Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-08-22
CATEI s.E-Ss. EJEiECE1ER.
-ne Romance in Her Life.-why She
Never Married.

That the Deccher family has within it
one of the sad,lest of tragedies all the
world knows: but few were aware until
very recently that it had also mourhful
ronlance-steeped in sorrow. yet nntoucli-
ed by sin. The death of Catherine Beech
er, ut tic age of sevcnty-eight, reveals this
romance, rs simple as it is pathetic. Miss
Beechcr was the oldest member OF the
family, and Judging from the work she ac-
complis!ied. a woman of remarkable ablll-
X,...While still Il girl she was engaged to
lege, a yo,mg man of brilliant promise,
whom she seems to have loved with fas-
sion amounting to idolatry. On voyage
to Europe about the year 1922, the ship
the Albion we thnk-was wrecked on
what is known as the Old Head of kins;ilc,
Off the south coast of Ireland. and Prot.
Fisher was ainoI.g the lost. lis 6e'rotii-
ed was almost driven to madness by the
blow. Tile religious faith which had been
IMPLANTED in her from childhood, and to
which she was deyotedly attached, was
completely swept away. She could not
reconcile divine love With the awful aifiic-
ton which had quenched the light and life
of her heart. In the language OF the pull
pit, she ''rebclled against the DEGREES OF
Providence" and in spite of the arguments
of her learned and pious father, persisted
in rebellion. There is no reason to believe
that she ever became what is called ''eE-
tircly submissiye," and her dislike to some
of the peculiar doctrines of orthodoxy
rather increased than diminished with age.
Only few months ago The Republican
Quoted an extract from an article written
bv her to the New York Tribune, in which
she criticised the dogma of eternal pun
ishment from the standpoint Of reason
and common sense. and described hcl
feelings when compelled to listen to hel
fathers fierce sermon on this subject.
Such character might be crippled, but
could not be crushed. Miss Bcecher pu
married happiness away from her as al
i. impossibility. and became Il missionary o
education. To this ca1se she devoted hel
life. She first established a female semi
nary in Hartford, Connecticut; and after
wards, in connection with her Sister, Mrs
Stowe. started college in Cincinnati
mainly for the purpose of supplying tn
then unprovided West with conpeten
teachers. AS her brother says, ''thougl
child,ass, she was tie mother of NOR
!, children than any one else; for having los
, her own household in the death of he
aflianced. she adopted the households Q
;. Others" In addition to these labors, sli
! wrote fifteen or twenty books on educs
;, ttioa. Previous to Ter brothers trial s!l
: defended him in communications to tn
: New York papers, az we believe the las
!. effort OF her pen was note commentln
g upon Mrs. Tilton's confession. IT'S
: pity such Il woman could not have bee
. spared the Infinite shame the great scand
= brought Upon her, and doubtless she Ofte
:, wished, IN the dismal latter days. that 81
: had gone with her lover to the bottom
;, the sea.
Is Some one was reading the Bible to .Ii
1t Anderson. the other day, and came to Il
IT passage about Tire plague and darkness
K Egypt. THAT must have been terrible
Of said the reader. pausing. Awful; in
Of think of it, darkness so thick that it cou
RS be actually felt" .Hoh," said Mr.. Andt
Y, son, THAT WAS nothing. l remember o.
or night in East Feliciana when it was
70 lark-'sf. Talk about darkness. VIII
y ha.l To wade through it just like mud
ht get home. Lots OF people got tired al
II scared, and stayed right where they ha
e- penesl to be all night. Why, when '
n went to bed that night, We meter hung
id our clothes; just pushed 'em of into
at darkness like. as we took 'em off, and tie
tx they stuck. 1t was funny, in the niorn.n
ty when it began to grow light, to hear
IL things dropping out as the darkness Il
its grasp, and falling on the floor. !
1g member that put an old pair of boots
of in tho But here a messenger .
Ill nounced that the committee was waiti
e for Mr.. Anderson. and without compiefi
Mt his interesting narrative of facts, lie vii
ar sl,,a,x--R R,,rIiu cto,r H1Dkeve