Daily Kennebec journal., 1875-04-03
he surrendered it with Thank you." He was

he surrendered il with Thank you." He was
perfectly at ease. The reporter looked in vainfor
those minute evidences of nervousness which read
ers are always glad to have described, and the de-
scription may appear tame, but It Is truthful The
best idea to be found of him by those who have
seen him in the pulpit lecture room is to recall
him he appeared then and there. Around the
corners of his mouth and eyes there lurked the
familiar quiet smile, which betrays the great hu-
NOR of the man, which cannot be repressed, and
which so frequently finds expression even in his
most serious discourses, in the extraordinary
phrases IN which his ideas are often grotesquely
dressed. In his testimony yesterday this humor
cropped out. Once, when referring to his literary
labors, he called himself a "voluminous author"
He then half smiled and half blushed at what
he evidently thought might be regarded as an ego
tistical expression, and moment later his eyes
twinkled and frightened just the least, and his old
half smile came back when he had to say that
during a certain period he had made many peliti-
cal speeches and preached not few political SER
mons. This irrepressible humor bubbled to the
surface still later when he was asked if he had
not written many letters, was not in fact great
correspondent. lie smiled as he hesitated a sec
ond or two before answering, 81 should say not if
should judge from my impression; but if they
should begin to hunt over my letters, presume it
would be found that had" This was the first
allusion to his troublesome habit of writing long
letters. Still later this hnmor found more extrav-
giant expression. He had been asked if his first
public discussion with Mr.. Tilton had not been
marked by considerable antagonism and asperity
in the expression of their views. He answered
as if appreciating the joke, nothing that trans
cended what see here in court" Even Mr.. Beech
unbent at this and smiled with the Beecher party.
The rest of the plaintiff s counsel sat gloomy, 81
lent and stern, as they had done all through the
day, taking their cue from Mr.. Tilton and Mr..
Moultons But, lest it would be imagined that
the wtnoss' manner was trivial it should be added
that these incidents occuraed during the early part
of the day. when his attension was drawn to com
parativelv trivial matters. And, even during this
period there were incidents of the opposite char
acter, betraying the deep feeling and hearty ear
nesness of the man. Once, for instance, when
asked about his early intimacy and companonship
with Mr.. Titon, he answered with great feeling.
1T common employments, companionship and
downright loving on my part, and as he spoke
these last words he glanced for the first time, at
Mr.. Titon Still later in the morning he evinced
more feeling when questioned in regard to the oc-
casion of the sci ice rendered to his son in the
army by Mr.. Tton he said, "He was doing me
little kndnt that were very agreeable, but
there was one that stood out beyond all others and
was very specially valuable to me-" After the
word very" there was a long pause. The words
stuck in the witness throat, and it was only with
a great effort that he concealed the strong emo
tion which he felt. Only the closest observers,
and those very near him, knew that he was keep
ing back ann, on another occasion, he was long
time in getting control of his voice as to answer
clearly the question as to the member of his chill
dren, in the words 'sFoul with me and five wait
ing for me-"