River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-02-19
Lunch Time a, the Trial.

However interesting the doings of the
uay, however piquant and salaeious the
letters Of evidence, however exciting the
passages between opposing counsel, lunch
time makes welcome break in the pro-
ceedings of the case of Tilton VS.. Beecher.
IL comes at o clock, and when Madison
IN his bravura voice cries out, "This
court will now take recess until 2
clock, rustic of relief passes through
&c audehce. A general relaxation of
the facial muscles takes place.
The man who has been steadily staring
at the witness, without once blinking
SINCE the morning, and whose mouth has
been opened on an unbroken stretch for
an hour, RECEIVERS his consciousness, his
hat and his overcoat, and medtates on
the prospect of lunch. At this happy
time of the day people, entire strangers
to each other, feel powerful impulse to
enter into conversation, to cast the lead
OF inquiry into the measures Of each 9TH
er's reflections on the drama of the hour.
One who comes on the scene for the first
time as a spectator will credit his neigh
Dor with knowing more Of the case than
himself.
Pretty cool witness" he may timidly
observe, as he buttons up his oyercoat
and looks askance at the next man. And
The next man is likely to reply, +" Yes,
| you may Just bet on that" and from this
homely and intelligent beginning dis
cusslon Of hall an hour may probably
arise, leaving both in about the same
state Of mind as to the mel its Of witnesses
and the trial as when they started to
iatHom each other opinions. Not alone
to the audience and reporters, but to
the lawyers and principals, lunch time
comes
There is never any great hurry in pass
ing out to lunch ON the part of the audi.
ence. Many are strangers from the
country, who may never look upon the
like of this thing again. They tarry to
photograph the scene, to scoop in,' as
the Wall street people say, all the salient
points. Beecher and his wife are stand
ing up talking to somebody. Mrs. 'rilton
and her body guard Of Amazons are on
the move for the door. Tilton, towering
over every one else, is turning his steps
in the same direction. The country fellows
pause. This has to be scooped in and in-
scribed on the slate Of recollection. Few
neglect to Go this even though they come
more days than one. Vulgar, inquisitive
people have habit Of plunging in be-
tween Beecher and his auditor to catch
remark from the lips Of the great preach.
er. In this way volume Of Beecher's
casual sayings have been picked up.
THOSE WHO STAY.
Quite a number, however, will still re-
main behind in the court room and hold
on to their seats with the tenacity Of
death. These will turn the court into a
lunch room, and each one will be his own
waiter and caterer. He pays no landlord
and carves for himself. He takes a fru-
gal meal, and abstains, by necessity, from
drink. The pockets Of his coat are his
cupboard, and his fingers do duty for
knives and forks. Useful acquaintance
are made at these novel banquets.
One who has superabundance Of ham
will exchange a portion with another
who is similarly burdened with plethora
of cold chicken. Great courtesy prevails.
| lie who is owner of flask, with some
thing celebrating in il, is unselfish
enough to share il with his neighbor, and
even with that neighbours neighbor, and
so on until the means Of hospitality are
exhausted.
THE CONTROVERSIES
are warm and exciting. Natives Of
Brooklyn frequent the place, and most of
them being positiyists on the Beecher
side, the arguments sometimes transcend
the limets of courtesy
"l'll tell you what it is" man OF
conscious insight was heard to exclaim
one day at lunch, "Tilton delights in this
notoriety. lie was jealous Of Beecher's
supremacy, and now, in point Of name, he
thinks himself his peer. lie feels no such
shame as other men would feel. His let.
tiers and editorials are getting wider
circulation than they ever did,and his van
ity is filled. On fame Of this kind such
men live"
This enunciation was quickly met by a
J champion of 1iton's, who responded
promptly: IF Tilton Graves such noto-
riety, why did he wait four years before
attempting to get it," This appeared
TO convince the listeners that Tilton was
unjustly characterized as one who craved
notorlety at any cost; but the discussion
went on between the oysters and the ale,
and will keep on to the end Of the trial.
STORIES TOLD.
Among many other things told at lsnch
about the chief actors in the trial was O
story that, before the case begun, Tilton,
Beecher, and Moulton went into active
physical training, and that the two form
er still continue the practice. Beecher
gets up al O'Clock, takes a cold bath, and
afteward exercises with dumb-bells for
half an hour. Then he spends another
half hour pummeling a sack filed with
sand. Another half hour is spent with q
pair Of Indian clubs, after which he takes
a smart walk to Prospect park and re-
poats a dozen times the ascent Of the hill
where the Prospect tower stands. lie
eats perterhouse steaks when he returns
home, and washes them down with Dub
lin porter. Ia this way he has reached
the strength and muscular vigor Of n
prize-hghter Tilton has gone further
and superadded 10 all this, prze-ring
practice in private parlor. Monitor
tried variety Of ways TO burden his
| nhveioue and tone his nerves 10 the stead.