, 1874-05-10
A WOMAN'S THOUGHT ABOUT THE PRES
EfTERY

To the Editor OF The Chca1o Tribune:
SIR: One of the most singular features Of
Prof Swings trial By the Presbytery OF Chicago
is the constant attendance Of very large num-
ber of lades. So profound and exciting is the
interest they have manifested that the question
has often occurred to me, Will the Coming
Woman be Controvereialist What means all
this devotion to the discussion OF abstraction,
it there be not in woman ZONE slowly-awnaen-
Jug, hitherto-u 7suspected power in, or passion
for, religious controversy? Should such prove
to be the truth, wise indeed have been the doubt
ers Of womats capacity for improving the coudi
ton OF the world by admission to a.l the equally
right aud wrong rights Of men. 4 pretty, golden
ha1red dimpled creature said to me, Prof.
Patton is really ahead Of The defeuse IN his acute
knowledge OF what he is about" And thought,
Surely woman can be just If 80 sweet and gentle
q being as Lady GoldiockB can see any good in
the man whom another sister had just said re-
minded her Of Ruth CARROTS description OF al
uncomfortable old maid: t Vinegar and MUS
tard mixed on steel knife"
Some OF the good things heard st the Presby-
terry arc wortl, recording. Nothing could be bet
ter than this bright repartee OF Prof. Swing to
Prof. Patton's inquiry, " How do you eelto-day.
Prof. Swing:" With face profoundly serious,
and tone comically Eepulchral, the reverend de-
fendant replied: "Ah! Prof. Patton, don't
feel at all we'll to-day; my digestion is 60 much
worse than my theology that feel pretty had
about it,
There is e striking cont raat in the physical ef-
feet Prof. patton'B manner OF thinking has upon
the ''humaa various " who are on his side {the
left Of the houee), and the marks that arc left
bv the reasonable theology OF those who slt at
the right of the Moderator. Bro. Elj, with his
pinchei face. hollow chest. and sharp voice; and
other thln ministers OF thin religion. arc per-
fectIy matched BIZ the angularites. acidities, and
snappish sharpness OF their young chief.
PROT Patton while the Rev. r. ". Patterson. and
Mr. Noyes, and Mr. HuId are physical heroes.
worthy Of tho sweet, strong, generous religion
preached by David Swing. A man must bare
either big head or big body to accomplish my
good work ii, tlis world; aud few Of Prof. PAT
toms adhcrents baye any heads or bodies worth
mentioning. John Forsyth is the only large man
the lett, and be is large physically rather than
otherwise.
Prof. Patton'e physognon,T is very curious and
yet very characteristic Of the mans mental acu-
men. I can think of nothing so like Prof Pat
toms face as au infinitesnal snow-p1ow. His
hsad is-slnall his forehead is low and narrow,
his hair light il. color and in quantity; aud. as
il his blue eyes we're not cold enough to suit his
disposition, Nature has forced him to frame aud
glaze them, and his glasses add strangely in
creased sharpness to h:s lace The nose Ii long,
but the chin is larger and more pointed, and the
hollow cheeks, aud thin, blue lips, make up the
enow-plow resemblance. And. since Prof. Patton
,riU drive through such huge drifts Of theological
snow and ice, why sl,ouldn't he look like the man
he has ulado himself
When I began going to the meetings of
tie Pfesbytery, my thought WAS, on seeing
Prof. Patton, beaold man who represents
Torquerna.a in the nineteenth century; but
there must be mistake Torquemada WAS an
honest bisct: Ao would have tortured
himself if l,e believed hinsolr tainted with
heresy. Doubtless he was subject. to in6rm,ties
OF temper, r,-eisnilat to those which Prof Pat
tou has shown when be couldn't have his own
way; but the Inquiaitor cid penance On his
l:nees, With lashlnSs OF the scourge, for his fall
ings from rigid grace; while DR.. Patto: is too
absorbed in making his name and fame odous
to tarry fot renitence over Lis insults to the just
and gentle Moderator. and bis impertlnences to
the venerable Dz. Patterson. Neither good