Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-12-01


Henry Ward Beecher's last lawsuit was
moro successful than the other one. The case
was this: In 1867 Beecher contracted to use
his best endeavors to deliver to Ford Co. q
Life of Jesus the Christ within period Of
1S months. Now as nobody knows anything
about the life of Christ except as il is set
forth in the gospels, eighteen months was
not an unreasonable time for Mr. Beecher TO
take in order TO evolve from bis inner con
sciousncss tho necessary padding aud filling
to make up his romance. But he was not
equal to the occasion. Do all he could he
was unable to squeeze out Of his teeming
brain more than one volume within that time,
leaving the work half done. That was strange
seeing that about 1SG7-7O nearly every other
man was writing more or less of a Life Of
Christ But with all the helps afforded by
Renan and others either in the way of APP
proprating or controverting, Mr.. Beecher
felt the true inwardne5s of a dry and exhaust
ed Imagination. In the words Of his contract
he did fuse his best endeavors,' but they
were of no avail Copy would not come, no
matter from what source he summoned it,
For time the publishers were FESTIVE, but AS
miracles are sometimes wrought in behalf Of
the saints, so IN this case miracle came 10
the aid OF brother Beecher' Ford d Co. Were
foolish enough to saddle themselves with one
of those weekly sectaraa papers sometimes
sarcastically called religious. and their whole
reliance Tor making II go was on heecner'
Ihey stopped proddIng MN Tor more copy
OF the LIE OF Chrlst ana DENT the'r "ho'e en-
ergies to spuTing nm up to make the Chrs-
tan Union great ana rroh'@nie roHB'ouH
paper lr'o that he poured ms harmless
heresies' INTO that he cmpued hot things Tor
the use Of MS critics but time on ana
although Beechcr had dropped the Life
Samuel "ilkeson, one oil the hrm oil lord "
Co., occasionally sent his Reverend friend
sharp letter ON the subject. 1t had got to be
1873 and "ilkeson saw palheuc pictures OF
the suherings and losses OF nus hrm' then
| staggering under inc weight OF overriding
and the panic But "heh another partner
chanced 10 see one Oh "hAesoh Ph'hPplcs
he straight"ay ulsowheu II IN the names oil
himself anu another partner soon after
WllkesonS severe letter. the beecher- lHton
| scandal began 10 HI the ar ana "HEe'on
declared (AlthouBn thal was not III the evil
dence) that the lhte OF CHRIST was Knocked
higher than Kite. II beecher could not
construct the rest OF his biography when the
skies were clear he certainly became wholly
ncapacllated When the only lie he could ieel
like writing or taking was that OF IlIton. lie,
however, did keep the Christian Union gong
throughout his SIX months attendance in
court, but whether 1t paid expenses may be
doubted. AT all events Ford Co. failed
and Wllkeson purchased tie firm claims
against Beecher from the assignee FOR $1,000
and brought suit for some S62Oo0 damages
for breach OF contract
Ford Co. had PAID Beecher sort OF re-
taining fee of $4,000 and IKE some lawyers
who take rctainers and do nothing Mr..
Beecher could not see his way clear to retain
this little douceur. Why should he Ford
Il Co. made money out OF his half.hni-had
book, and every account showed them IN lis
debt for the royalty they had agreed TO pay
him. One OF the partners swore that even