The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-03
The Confession Of Winslow.

There is nothing more unsatisfactory than
n confession which confesses nothing. Or
all long-winded, roundabout, immensely
discursive and pointless persons, the Rev.
E. u. Winslow, name we'll known to the
reader, is the superlative. From London
he has written to u Dr. ingalls,, OF East Bos-
ton, Mass, three letters so long that collec-
lively they cumber eight closc-printed col
umns OF the Boston Herald. The fugitive
forger, the botherer OF cabinets, and the de-
SPAR of diplomacy, gives us his autobiogra-
ply with the forgery left out. He tells us in
sentences OF the choicest flapdoodle where
he was born; but even this simple fact he
cannot state simply. "My boyhood's home,"
he saws, swas IN Ware, Mass" Then we
are treated to The interesting fact that Mr..
Winslow was one Of seven children, and
s'the eldest dying at eight LETT me the eldest
of the remaining Six" Mr.. Winslow con-
tinues, it will be seen, to be strong in
figures. Again "When ten years Of age
/ began to work in woollen factory from
$3.50 A. NJ. until 1870 p. NJ, with half an
hour for breakfast and the same for dinner;
wages, $3.50 per month";" Mr.. Winsow
also informs us that when at school lie
would exc out his earnings by saving wood,
gathering greens, and selling whortleber-
ries." 1t il q great pity that he ever aban-
doned these simple methods OF making
money.
After the factory and the berries, Mr..
Winslow entered a theological seminary,
and subsequently was pastor OF several I'M
fortunate churches. Then he became
chaplain in the army; then he tempted the
wave us chaplain in the navy; then he snecu-
lated in mining shares III San Francisco;
then lie returned to Massachusetts; then he
had ga lung difficulty" and the physician
IL, l. liz, To
Auburndale. Here his house was burned,
and we are favored with an account of the
loss of Mr.. Winslow's library, " containing
thousands of volumes"
Mr.. Winslow at this time was accused Of
arson with intent to deiraud the insurance
companies; but he declares his innocence,
and gives list of the companies which paid
up their losses promptly, and another list OF
the companies which were rather unwilling
to settle. There is the story OF his running
away. There is the story of his arrival in
Rotterdam. There is description OF his
cell which he occupied in London, and he
is careful to tell us that he was ''permitted
frequent baths" All this may be as inter-
esting rs fairy tale; but how about the for
geries in Boston,?
We are obliged to say that so far as his
writing other peoples names is concerned,
the statement Of the Rev. Mr.. Winslow is
the most irritating piece OF hugger-mugger
which we have ever had the ill-fortune to
peruse. He literally shirks the whole mat
ter. He admits that he did something
not exactly defensible; but if we would
know what it was we must seek for
information elsewhere. "Of course"
he says, with an exquisite shuttle, 81 ought
to have been strong enough to stand even
in such position as that in which found
myself placed. This is only to say that all
wrong is wrong, and all right is duty. But,
alas since the world began man has come
short Of this perfect law; and /, who had
been proud and ambitious to live, act. and
dazed, diStraughted, and conquered by these
tempesiuous forces.h Never did man admit
that he was hard-up In prettier language. |
Instead OF saying that he wrote other mems
names on the back of his notes, he tragically
pestuous forces.'' In fact, there is some
thing sublime in Mr.. Winslow's character.
He Indignantly denies that he "ever i'm
posed worthless checks OF small amounts |
upon poor people," ''Whatever / may |
have done,e' he adds, "these siXpenny |
swindles were not in my line" We cannot |
resist the conviction that, after being writ
ten about so much and talked about so
much, the Rev. Mr.. Winslcw considers
himself to be n great and good man-in dii-
ficulties, it is true, but still entitled to the
sympathy and admiration OF his fellow
creatures. But what can be said Of one
who pleads to O charge OF forgery that
when ten years OF age he began to work
in woollen factory 1"-Ne,o York Iri-
f7lnP