUSLY Indifferent to
money. W lie much of his work gives him
publicity and praise, yet a large portion OF it
T. performed in private and in a spirit of sin
cere selt- sacrifice. In comparison with most
men who exercise anything like the same
power, or who are subj -cted to equal laudl-
tons, Beecher must be called modest, and his
lite record, on the whole, is series OF public
spir.ted acts, performed consi tently and ear
neatly.