Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1881-07-07
MARTINTOWN.
On The Ragged Edge Again.

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher is a
great genius. No one who has failed
to hear him preach or lecture can
comprehend the extent, variety and
brilliancy Of his intellectual gifts.
Whether for good Or evil, he will be
prominent factor in American life,
80 long as he lives, and, after life, he
will leave behind him a memory Of
singular power and long-enouring
fame. The worst Of him is a busy
body spirit that leads him into verJJ
bad scrapes and will continue so to
lead him while his head is hot. There
seems 10 be about him much Of the
reproach that clings to Coleridge, who
is said to have had "the soul Of an
angel in a pig.sty." Time had, in
some degree, covered the Tilton abyss
with a mantle Of charity or indiffer-
ence. BY intrepid facing Of the
world and marvellous displays OF abil-
ily, that age seems not to abate one
jjot, this extraordinary man WAS win
ming back not little OF the applause
and something OF the respect he had
forfeited. But, by some unfortunate
conjunction, possibly because of the
u.align in.ilnenee -nf The so-called Az.
lanta comet, Mr.. Beecher has again
come before the people in most I'm
pleasant way. The facts are about
these His lecture agent is named
Pond, a big, strapring fellow, full OF
cheek and animality. This "oiled
ana curled Assyrian bull" lad al
ready experienced some OF the un-
canny vicissitudes OF ANEW England
marriage and, 1T tie time Beecher
was projecting his California lecture
ionr, had mis- heart lacerated by the
misconduct Of adaughter. Pond was
widower, but not averse to a second
marriage. Strange to say, though
practical III business, lie was terri
bic fool on the subject OF wonankind,
and fixed his affections upon sing
ing female, who had already disposed
by divorce OF several husbands, as
her mother had done before her.
Pond offered TO marry this musical
female and brevet.widow "by large
majority" She declined. Nothing
dannted, Pond appealed to Beecher
and did 30 with such elo1uence and
enthusiasm that the Reverend busy
body and marplot, as is his wont,
took up the cause OF his agent, as if
it were his own, and plunged into the
matter heels over head. Reechers
letter is so unique, 80 characteristic
and SO valuable contribution TO ero-
tic literature that we do not wonder
the woman was bewidered. Poud
was pictured, in a wealth OF phrase
olosy peculiar to Plymouth Church,
as suffering from every symptom OF
love madness mentioned by Montaigne
and Michelet-to say nothing OF
Rousseau. She was beseeched to un-
dertake the cure. The woman re-
sisted even this clerical attack, which
had so often succeeded before. She
was an Old bird in love and matrmony
and could not be caught with even
Reecher'. first installment Of chaf.
She again declined to marry Pond,
who appears to have forgotten, in MS
grier, TO allay the wounds OF hls bo'
som by resort to an extract Of that
name. Nothing would appease his
sickness but the affection OF the sing.
ing woman. The willy Beecher then
sent hera telegram that cost Sl0.
This shared the bird. Il. ". i. be.
sought his "dear young friend to
excuse the liberty he took. but MIR.
Pond was leaning on him and Mrs.
Beecher, so that they lelt "a fearful
responsibility" in the matter. She
could not know, he said, what had
come over Pond. He was no longer
calm and unruiHed Pond, but a
much disturbed one. "He has, said
Mr.. B.echer, lost vivacity, sleep, in
terest in business, everything lie is
not the same man, nor does time seen
TO help him. 1t grows worse. give
him night by night strong medicines
to procure sleep. lie hangs upon
me and my wife like child" TIE
conduct Of his daughter WAS unman.
ming him. and unless somebody came
to his rescue ne would sink under it.
ut is on this account | write you, :"
continued Mr.. Rsecher ia his forty