New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-08
THE RAGGED EDGE" LETTER.

There was a decided sensation III court when Mr.
Evarts called upon the plaintiffs counsel to produce
the letter of Feb s. 1872 for many of those present
knew that TO be the date of the document which
has come to be known as the ragged edge' letter,
and which all have looked upon as probably the
most difficult TO explain. 1t is the Responding let
ter in which Mr. Beecher refers to his great year of
sorrow" 10 Z" the Church, the newspaper, the book"
10 suffering the tOrments of the damned" TO his
living on the sharp and ragged edge of anxiety
remorse. fear despair" and " of his being alone"
If Mr. MOultOn ceased TO love and trust him. Mr.
Beecher began his task by narratng circumstances
which occurring on Saturday had reduced him to
state Of extraordinary but not unusual depression
for IL seems according to his testimony. that the
enthusiasm which acc Companies Sundays work is
always followed by reaction on Monday, and that
his spirits that day are always low and his moods
Respondent But on this occasion he was still more
depressed from the fact that on the previous Satur
day he had been reproached by Mr. MOuton in a
tone that was very cutting" for failure to pay re-
gard 20 Mr.. Tilton's interests as he had promised
for not fulfilling the understanding and the COM
mon agreement to aid Mr.. Tilton. In the de-
pressed mood which followed two days later
Mr.. Beecher wrote this long letter which he
described "as an exhibit of what he had done dur
ing the past year for Theodore" Mr.. Beecher's
manner in naTratng these circumstances was very
emotional and the whole audience listened breath
lessy But for the restrictions of the rules of evil
dence Mr.. Beecher would probably have made his
statement this point elaborate, but he was
manfestly under restraint and not merely of the
laws of evidence, for more than once the tears
dubbed 10 his eyes and his voice chOked through
excess of emotion.
Mr.. Evarts then took up the letter and began to
read it, AS be did so. Mr.. MOultOn abandoned his
seat by the side of Mr.. Tilton and left the court
room. The incident probably without signif-
canoe, but occurring this of intense inter
est the part of the audience, all observed it, and
there for a moment buzz of comment. Mr..
Evarts continued without noticing the interruption
conversation, stopping only to ask the witness
explain the meaning Of certain passages. Mr..
Beecher had a copy of the letter in his hand, and
occasionally made corrections in Mr.. Evarts's
copy. When the passionate passages
came to be explained, Mr.. Beechers
emotion was again stirred, tears came
land not only TO his eyes, but to those of many in
the AUDIENCE he grew more fluent and eloquent,
and the plaintiffs counsel had again 10 object in
order to keep him within the rules of evidence.
Much of the natural effect which il is well known
Mr.. Beecher can produce in the intensest degree
Of course lost by these interruptions, though it
is not probable that Mr. Beach raised objections for
that purpose for is apparent to ell spectators, and
generally acknowledged by the counsel for Mr.
Beecher. that they have been very ndugent in this
regard.
Mr. Beecher's explanations of each and all of the
passages of these letters twill be found below, but
for the convenience of reference and to illustrate
she simplicity which marked sh Of bis EXPANSIONS.