The Indianapolis journal., 1888-07-22

How the Widow of the Great Preacher Lives
Her Income.


How the Widow of the Great Preacher Lives
Her Income.
Mrs Henry Ward Beecher has changed little
since the death Of her husband, though she IL
now seventy-six years old. At present she 10
living At the ST. George Hotel, in Orange street.
IN Brooklyn, where she moved after giving up
her fat in May, but she il soon TO go to her
daughters. Mrs. Scovirs, at Stamford, Conn.
After visit there she is going to Ithaca to
make visit TO the family OF Henry w. Sage.
old friends and former Plymouth Church people
The Beecher house at Peekskill remains unoc-
cupisd. and Mrs. Beecher goes there only occa-
sionally- Several weeks ago she Invited the
sewing society Of the church TO go for days
picnic there. and twenty two ladies enjoyed her
hospitality OF that occasion. The house is part
ly dismantled, many OF the household effects
having been removed and divided among the
children, so that il could not be occupied with
out addition to its belongings 1t Is
said that Mrs. Beecher greatly desired to spend
the summer there. but her sons opposed it. No
purchaser has appeared. and as none Of the sons
OF Mr. Beechef feels able to support so large
establishment, the beautiful place is closed and
fast showing signs Of neglect Mrs. Beecher
makes occasiona. visits to il to have il aired and
swept but it Is for the most part closed and
barred against intruders. The fine place Of
Moses S. Beach. adjoining, shows in sharp con-
trast with the Beecher house, with its flowers
aud well-kept lawn The Beach family live for
the most part at their country place. though
they own the brown-stone house on Columbia
Heights adjoining the former home OF the
Beechers.
On Friday last Miss Rose Elizabeth Cleveland
visited the Beecher place In company with Mrs.
Beecher. and went on in the afternoon TO her
country home near Utica Miss Cleveland had
long desired TO see the mnch-talked Of place,
and she greatly enjoyed the visit Mrs Beecher
rsturned to Brooklyn. where she will remain
until next week.
A Brooklyn real estate agent has an order
from MIRA Beecner TO find for her q suitable
house in Brooklyn. in which she will reside next
wiater. She will not board at . hotel. finding it
distasteful, and the experience in q fat was not
pleasant As a matter of fact neither q fat nor
the homes OF her Go1s are large enough for her
purposes or her position the widow OF
the late pastor Of Plymouth Church She
has great many callers. and Is con-
stantly being petItioned to identify herself
with charitable and social movements, and her
comfort demands that she should be at the head
OF any house in which she lives While her
children recognize this fact. they oppose her
undertaking the care and responsibility of
house. both on account Of her age and her in
come. The latter, it is said, is considerably
less than fifteen hundred year from Iher hus-
pancs estate, and not enough to support an
establishment such as she would need to have if
ehe Is TO entertain as it is expected she would.
Mfs. Beecher makes money with her pen, but
not nearly so much as formerly, because she is
unaoie 10 90 as mucn writing anu ene mas SO
many younger rivals in her special field, that Of
domestic and household economy.
There is an element in Plymouth Church cir
eles favorable to q provision for Mrs Beecher
which shall take the form of memorial offering.
Many OF her friends among the congregation
agree that it would be pleasing to their feelings
to do some generous thing for Mrs. Beecher, but
the funds OF the society are no larger than the
demands made upon il, and the future income
OF the church is not assured. 1t 10 but just to
the sons of Mrs. Beecher to say that they would
oppose any effort looking TO such an end, it be-
ing their wish that their mother should make
her home with each OF them in turn. This plan
Mrs. Beecher has resolutely opposed the
grounds which she gives as initiating against
her living 10 fiat or at q hotel.
Plymouth would do its utmost to make the
closing years Of Mrs. Beecher's life happy. and
is is not unlikely that by autumn some effort
will be made in her behalf though her svowed
hostility to Mr. Abbott. the successor of Mr..
Beecher, will embarrass the actions of those
who wonld try TO carry out such project. Mrs.
Beecher has q stsnch adherent and advocate in
the Rev. Mr.. HALLIDAY, and 1t is not for mo-
ment doubted that Mr.. Abbott would abet
rather than hinder any plan looking to the
honorine of Mrs. Beecher by all or any part of
the church people.
At present nothing will be done. because the
congregation is scattered. Mr.. Abbott Ia IN
Europe. and MIRA Beseher will soon be 10 the
country for the summer.