The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-04-08
HENRY WARD DEECHER.
He.iS Pleased to Answer u Few CUES.
tiOnS.

AAe ~ FlOhbeu 70 AnoWeK u rev Queb'
i ~ tiOns.
| DEAR MR. BONNER You put into my
hands batch Of questions, with a him
that l need not answer them unless
please. lido please. OF course l do moi
expect TO put an end to such stories-cer'
tainly not TO these particular ones. The
first story, in the following letter, have
contradicted, In public and private, scores
OF times; and the only effect, as far az
can see, is that It moves on more vigor.
ously than ever. But here is the letter
DEAR GER:-Will you please In.
form me, through your answers to cor.
respondents, Il some Of the stories hear
about Henry Ward Beecher are so or not
/ have heard that he preached the ser.
mon abe being so damned hot. !.
have also heard that, when, asked byian.
other minister what the difference, was
in their religion, that Mr.. Beechef's an.
swer was that there was q hell. fired sight
oil difference, meaning that the other
preached that doctrine, while he did not.
2. Also, that he Is q great card player,
and that the slang phrase oil "hoW Is that
Tor high" was started by him whilo play.
Ing what 10 called Old sledge, or Seven
Up. 3. don't know as you viii like to
answer these questions, but they would
do great deal Of good to confirm his
good character out here. I don't believe
one word Of II.
l. No. l never began sermon by say.
ing 'it is damned hot" nor with any va
ration OF the phrase, nor in any manner
even remotely like Ii. Now, appeal to
a generous community whether It is fair
to Keep that story on me any longer,
when there are others waiting for their
turn-for somebody will have to carry 1t.
There 10 brother Tallmadge, he ought to
carry 1t awhile. Why not try Ii upon
Hepworth? OF course, such saddle
would hardly fit the broad back OF the
good DR.. John Hall; but why should be
not have something else as good made up
for him?
2. This second story Is made up out Of
whole cloth-so far as ! am concerned. j
suspect that it was DR.. Chaplin that said
It Try It on himl - ~
8. As to cards, never played game
OF cards In my life. My education In that
direction was entirely neglected. Indeed,
II card playing is necessary to liberal cul-
ture l am in q deplorable state, for do
not know one card from another. + I am
afraid that many men ION the plains" or
In the mountains out West, will not think
so well OF me now; but the truth must be
told. History Is memorable. Our young
friend (lor the letter was sent hither by .
Kansas boy), is at liberty toread on the
housetopS my remuneration and denial Of
these fiery stories; and, u he ever hears
anything else bad about me, deny II, and
stick to II, and ninety.nine times in a hun.
dred, five times over, he will be right,
: Now for the next
"1n your answer to correspondents
please inform me whether Rev. II. W.
Beecher ever prepares and delivers a ser.
mon on paper. claim he does, and that
the last sermon he preached last July
before his vacation, was q written one.
Am ! right 2" nm =. 81
r All wrong. Wrong every time. He
does not tortte out hil sermon, or, as is
said, deliver It on paper" and the SER
mon Of last July was not q written one.
Mere outlines are made. Very brief
6rtef5, as q lawyer would say.
! do not promise to answer all ,ques-
ltlons, or any more; but being In the mood,
I have let fly at these croaking birds, as
one returning from a hunt would FIRE at
q crow to clean out his gun barrel.-M
y, Lfdger. ee1-r'l5