The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-06-22
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
How the Great Preacher hooks
What Does he do With His

New Yorx Letter in Hartford Times.
One of the sights that int lligent PEG.
pie want to see, when they come to New
York, is Henry Ward Beecher. Take
him all in all; Mr.. Beecher is probably
as remarkable and interesting person
as there is to-day in America. No pul.
pit preacher, certainly, has steadier or
more copious supply Of original and
striking ideas; no other one is half so
receptive-half so, what shall! say, in
tuitive9 He perceives realities, ahead
of his generation, by a kind of clairvoy-
ant provision. or sympathetic influx.
Say what his enemies may about him
now, MIR. Beecher's name will be more
prominent fifty years hence, among the
men Of his time, than that of any other
preacher, or of any one of those who
now, in some of the newspapers, violent
ly censure him. He is man of broad.
er views, he sees the march of coming
events more clearly, than his contem.
poraries in tho theological feld-or any
other field, for that matter. It is a
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 t. talk.
have said many visitors to New York
want to see Mr.. Beecher. But Mr.,
Beecher is not like Stewards statue of
the city hall, to be seen at any and all
times, by anybody and everybody who
cared to look at him. He lives in Brook
llyn--where,, also, he preaches-and he
isn't over here every day, even now
Sipco ho con no,oo on tho 1,;r, l,r;J,,o
saw him few DAYS ago; he has grown
older, of course, than he was in the
days of the Tilton scandal. and his some
what gray and very decidedly thinned
locks hang loosely and half curling over
his coat collar, showing the work of time.
But he still wears, tipped back on his
head: that soft Old SLOUGH hat che could
not wear any other; he would look ri
diculous in "beavcr," an upright, an
gular 'sstovepipe of the fashion; he
would feel restrained of his freedom,
and altogether i'll at ease in it) and
under the comfortable brim, so carelessly
turned up, or knocked in differently
backward, that bold, rudy, sturdy
face looks good-natureuly out,
with that honest scrutinizing glance for
which those bold, intelligent eyes seem
so we'll adapted. How curiously, by the
way, those eyes of his are placed. 1t is
the very opposite the oblioue line of
John Chinaman; the outward corners 90
down-not up. And there is a world Of
trimming fun and humor in the express
sion. It is the look of a man who is
entirely at ease Zone would say with
himself and the world-the future world
included-and feeling altogether comfort
able. This mans stomach is evi IDENTITY q
good one: it would grind up tenpenay
nali--lt 1t can't digest the Westminster
"a Gatech!sm: Beecher EN- Joys his dinner.
There is withal a certain beefy heaviness
and coarseness in that rather fat red face
that bespeaks a strong animal nature as
we'll Us keen mental (shall I say spirit
tual?)faculty. Altogether he is remark
able man, His sermons will bear read
ing-and will be read, too-a generation
hence. Can as much be said Of the SER
mons of other preachers hereabouts?
One thing puzzles me. What does
MIR. Beecher do with his money? Does
he save it? He ought to be getting rich.
His salary at Plymouth church is $2O. 900.
In addition he must receive at least S.
600 from his lectures. Then he is said
to own a newspaper interest in the
Christian Union, which. must bring him
in something, and he OWES copyrights
which yield him something .nore-to
say nothing of all the marriage fees and
presents he receives. Altogether he
must be getting nearly $4,000 a year.
He is known to be careless in fin ancial
matters. He buys things he does not
need-he gives away a considerable
amount in charity-(and he is bored to
death by all sorts of fools and humbugs
asking for help)-and he lives fairly
well. But he is said to have no money
on hand. His wife is prudent, saving
woman; good housekeeper, it is said;
and it is understood she has the purse
strings at times. A case that has hap
pened not long ago will illu 4trate Bee
cher's readiness to make purchases. It
was at shop Were there was big
book of plates picturing Egyptian scenrs
and objects of interest. The great
preacher took passing interest in it.
'"How much is it?'' "The price is $3.50"
A pause. THAT is large price. WE'LL"
drawing full breath, 'it is only one
more lecture; I'll take it," He didn't
need it. more than a dog wants two
tails.