The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-14
THE LATE CHARLES READE.
Causes of the NOvelists Death--ReIisious
Views of the Dead Man.

views OF the Dead Man.
LONDON, April 12.-The details of the death
of Mr. Charles Reade which have been made
public, declared the fact that he had been suffer
ing intensely for several months. The maladies
with which he was afflicted were emphysema
and enlargement of the liver From the first
diagnosis by Sir Joseph Fayrer, physician to the
Duke of Edinburgh, and Drs. Wilkes and Chap
man, there has been only faint hope of his re-
covery. Hence, his relatives a month ago urged
his return from Cannes, so that his death might
happen in England From a state of acute suf-
fering he passed, on Sunday last to d comatose
condition. from which he never recovered. Dur
ing the early part of his illness he was in the
fullest enjoyment of his faculties, and he had re-
Gently undertaken to contribute a series of tales
to Harpers Magazine. which We're to be followed
by studies of Biblical personages These last
were unique in conception, is shown by the
preliminary sketch of some of them which he
had prepared. The last words from his pen will
first appear i'll America.
Mr. Reade's mood of late years has been gen
tier than of old. He did not indulge so freely in
invective, and when attacked did not reply with
that sledgehammer force that used to distinguish
him. A newspaper report had it that he had
been converted from ratiOnalism to an active be-
lief in the doctrines of the Congregational
Church. The Rev. DR. Stanton. of London, was
the gentleman who hrSt gave publicity to the
statement Mr. Reade, in the following inter-
esting letter to his friend, Mr. Joseph Hatton
not only deals with the question of his religious
belief, but also explains an incident in his life
which has frequently been misrepresented
10 9ALBERr GATE, juno Il, 1888.
MY Dear Hatton-I shall indeed be grateful If you
will assist to correct just two of Dr. Stantons
rors. that wound me cruelty and can edify nobody.
"First-That during the lifetime OF Mrs. Seymour
held rationalistic views. and perverted my darling
: wa he 1plp
stands the cause OF my renorse after her death.
"Second-That in spite OF this, Mr.. Graham was
able to she did not die without Christian
hope
Il. WAS instructed in the Christian verities from
my cradle by my dear mother, who saint and
deepy-read theologian. | have declared my faith in
my books many times aud, in the face of that public
lous in itself and the base of another calumny; for
my deceased friend, although less instructed was
firm believer. She oted the gospel more than She
talked it; but she could speak too remember once
when skeptical opinions inooted before her
she said with certain majesty and power which she
could command ON uncommon occasions: And what
! they give the world for the glorious hope they
would rob it Off
These were her words to the letter.
-. Mrs. Seymour and We're old people, You know.
During the nineteen years | lived in the house
with her she led innocent life selfdenyng life,
and singularly charitable life In the exercise of this
grace there scarcely Scripture precept She did
all Gods creatures; she took the stranger
into her house for months; she cared for
the orphans; She visited and nursed the sick; size
eomtOrted the afflicted in miud she relieved the poor
in various classes of life constantly hiding her bounty
from others and sometimes from its very objects.