The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-06-15

political economist speak to YOU now.n
Mr., Beecher indeed still keeps up won-
derful variety and amount of labor, and
maintains good state of health at the same
time. He tells his friends that he hopes to
keep up his usual course of enjoyments for
ten years to come.
Many think, however, it is plain to see
that Mr.. Beecher does not bestow 50 much
thought and preparation upon his pulpit
discourses as he used to. They say it is
very easy to recognize the fact when the
Clergyman breaches sermon to which he
has given very little study. In fact they
pretend to detect in his sermons an uneven
ness In Point of merit that was never APP
parent IN his younger days, when he was
very careful of his reputation as pulpit
orator, 1t Is noteworthy, however, that
Mr.. Beecher has preached some splendid
sermons to which he could have given very
little time in preparation The first news
he heard of the assassinationS of Lord Cav
endish and Mr.. Burke was from the Sun
DAY morning papers. He preached his u.s.
ual morning discourse, and IN the evening
he spo Ike for an hour on the transformations,
reviewing the Irish question at length, and
speaking with very much of the fire, brill
fancy, energy and eloquence that made
many OF his ringing sermons before and
during the war so remarkable.
MIR. Beecher's love of life in the country
grows with his increase in years. He spends
now nearly seven months year ON his
farm near Peekskill, about fifty minutes by
lail from this city. AS soon as the grass
starts in the spring he is upon the farm, di-
recting operations there and enjoying the
NICE large house he built two years ago,
which oyerlooks the Hudson. He keeps
the larger part of his library there, aud the
10
comfortable, even to the billiard-room,
which is not given place in many clerical
homes. Mr.. Beecher is fond of 'the gen.
tleman's game" although he is anything
but an expert with the cue. He attended
one OF the exhibitions given in the last
Brunswick u Bake tournament in this
city.
OF course business takes him to Brooklyn
three or four times Il week, except during
the three months of his forced vacation.
During the winter months, and at other
times when in town. Mr.. and Mrs. Beecher
make their home at the residence of their
oldest son. They sold their house on the
heights over Il year ago, partly to relieve
Mrs. Beccher Of household cares and partly
to avoid the expense of keeping mp two
establishments. Last summer Mr.. Beechcr
found some remedy for his hay fever which
relieved him so much that his stay in the
White mountains was shorter than usual,
and he resumed his pulpit labors in Ply
mouth church in September, instead of 0c-
tober, as he had been accustomed to do.
lie hopes to again escape this annoying
disease in great measure this season, and
if he does he will shorten his vacation a
month. His church thinks this consum-
nation devoutly to be wished. There il
really nothing that holds Plymouth church
together but the magnetism and ability of
its eminent pastor. The unfortunate breth-
rem who rattle around in Mr.. Beecher's pull
pit when he is not there need strong nerves
to face without discomposure the beggarly
array Of empty pews before them. The
Lord only knows what will become of Ply.
mouth church when Mr.. Beecher finally
quits the scene.
1t is good deal the same at Talmage's
tabernacle. His audiences are not remark.
able for their careful perusal of newspapers,
and even when he is announced to be
absent for Sunday the church is about as
crowded as ever. Everybody expects to see
Talmage and hasn't even an incidental in.
tention of worshiping his Maker. Then
when stranger arises in the pulpit-like
enough some venerable man whose
white hairs ought to entitle him to re-
spectful hearing-it is positively shocking
to see how the audience, thrce-iourths of it,
bolts for the door as though poor old
parson were something to be afraid of. But
then the crowd gathered to see Talmage in
one of his spectacular acts, and it dosn't
propose to have its stomach turned byany
prosy talk about poor, sinful man.
lChicago Times.