Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1881-03-27
BEECHER'S LIFE OF CHRIST.
HOW THE DIVINE SWINDLED WILkE-
SON & FORD OUT or $4,000.

The New York ,Sitn recently contained
an interview with Samuel Wilkinson,
one of the men who put $4,000 into
the speculation Of having Beechcr write
the life of Christ. The following eN-
tracts are particularly interesting:
BEECHER SCOOPS IN $4,000.
"Beecher seemed eager to write the
book, but refused to contract to dc so
until he received $4,000 in cash. Ford
paid ii. The money came out Of my
pocket, and the copartner5hip OF j. IS.
Ford & Co. was formed. Bcecher's
contract was assigned to the firm, and
the firm entered upon its weary and
finally ruinOus experience of the famous
clergyman's want of conscience. Our
capital got locked UP in preparations to
publish it in numerous editions. 10
make a long story short, Beecher broke
his publishers, and they went into bank
ruptcy. At the sale Of their assets his
contract to write the life Of Christ was
bought by stranger. | heard Of it and
purchased it, with a view of reciaiming
my $4,000. So | stand il court to-day
with whatever rights J. 3. Ford Il Co.
had"
\ shade Of anger had gathered on
Mr.. Wlkeson's face. It was suddenly
dispeiIed by an outbur5t OF laughter.
"Jupiter!" he exclaimed, "what 4
matchless actor Beecller is! When ne
signed the contract and Ford handed
him the check for SIC, goo he dignifiedly
tucked the money into his vest pocket
and in all the richness Of his old leonine
voice and manner, You may certainly
look for the completion of the book with
in the coming year. For that year |
will make no lecture nor other engage
ments, but shall devote myself entirely
10 the Life Of Christ Yes, / will be-
gin to give you copy in two or three
Weeksn"
THE FIRST MANUSCRIPT.
at was two years and ten months
from the time that Beecher signed the
contract and pocketed my $4,000 be-
fore Ford & Co. succeeded in getting |
out OF him the first instalIment Of manu-
and that was some trumpery introduce
tory stuff which the magnificent apostle |
had labelled Overture Of Angels and |
left hanging as a sort Of fiorid drop |
curtain before his sLife OF Christ. And |
to bore even that out of him was a job |
that would have Told on the SutrO tun-
mel company"
THE FIRST VOLUME.
An interval of sadness followed.
$50 long a period elapsed between the
public expectation Of the work created
oy its announcement throughout Eng
and and America and the appearance
If the first volume" Mr.. Wilkeson con-
inued, ''that other lives of Christ is
ued complete by rival publishing
houses were extensively sold. The sue
.essive chapters Of the ta~day first vol
me were pulled from the author like
eeth from an unwilling occupant of a
lentist's chair. They were got by the
most persistent coaxing and remon-
frances, and by fearful entreaty on the
art of one of the firm. When the first
'olume, thus extracted, was published,
,ublic interest in the book had been
Tiled. The literary work was poor, )
ecause it had been done against the $
uthor's incIinations and under squirting
nat disturbed and irritated him 1t
7as hack work. 1t was SO far below his
over and the average excellence Of his
terary productions that he himself
7as ashamed Of it. He has often eX-