The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-13
HENRY WARD BEEcHER.
Il ow the Great Preacher Looks-whnt Does
He Do With Ills Money:

He Do with Ills Money:
New York Letter in Hartford Tines
One of the sights that intelligent people
want to see when they come TO New York is
Henry Ward Beecher. Take him all in ell,
Mr.. Beecher is probably as remarkable and
interesting person as there is to-day in
America. No pulpit preacher, certainly, has
q steadier or more copious supply of original
and striking ideas; no other one is half so
receptive-half so, what shall 1 say,
intUitive? He peIceives realities ahead
of his generation by kind of
clairvoysnt provision, or sympathetic influx.
Say what his enemies may about him now,
Mr.. Beecher's name will be more prominent
fifty years hence, among the men of his
tjHe, than that OF any other preacher, or of
any one OF those who now, in some of the
newspapers, violently censure him. He is a
man of broader views, he sees the march of
&C ming events more clearly, than his con-
tenroraries in the theological field-or any
other field. for that matter. 1t is pleasure
to hear or read his sermons in Plymouth
Church. That immense building is regularly
crowded by an eager and deeply attentive
audience whenever he is to talk.
L have said many visitors TO New York
want TO see Mr.. Beecher. But Mr.. Beecher
is not, like Stewards statue or the City Hall,
to be seen at any and all times, by any and
everybody who cares to look at him. He
lives in Br0oklyn-Sherc, also, he breaches
and be isn't over here every dsv. even now
since he can come on She big bridge. [ saw
HIM few days ago; he has grown older, OF
courte, than he vss IN the days of the Tiiton
scandal, and his somewhat gray and very
decidedly thlnne9 locks hang loosely aud
half curlingly over his coat collar. showing
the work of time. But he still wears
tipped back on HIS head, that soft old
SLOUGH bat Che could not wear any other;
he would look ridiculous in beaver" an
upright, angular 'stovepipe' Of the fashion;
he would feel restrained of his freedom, and
altogether i'll at ease in it)-snd under its
comfortable brim, so carelessly turned up,
or knocked inGilferently backward, that
bold, rudy, sturdy face looks good
naturally out, with that honest scruteniz-
ing glance fer which those bold, intelligent
eyes seem so well adapted. How curiously,
by the way, those eyes of his are placed. IL
Is the very opposite OF the oblique line of
John Chinaman; the outward corners go
aown-not up. And there is e world OF
trimming fun and humor in the expression.
It is the look of man who is
entirely at ease Zone would say with him
self and the world-the future world in
cluded-snd feeling altogether comfortable
This mans stomach is evid entity good one;
it would grind up atenpenpy nail-if it Can't
digest the Westminster Catecbism. Beecher
enjoys his dinner. There is vithal certain
beefy heaviness and coarseness in that rather
fat red face that be peaks strong animal
nature as well ms keen mental (shall say
spiritually faculty Altogether he is re-
marsable man. His sermons will bear read
ing-aDd will be read, too-a generation
hence. Can as much be SAID of the sermons
of other preachers heresbouts,
One thing puzzles me. What does Mr..
Beecher do with his money? Does he save
1t? de ought to be getting rich. His salary
ct Plymouth Church is 1000. In addition
be must receive at least So GOO from bis lee
tRres. Then he is said to own newspaper
interest in the Christian Union which must
bring him in something. and he owns copy
rights which yield him something more-so
say nothing Of all the marriage fees and
presents he receives. Altogether he must be
getting nearly $780, 900 year. He is known
10 be careless in financial matters. He buys
things he does not need-ae gives away
considerable amount in chsrity-{and he is
bored to death by al sorts of fools and hum
bugs ssking for beip)-and be lives fairly
well. But he is said 10 have no money on
hand. His vile is prudent, saving woman;
d good housekeeper, 1t is said, and 1t is I'M
deTstOod that she has the purse strings at
times. A case that happened not long ago
will illustrate Beecher's readiness 10 make
purchases. Ii was in chop where there was
g big beck OF plates picturing Egyptian scenes
and objects OF interest. The great preacher
took passing interest in it. How much is
it?'' "The price is $50" A pause. THAT
is large price. Well" drawing full breath,
Its only one more lecture; III take it," He
didn't need it, more than a dog wants two
tails.