The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-15

me Would suspect me, so full OF oyerfl owing
Esprit and eager; gladsomeness, TO have with,
l la me. a care OF gloom. Some OF my letters
to Dir. Moulton reflect this morbid feeling.
de understood II, and ut times earnestly re.
proved me for indulgingit. With this pre-,
limlnary review I proceed to my narrative;
Mr.. Tilton WINS first known TO me as q re-
porter Of my sermons. He was then q
youth Just from school, and working on the
New York Observer, and from this paper he
passed TO the Independent, and became q
great faYoritc with MIR. Bowen. and when,
| about 1861, DTs. Bacon, Storrs, and Thomp-
son resigned their places, became editor Of
the Independent, to which had been from
Its start contributor, one OF the induce
mems held out 70 me was that Mr.. Tiiton
should be my assistant aud relieve me wholly
from the routine OF office work.
In this relation I became very much at
tached to him. We used to stroll to- gale:
ries and printshops and due often together.
His mind was opening freshly and with en-
tnusiasm upon all questions. / used to pour
out my ideus Of civil affairs, public policy.
religion, and philanthropy. Of this he has
often spoken with grateful appreciation, and
mourned at a later day over its cessation.
AS late, think, as the winter OF 1869,
when going upon an extended lecturing
tour, he SAID: 81 wish you would look in
after and see that Libby is not lonesome. and
does not want for anything" or words to
that effect. Never, By sign or words, did
hr. Tllion complain OF my visits in his
family until after be began 10 fear that the IN
dependent would be taken from him, nor did
he break out into violence until on the eve
Of di>poSsession from both the papers, the
Independent and the Brooklyn Eagle, owned
by Mr.. Bowen. During these years Of init
macy in Mr.. Tilton's family l was treated
as father or elder brother. Children were
born, children died. They learned 10 love
me and to froIic with me as if l
MSS Que Of themselves. | loved them, and
had for Mrs. liton true and honest re-
gard. She seemed to me an affectionate
mother devoted wife, looking up 90 her
husband as one far above the common race
Of men. and turning to me with arteSs IA.
miiarity and with entire confidence. Child
ish in appeiran she xas cbiidlike in ma
ture, and would rs soon Have misconceved
the confidence of the little guIs as the uu.
studied affection which she showed me-.
Delicate in health, she vas boundless in her
sympathy for those in trouble, and laDored
beyond her strength for the poor. She had
charge at one tine of the married womeu's
class at Bethel Mission school, and they per-
fectly Wor>nipped her there.
/ gave Mrs. Tilton copies of my books
when published. l sometimes sent down
from the farm flowers to be distributed
among dozen or more families, and she oc.
caSioually shared. the only present of value
l ever gave her was on my return from Eu-
rope in 1868, when distributed souvenirs
IF 10
sons, and TO her gave simple brooch Of
little Intrinsic value.
SO far from supposing that my presence
and Influence Vas alternating Mrs. Tilton
from her family relations, thought, OH the
contrary, that it was giving her strength and
encouraging her to hold fast upon man EVIL.
deully Siding into dangerous associations,
and liable TO be immersed by. unexampIed
self.concet. regarded Tilton as in very
critical period of his lie, and used to think
it fortunate that he had good home influences
about bimG
During late years of our friendship Mrs.
TltOn spoke very mourniully to me about
the tendency OF her husband to great iaxity
OF doctrine In religion aud morals. She gave
Inc to understand that he denied the divinity
OF Christ, the inspiration of the Scriptures,
and most articles of the orthodox faith,
while bis views as to the sanctily of the mar
riage relation were undergoing constant
change in the direction Of free love.
La the latter part of July, 1870, Mrs. Til.
ton was sick, and at her request visited her.
She seemed much depressed, but gave me no
hint OF any trouble having reference 10 me-
l cneered her as best l could, aud prayed
with her just before leaving. This was our
list interview before trouble proke out in the
fImily. I describe it because it was the last,
and It's character has bearing upon the
Litter part of my story. Concerning all my
otter visits, it is sufficient to say that at no
interview which ever took place between
Mira. TIlton and myself did anything occur
which might not have occurred with perfect
propriety between brother and sister, be.
tween father and child, or between man Of
honor and the vile OF his dearest friend ;
nor did anything ever happen which she OF
| sought to conceal from her husband.