, 1889-02-16

VI SoL hNSerSout OIly ana nODle as most OF
them are, verge upon fanaticism in the sense
that they teach the lovo of mankind to the
exclusion Of Him who so loved man. Tho
colonel robs the poor and sorrowing Of that
which helps them to endure their Ills, a belief
in q better world to como.
Son of a Protestant minister, Robert Inger-
soil early showed special aptitude for the dis
cusion OF theological questions. By the age
10, he had thoroughly studied the Old Tesla
ment, and would reason upon it like a doctor
of divinity. The father in vain drew Roberts
attention to the beauties of tho Bible; the
son could SEQ little In It but absurdities and
Inconsistencies Tho old minister was hoard
to say; at grieves mo to hear my Robbie
talk so, but l declare he is too much for me;
1 cannot answer him"
Who can answer IngersoIlf is q question
often asked Apparently not the ministers
Of the hundreds of different Protestant sects
that flourish in America; not Mr.. Gladstone,
student Of tho Bible and profound reasoner
though he be.
For more than a year, the president of tie
Nineteenth Century club of New York was
trying to get a Protestant minister to break
a lance with this redoubtable agnostic In
HdDAASt DuL NlLlOuL uNhlL NOL ono IelL eQuul
to the task
That which make this man so formidable
Is not so much his eloquence, his quick repair
tee, his sarcasm, his pathos, his humor, 1t Is
above all the life he leads, the example he
sets Of all the domestic virtues. Ono must
have the privilege of knowing him intimately,
OF penetrating into that sanctuary of conju-
gal happiness, his home, before one can form
an idea Of tho respect that he must inspire
even in those who abhor his doctrines His
house Is the homo of tho purest joys; 1t holds
four hearts that beat as ono.
Mr.. lngersoll lives in ono of the handsome
houses on Fifth avenue His family consists
Of his wife and two lovely daughters, Athens
and Venice, as an American whom | met at
Col lngcrsolls used to call them. Indeed
one reminds you of the beautiful creations of
Titan The other seems like n NEUROLOGICAL
vision, n nylnph from the banks of Eryman-
thus As you look at her, while she speaks
to you with her eyes modestly lowered, al
most seeming to apologize for being so lovely,
you involuntarily think of 10 Jcune Ma
lldo" Of Andre Chenier, that last of the
Greek poets, us Edmond About called him
Authors, artists, journalists, members Of
III bllIAALLlb NOIlu OF new 1Ork may be met
Mt tho colonel's charming Sunday evenings.
About II at night, when all but tho intimate
friends Of tho family have left, these latter
draw around their host, and entice him to
talk upon one of his favorite subjects, poetry,
music, or may DO the mistakes Of Moses
while they listen with avidity. Ho knows
his Shakespeare as thoroughly as tho Bible,
only he speaks OF him with far more respect
and admiration. He adores Wagner, whom
he sets oven above Beethoven | mention
this to prove once more that we have oil our
little faults, and that Col Ingersoll, in COM
mon with his fellow mortals, Is not perfect
Between midnight and l In the morning, the
last visitors reluctantly depart On the way
home, you think II all tho witty things that
have becn said, the arrows of satire that
have been shot Mt hypocrisy and humbug,
the e%nnobling Humanitarian opinions that
have been advanced; and though you may
not feel converted, or diverted, or perverted
to lngersollisrn, you arc sure to leave that
house feeling fuller of good will toward all
men, md saying to yourself: "what n de-
llghtful evening | have passedI'
| wAs present one evening at a meeting of
the Nineteenth Century club to hear a dis
cusSion on "The Poetry of the Future" Col.
lngersoll was to have taken part in it, but,
being retained professionally at Washington,
no was obliged to excuse himself ut the
eleventh hour. The president Immediately
telegraphed to a we'll known minister asking
him to take tho colonel's place.
81 distinctly decline to take Col. Ingersol's
place in this world or the next" exclaimed
the recipient of tho telegram as soon as he
had read it The reverend gentleman mover
thelcss took part in the evenings debate, and
when he repeated his repartee to the audi
ence was greeted with hearty laughter and
applause.