Daily globe., 1883-05-13

but charitably adds, II do nevertheless
most heartily believe him to have been
as entirely original in all his pretensions
as any one man that has ever existed. Is
the present age, then, productive of no alb
solute originality? Are our greatest au-
thors but copyists from remote ages, or
absorbers of less remote productions? Is
the human mind then incapable of further
advancement in the prosecution of origin
al ideas? Is it running in a circle, going
back to formerly originated ideas, mod
ernizing and reproducing them? Is then
the originality, the ''vast" learning of the
present day, but q reproduction, an ingeni-
Gus adoption and adaptation of past mental
products? Questions, these, suggestive of
grave speculations.
YESTERDAY moring the GLOBE recorded
the startling fact that Amasa Stone, of
Cleveland Ohio, millionaire, and for
mer railroad magnate, we'll known in all
railroad circles far and near had committed
suicide by shooting himself. The fearful
deed was attributed to Ill health, incapa-
bility of sleeping, superinduced by fnan-
cial perplexitles, caused by immense
losses, perhaps wrecking his colossal for
tune. The GLOBE rightly attributes the
frequency of suicide to a growing laxity of
morals. Ancient philosophers, before the
Christian era, deemed suicide admissible,
holding to the principle that man is at
liberty to part with his life whenever he
deems it eligible to do so. Zeno, the foun-
der of the sect of Stoics; Aristotle, the
younger, of the Peripatetic sect Cato, the
founder of Utica Demosthenes, the Gre
clan orator Brutus, who from remorse for
having participated in the assassination of
Caesar fell upon his own sword, and many
other ancients of renown terminated their
own existence. But the coming in of the
Christian era, brought with it a higher
morality and taught that seif-murder was a
crime. English law treated suicide as a
felony. The punishment inflicted formerly
on suicide, was an ignominious burial in
the highway, at the cross roads and stake
driven through the body, without Chris
tian rites. This gave way at later period
to forfeiture of the estate of the suicide
to the state. This severity has given way
to the idea that it is punishment of liv-
ing friends, rather than of the dead sui
eide. And now suicides have Christian
burial in church-yards, and self-murder
works no confscation of estates. The pre-
vention of suicide, if any prevention can
be devised, it seems must be remitted to
the inculcation of higher morality, for it
is not always the insane and demented
that psrpetrate the horrible act of self-de-
struction.
The Rev. Lyman Abbott, D. D., has pro-
duced book about Henry Ward Beecher
designed as a commemoration of Mr..
Beecher's completion of his SEVENTEEN
year, which occurs next month. This book
will contain extracts from Mr.. Beecher's
characteristic utterances, personal
sketch of Mr. Beecher and chapter of
"reminiscences, and series of twenty-nine
tributes to Mr.. Beecher, by as many noted
clergymen and laymen, with similar trib-
utes extracted from periodicals. But sin
gularly enough, the book makes no allu-
sion to the Tiltou scandal. It is not stated
whether the tributes to Mr. Beecher were
uttered before or after the great accusa-
tion. If before, they are of no value, un-
less reaffirmed by their utterers, since the
great trial. The Rev. B. S. Storrs, D. D.,
on the 25th anniversary of Mr.. Beecher's
Brooklyn pastorate, gave him the highest
praise that language could utter, but after
trio Of Mr
Storrs withdrew his confidence and respect
and of course would not reaffirm his form
er tribute. One who has examined this
forthcoming book writes: $50 far as we
can discover, the work makes not the
slightest allusion to what is al least the
most conspicuous episode in Mr.. Beecher's
history. Of its fidelity, therefore, as a
piece of personal and historical portraiturt'
the reader, whatever his point of view,
can form his own conclusion. No biogra-
pher of Henry Ward Beechcr can afford to
exclude that chapter of his life, no m after
whether he thinks Mr. Beecher's part in it q
dark one or bright" Most unhappily Mr.
Beecher does not stand vindicated before
the world beyond all doubt or cavil, and
any attempt to gloss over by the omis-
sion of any reference to the great and un-
happy episode in his history, can be of no
benefit to the distinguished pastor. ST.
lence in a biographer, on this point, is
equal to fearful, blighting confession.
If he cannot be vindicated, it would be
better to leave his history unwritten.
BUoKBoARD Murray, is the not very sa-
vory appellation now applied to the Rev
w. Fl. II. Murray, of whilom honorable
Adirondack fame, acquired by his bril-
liant description of the wonderful Adiron-
dack Falls. Something over fourteen
years ago he began his career as the attrac-
tive preacher in Park street church, Bos-
ton. He quarreled with his deacons, and
set up religious services on his own ac-
count in Music Hall where, for about two
years he drew large audiences. Then he
became secularized. He dealt largely in
horses, and went into the manufacture of