The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-03-25

TaImage, one must see and meet him in
his home, surrounded by his family.
In the pulpit or on the lecture-platform
he is the preacher or speaker, conscious
that his words are transmitted to the
farthest ends of the world, but when at
home, he is without restraint, and you
see only the man as he is.
The Ialmage house is located in one
of the most desirable and fashionable
parts of Brooklyn "a large, four-story
brown.stone front, with cupola that is
often the resort of the famous pastor.
The parIors and other rooms are lux
uriousIy furnished, costly brio -G-brac
and souvenirs of foreign travel filling
every conceivable spot on mantel, floor
and tables. Two large drawing rooms
occupy the first story, and in the rear
room casual visitors are admitted. A
bust of the preacher accosts you as you
enter, and directly opposite this is a
large crayon throwing forth the face so
familiar to thousands in every part of
the land. The sitting-room, where DR..
Talmsge often spends quiet hour with
his family, is in the rear of the second
story. This is practically Mrs. Tai
IMAGES room, which she uses almost
continually.
THE PREACHERS STUDY.
The most interesting room, however,
is the pre- acher's study, where all his
literary work is done, and where the
sermons that are printed all over the
world find their birth. 1t is comfort
ably-sized apartment-the rear room
on the fourth story of the house. 40
ordinary Office uesk, a sofa, consider
ably worn, dictionary stand, aud
three chairs. constitute the furniture of
the room. With Talmage, this is a
sacred room, and rarely does ne allow
any one to enter it. Not even the ser
wants are expected to cross its thresh-
hold, and such busting as is necessary
is done with a feather buster in the
hands of the preachers wife. Library
shelves are ranged on each side the
room. and between the DOORS. 1t is not
a snowy array of books that are ar
rayed on these shelves; ancient-looking
works often handled predominant, and,
in every sense, is it library for use and
one that's doubtless frequently referred
to. Talmage's library consists, prooa-
bly,, of between two and three thou
sand volumes. His favorite author is
Ruskin, and he has probably read
twice aud three times over everything
the great Eaglsh cricic has written.
On the chairs, and in the corners OF the
room are piles Of newspapers and
printed pamphlets. On one chair is a
heap of manuscript. sermons. and
lectures-not remarkable for their ap-
pearance, for the great preacher is not
great rs a pelman. The room has
three windows. the one on The side of
the house looking out Upon beautiful
park, being the favorite one, at which
the pastor often sits and reads. An
ink stand that looks as if it would fall
apart were the clotted ink upon its sur
face removed, scraps of paper, few
ink-bespattered pen-holdeTs, small
pieces of bloUtlng-paper, rest on the
desk, while banked up on either side are
mountains of letters and papers.
Books of reference lie on open drawers
and on the floor. Every drawer is
stuffed fall with papers, as if they were
tossed in hurriediy, yet in all their
chaos every paper has its place. Tidi-
ness does not prevail; everything is
placed where its owner can readily find
it. is, withal, typical literary den,
characteristic of the occupant.
DAILY LIFE AND HABITS.
Four days of the week, the preacher
is away from home on lecturing tours
or professional duties. When at home,
he is an early riser, and generally is the
first astir. Six o'clock generally finds
DR.. TalmaCe around and about. He
goes directly downstairs, and glances
over the morning papers. He scans
over the principal headings, reading
what is most eventful, and skips ali
minor news. The cable dispatches are
always read first. editorials next, and
then domestic news. If leisure allows,
general articles are read. Talmage is a
hearty eater, but his breakfast is light,
and generally consists of some farina-
Ceous dish, milk, toast and fruit. Tea
and coffee he strictly avoids. After
breakfast, he goes through his mail.
More often, however, this is looked over |
by Mrs. Talmage, and such letters as
she thinks will interest him are handed |
over. Meanwhile, the preacher goes |
through his newspaper mail. The |
principal papers of every city are sent !
him, and the first morning mail gener-
ally brings fifty or more. In these he |
finds keen interest. and no public man |
is better informed of the names and |
character of the newspapers all over the |
country than DR.. Talmage. Every |
other paper received during the first |
DAYS OF the week has bis printed ser |
mon. The preacher has grown accus-
toned to newspaper criticism, yet he |
reads all articles that concern him or |
his work with care and attention. Car |
feature of himself smuses him, and a |
hearty laugh greets each as he meets |
them in the papers. He is rarely of |
Tended. and he harb2rs not the slight |
est i'll feeling toward photographers who |
continually poke fun at him. THAT |
fellow has written some verv witty !
things about my mouth, he exclaimed |
one morning to me as he encountered |
a photographic shaft on the "largeness !
of Talmage's mouth" "He is really |
clever at it," said the preacher, and the |
thought of offence apparently never
entered his mind. Part of the morn