Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-12-25
DR.. TALMAeE AND The eRANks

siles by mail" whether their victim, 1, nus
Wall street, on the stage, in conoroqv =, = ~
the lecture platform, he is equally snra =. -
/ find in the depths of his mail bao so.' y
startling communication proposing n AZ
pose of his surplus wealth and energies 7
a way that is calculated TO make him ~, =
der at the weird possibilities of the bnra~i
brain.
Cranks. like many other things I, :.
economy of nature, have their own NAOMI
seasons AS rule. the letter writing crant
lies dormant during the summer, coeitst
ing possibly some new and thrilling an
prises for the winter campaign. when n.
energies get up steam. This is the Tina y
year when public men find themselves a.
sailed by the erratic fraternity almost DALI
and he is indeed happy individual WIZ
can point to single day that has hes'
wholly free from them
DIR. Talmage has perhaps larger dailv
mail than any other clergyman in ~
country, not even excepting DR.. Div ~
Trinity, who is member of some fiftv Az
ferent benevolent societies. douh,
whether any member of the present
congress, even Speaker Reed who i
famous as a correspondent, can point !.
mountain of letters as high as tbat
which the famous editor-preacher has ~
face every morning after breakfast For
several years his mail came to the pastoral
residence in Brooklyn but its yolpns
threatened TO swamp The premises, and u
he now has it sent to his sanctum in Tha
Christian Herald editorial rooms in III
Bible House, New York, where, with tbs
stern face of martyr TO duty, the dominic
sits down TO it. BY and by smile light
up the gray eyes, and you can tell by tba
grin that gradually spreads over the rug.
ged face that he has struck a crank.
They are funny fellows. some of tbess
crank correspondents Here is man who
writes from Dayton, O., in all seriousness.
'And, dear doctor, had dream, and
in my dream ! saw you approach me with
a check book. 1t was made clear to ma
that the Lord had directed you to assist
me. for ! want to build a barn with a
church attached to il. You may remem.
Der my face, for came to hear you when
you spoke in this neighborhood.
Another writes;
Hearing that the Tabernacle is burned
| hasten to offer You the pastorate Of our
church at an assured salary of $500 a year
They will treat you good here"
This is from a Baltimore woman, who
writes like person of some education:
"And now, doctor. win tell you what
want. | need just 5000 to 20 into busi.
ness am perfectly honest, but cannot
give you any other security than my word
that | will return the money in five years"
A young woman. evidently in adlemma
writes:
Il have told you frankly how things ara
John and me. He visits no longer
Now, Should make the first advances to
bring him back, or must / wait until he
zones back of HIMSELF | will anxiously
wait for your reply"
A mnn in Illinois. who. like many others
las gone crazy on prophecy. writes
please send me by return mail a true
of the beast with the seven
lorns and the triangle on his tail. for
viii not sleep until hear from you It is
il have to wait for, and there is no other
nan in the United States to do it,
An industrious crank correspondent Is
Azariah jackson orion. the associate Of
the other crank who lately
hot and killed young DR.. Arnold in the
'latbush lunatic asylum. Orion writes in
denunciatory strain, and threatens the
God doctor with all the terrors of the pit
Mess something happens TO make the
ritter change his mind meanwhile There
'ere no threats of personal violence, the
was to come for not answering
is letters.
Pictorial letters abound, many OF them
slating to the mysterious prophecies Of
aniel, and suggesting startling elucida-
ons that would make professional proph-
5 turn green with envy God nose don
" best writes one of these wrestles
18th mystery in mental agony.
For Hon. mr.. gladston & hir majisty
Gloria; to the cair of doctor Talmage,'
rites Newport correspondent, incosing
letter in which Washington, Habakkuk
r. Sturgeon, Moses and certain New
'rt reporter are strangely jumbled
her majesty and premier would
I'VE been greatly edited by its perusal A
inadian rises to object to the good doc
RS Characterization of Victoria as
old woman" which he declares
be "a snare of Satan" One of the odd
of all is from a man in Trenton, y. j..
no bitterly denounces Talmage for being
semi Democrat, and Sturgeon for beings
se trader in disguise-facts which he says
has found out through some mysterious
ocess of his own.
Next to the money borrowing cranks
Il those who give advice "under inspira-
m" and otherwise. come the advice seek
correspondents. One Graves an Opin-
/ on a new book. which the writer IA
ly) declares took seven years to write.
you have not time to write me about
you might preach a sermon on it,
; modestly suggests. Another asks
ether it is right TO SO 20 the theatre,
1 If so would you please tell me what
US ought to sees"
\ man in Culpepper county, Va, writes
lsiderately requesting that the doctor
liver, lat his earliest convenience
mon upon the death of his father and
ther, both of whom died many years
}, and who supposedly are resting un-
lily somewhere in the sunny south. He
es date of demise and burial, and fur
hes texts and notices for the clergy
MS inspiration. One of the best Of all
he following from girl of IS:
Papa, dear dn a spiritual sense), want
be married on New Years eve in your
church. and if it is not asking too
ch would like Mr. Spurgeon to marry
| fhfni- with he r.,.t ., f no aorarnDuV