, 1874-07-23
MR. AND MRS. THEODORE TILroN.

Tho career Of Mrs. Elizabeth Il. Tilton, as
shown in tho recently unpublished correspondence
aud tn hor later action, ia as full Of paradoxes
and contradictions as thistle ia OF stings It Ia
impossible to touch 1t auyw1oro without pain,
anu when NO seek to construct anything whole
somo and lovely out Of it, no nre driven back
with defeat Nevertheless, her conduct can be
accounted for without recourse to insanity. Nor
is Tlton himself Insane. His statement betrays
anything but madness. It Is close, mothodical
well-arranged, and coneiHtont document aud.
regarded as q mcrc literary production, Ia an-
titled to high praisc. But tho picture it gives
of Mrs. Tilton, void Of malice and all uncharita-
ble,esa as 1t H. may we'll demand cur careful at
tention and unfeigned aorrow.
In the first place NO aro shown, by Tlltou's
statement o married woman who scee moth
ing wrong in adultery II it takes tho guiao Of
religious enthusiasm. 3fra. Tilton is not the
first woman in tho world who has heon prev to
this hnlluclnation, but tho fact furnishes start
iag point for tho erratio and disjointed career
which follows. sno is lod to doubt the religious
character and tendencies Of tho not bv Oh
seEylng that deception is pecossary to car-
ry 1t on-that is, that tho original per-
5ury,-for adultery alwaya begins with per-
jury-requircs certain small liaa to conceal
it. This dawniug perception OF the roality
Of her conduct is 60 much atrongtheued bv
reading lasotvious novel that she writes q
letter to hcr husband full OF ponitonco and
affection, Offering to renew her broken marriage
VOWS to him. Mr.. Tilton accepts tho oTor, and
tho no1t wc hear Of Aer she Aas given paper
to her paramour ITO yindicato him bofore q
council Of minister's" Forthwith ahe gives her
husband another paror stating that tho preced-
Ing paper is lie, and that sho has stipulated
With Deecher TINT 1t should not be used against
her husband. but might bo used against all tho
world beside. Tho paper given to Boeclor was
recovered by Triton, and tho whole
matter seemed likely to lapse into oblivion,
whom tho Brooklyn Congregational Council
1t In part. and led to the
rocont bitter and Vehement attacks on
Tilton by tho Rov. Leonard Bacon and by tho
Brooklyn newspapers. 3Ir. Triton deemed 1t noc-
osaary to vindicato himself against tho ohargo,
almost universally brought aguinat him, TINT ho
was slaadorar Of his pastor nnd of hia own
Wife, and accordingly wrote his lettor to DR..
Bacon.
Mra TiIton thon turned another corner. she
went before tho Investigating Committee md
teatiocd unaor oath that Mr. Deecher laa neyer
had tmpFppor relations NTH her aaa neyor had
made I'LL improper suggestion to her. eho then
repented Of her lust rorlury, and ooufosy-
Cd to Tllton and an Intimate frlend that
what sho had testified was false, Tn,
nozt thing wo hear ia that Hho has aban.
doned hor homo and children md tshep
up hsE residence with one Of Mr. Deecher'a
friends. OF conrao, anything may happen after
this. md tho public mood not be surprised at any,
thing Mrs. Ttlton may do or say. Attor recount.
lug all Aos strange procoedluga ono cannot but
Feol profound pity for her. Her conduct is
Oh perfectly natural grounds. Tho
Brat ain pavod tho way for Ill tho others, or
'sshot made III tho ou4ors naaoaaary. Ou1y ths 1