New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-23
A NEW LIFE OF BEECHER
A FAMILY TRIBUTE TO A GREAT PREACHER
AND ORATOR

This work Is conspicuous for mercantile enter
prise rather than literary quality. There was only
one man who could have written an adequate
biography of Henry Ward Beecher. ms was MI.
Beecher himself. lie alone could have revealed
his inner self and charged with his own eicctnc
vitality tho records and memorials OF his long
and eyentful career He was law unto him.
self, and he alone was competent to supply COM
mentaries on his thoughts and actions Ills IN
tense nature deied translation in the language OF
other men. His work was wrought with flaming
energy from a soul that was always at whlte
heat; and torch that would have illuminated
the secret passages startling vicisstudes ana mani
fold experiences of his career could only nave
been kindled from his own heart What IS lack
ing in this book is that touch Of supreme Vltanty
which made him what he was Passages from
his letters, sermons and speeches scattered over
its pages arc Like smouldering embers covered ana
clogged with litter of platitudc and nlmsy
rhetoric heaped up by clumsy hands. Ii the
autobiography which Mr. Beecher planned during
the last weeks OF his life had been completed the
same embers would have glowed under his breath
into fcrvent heat The contract which he made
with his publishers has been carried out by TWO
members Of his family as profitable business
undertaking. Whoever reads TINS volume
will be painfully impressed with the untimeliness
II.
longer, this biography and subsequent limitations
Of it would have been forestalled
The authors have had the usual experience Of
amateurs in the literary profession who arc en-
boldened to attempt great undertakings. 1hey
found. when it was too late to alter the form OF
the work or to revise the terms of their contract
with the publishers, that they had twice as much
material as they could use 1t was Crusoe's first
boat over again; they could not drag 1t into the
water But instead of beginning anew with
fresh log as he did, they sought to Tighten their
craft onehalf by processes of indiscriminate con-
densation. This method was fatal to any sense OF
literary proportion. Nearly onequarter OF the
work is occupied with chapters on Mr.. Beechers
boyhoOd and education, and one-th1rd OF the al
lotted space is exhausted before the preacher is
fairly placed on the platform Of Plymouth Church.
In consequence Of the undue prominence given
to what is of secondary importance in the record,
his connection with the Abolition movement re-
ceives meagre treatment in three charters and
his patriotic services during the Civil War; apart
from his speeches in England, are brought within
the narrow compass Of a single chapter -Four
chapters devoted to his three European journeys,
two 20 his attitude toward reconstruction after
the War, one to his championship of President
Cleveland, four to the Tilton scandal and its Sc
quels, and six TO his pastoral relations and per-
sonal traits and characteristics. Every principle
of literary proportion is violated in this volume,
in which much that is trivial is magnifed, and
all that is Of commanding importance is sighted
and moderated Mr.. Beecher, who literary
artist as well as o preacher and orator, deserved
something better.
The compilers, apparently conscious of their
own rwness in all the resources Of literary work
manship, prudently strive to impart autobiography
form In IN fhe nv ma
copious use of quotations from Mr.. Beecher's cor
respondence sermons and speeches, and having
recourse to personal "reminiscences Of his droll
and Characteristic sayings. These citations and
anecdotes not without value and interest al
though the effect is often marred by rigorous con-
densation and want of skill in presenting suit
able background for them. Mr.. Beeehcr was one
Of the most sympathetic OF men, and his ordinary
letters were trimming with high spirits, ELUSIVE
sentiment and impusivcness. The public became
Unfortunately familiar thirteen years ago with
gloomy and distracted portion of his correspond
ence in which there was no trace of his lighter
manner. The letters in this volume arc in the
main bright animated and cheerful, dashed off
in sheer exuberancc of health and spirits, and
Illuminated with flashes of humor. A great stock
of family "reminiscences of his boyhood and ministry
in Indiana has been freely drawn upon, his own
miscellaneous writings, especially THE Star
Papers," containing abundant material of this
KIND. In his youth he kept DIARIES which
reproduced in this volume, but more interesting
than these memorials of his callow period are
Mrs Beechcr's recollections of their first
meeting, his aggressive courtshp and their early
married life Mrs. Stoves correspondence with
her brother was sngularly complete during his
earlier years, and there no lack of material in
relation to the opening Of his Brooklyn pastor
afa ha Lo,- hoo,
raised by the profusion Of their resources and
have not only fallen into inexcusable errors
through carelessness, like that of ignoring the
late John r. Towards prominent part in bring
ing Mr.. Beccher from Indianapolis, but have also
shown many signs of bewilderment and confusion
in making their selections. In the earlier part of
their work. where the narrative required the recital
of the simple facts of the preachers childhood,
youthful impressions of nature and society and his
Western apprenticeship in preaching their ncom-
petence and lack OF critical insight and acumen
are less noticeable; but when they undertake to
define his relations TO National issues, like the
Abolition movement and the Union cause. they
make large draft upon the patience and good
nature Of their readers.
The literary blemishes of this work might be
passed over in silence il good TASTE sound judy
ment and tact had been displayed in the treatment
of controversial matters. Mr.. Beecher himself
maintained discreet silence for years respecting
the charges which were made against him by his
bitterest enemies, and he would have deplored the
fatuous and unseemly use made in this biography
of the scandal chapters as means of attracting
attention to the book of reviving prurient curl
osity and of increasing the publishers sales In
their preface the compilers take pains to explain
that they have no revenge to crafty and no
theory maintain, and assert that if parts Of the
narrative bear hardly on any one, it is only the
pressure Of facts, which cannot be suppressed
Their criticism of DR.. Storrs certainly bears the
impress Of personal resentment and aggressive hos
tility; and their narrative Of the conspiracy
against their fathers household does not bear out
their confident assurance: I'VE have tried 10
give Onlv facts onitfino daduc or conclu-