The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-10

free access to the wine cellar of the city for
the space of one year. Drinking seems to have
! been popular and pleasing pastime in those
days for soon after Luther was presented by
| the city with several casks of beer, and the
university gave him large silver tankard
| plated with gold on the outside and inside
and weighing over five pounds. Luther's
marriage appears to have been happy one,
though women, at that period, were not
looked at from such sentimental point of
view as they are at present. Husbands were
not only in name, but in fact, lords and
masters in their house, and though they were
not necessarily harsh to their better halves,
it is not probable, from the accounts we have,
| that they INDUCED in many outward displays
! OF affection. Mrs Luther was proud of her
husband because he was a great man, and
the Reformer was fond of his wife because
she was good housekeeper, pious, domestic
and obedient. Luther was rather IMPROVE
dent in pecuniary matters. He gave away q
great deal to the poor, assisted needy rea-
tions and was fond of entertaining company
at his house. He would run into debt, and
writes how he pawned three goblets to raise
little money for temporary use His wife,
on the contrary, was frugal and economical
and doubtless the family would have been
reduced to almost starvation had it not been
Tor her gooC management. A student, who
had finished his course of study and was
about to leave Wittenberg penniless came to
had no money, and his wife, who was pres
ent, was equally destitute Luther EXPRESSED
his regret that he was unable to render him
any assistance. The young man was about
sadly taking his leave when Luther's eve fell
on a silver goblet, which he had received as
a present from state official He looked at
ms wife 1nquiringy, and she returned a look
which meant no" He however took the
costly gift and gave it to the student The
latter refused it, and Mrs. Luther seized the
opportunity OF interposing another signifi-
can't look. Luther said: II have no need of
silver cups; take it to the goldsmith and get
what you can for it and retain the money"
Their living was simple, Luther frequently
eating nothing during the day but bread and
salt, though his favorte dishes were pea
soup and herring. He loved to be at home,
or when he Journeyed to have his wife ac-
company him. Sometimes she assisted him
In answering his letters, but when he wrote
imp ortant works he loved to be by himself,
one time locking himself in the room for
three days and nights and living on bread
and salt. Once week he had musical en-
tertalnment st his house, when instrumental
and vocal selections were given and Christ
mas was always kept up with great gayetv.
Luther himself was an excellent singer, and
composed music for several of his hymns
AS preacher, Luther was powerful and
eloquent, and his discourses were always
listened to by large audiences. He had a
manly form, piercing, fiery eve, a pene-
trating voice, a clear style. great practical
sense an eye for the beautiful and the abili-
ty to draw poetical Illustrations from life
and nature.
He preached his last sermon from Matthew
XII % 30, and closed by saying: This, and
much more may be said from the passage.
but am too weak, and here we will stop"
He died on the 18th of January, 1876 be-
tween and o'clock in the morning at the
age OF sixty-two years, three months and
eight days. He was laid out upon bed till
lead coffin could be cast, and two painters
We're employed to take his likeness. He suf-
fered much before death came, prayed fire.
quently, often commencing his soul to God,
the last words he uttered having been !
threefold repetition of this sentence:
Father, into Thy hands do l commend my
spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, Thou faithful |
God - -