New-York tribune., 1875-03-05
THE RELATIVE MERITS OF CHURCHES AND
THEATRES

TlIEATElsS
@. Did you have any conversation with Mr.. Til
shortly after that the subject OF churches aud
| theaters' A. I did
@ VIII you state what that was and how 1t srose' A. Mr..
| Tfiton sent mo
Q little louder. A. Mr.. Tlton sent me invitation two
or th &c times TO 20 TO the thcaicr with him
g How long after your hus5inls dcah' A. very few
weeks after my husbands deah lie said he wanted to do
something for comfort me- and minister to in some
way and he didn't know Of other way and declined One
afternoon his mothernllw, Mrs Morse, around with
special invitation for that evening" saying that IL would
Mr. FulerOn-No don't tell us what Mrs. Morse said.
Tho WituessShe around with special invitation from
Mr.. Tlion. declined the invitation, saying
Mr. shcamanNeyer mind, If ii not in the presence
OF Mr. Tlton.
Judge Ncon-You declined the nyitaOn' A. declined
the invitation
Judge Ecilson-Wc
Mr.. ShcannanTr what conversaon you had with Mr.. TIL
ton The subject if snyl A. thought my reply rather
curt, and around, thought he from
his Office, TO cXpa. myself to him, and raid thankcd him
for his kindness but had been 10 heaer in my
life didn't like to make my debut widows weeds and he
ID that just the time co. if in affection; that he in
yted for the sake OF entertaining me- and with that we
got into 4 discussion with re- -ard to the relative merits
Of theaters and churches He said that If he should die
asked him il lie would Ike to think his wife theatre
to console herself ewwoes after his DEATH and he said most
certainly he should she got any entertainment from IT, or any
relief from sorow he would be glad have her go lie thought
those religions narrow notions exploded and that they
worthy ofrcgad lie told me and that 1t
The result Of education and that could get more benefit
if would and certain play with him. he felt assured
that would derive more benefit than would from hearing Dr.
Sous prcach-!ar.
g. Did yOu have another conversation with him that sub
jcct in year S5 when you at Washington A. did
O. viii you state that conversations A. lie asked me If
would go the theatcr with him. and repeated the same
thoughts he had expressed before and said that lold
mad been hcaer and he said for that reason was
ud &C of tcaier and Of tho influence Of theaer upon
lie said the power Of the pulpit his mind was inferior
the power OF the thcatc thai he derived inspiration
from certain play he had heard within short time than he
had ever derived hearing Mr. Bccchr DR. Sors
OF the great preachers of the day.
O. Did Mrs Tton say anything You with regard to that
conversation on the subject of theaters'
Nj Fucr0n-I object to that
Nj shearmanye offer this for the purpose Of showing
that this conversation troubled Mrs. Tons mnl and that
this was part Of the line Of
Jude Nc.on-Iti is ru'cd olt, Sir
G. Did Mrs Tton speak OF the subject in the presence OF
Mr.. Tilion? A. She did
O. What did she say a. She commenced she thanked
for what had said to hm Thcr, was quite long con
vorsation.
O Who was present. A. she began to explain her views
and hor husband told her that Ae talking and
he didn't want her to interrupt.
@ Then Mrs Tiiton present at this conyersaton' a.
she learl tlc cOnNCftdllOh
@ What did Mrs Tion do when she was tod to keep
silent? A. She kept silence
O. Did Mrs 1ton manifest any feeling in the presence OF
husband that time? A. She did, she manifested good
deal of feeling She seemed b. very anxious to watch the
argument We hid quite sncn anl erc was-l don't
know that she oaya any expression OF cs only thanking
me Sho tosk h)ld my hand and SAIL thank You for
speaking this way wish Theodore hal more friends lhat took
this stand with him"
@ Understand that you opposed Mr. Tons views on that
sgbjcct} A. did.