The morning call., 1891-07-12

the mien of sadness. His pictures are on
every hand, many of them life-size, with
tasteful adornment of scarf, flower or drap-
cry placed on the frames by loyinf hands.
Besides the flowers in the windows that
brighten the rooms there is large cage full
OF singing birds, the dead pastors favorites,
making another point of light in the pleas
ing Interior.
Flowers, birds and adornments are cared
for by Mrs. Beecher's own hands unless
hIndered by indiSpoSition. Early in the
morning her plants are attended to, and
the various duties which she sets herself
carried cut with The pnnctual regularity of
- the model housewife that she is. Over the
cabinet in the front parlar, in which are
kept articles OF table service habitually
used in his lifetime by Mr.. Beecher and
other things strictly personal to him, hang
the pictures OF the twin babies. Alfred and
Arthur. who died in infancy. so deeply
mourned by their father. and for so long
that twenty-Seven years had passed before
he could bring himself to mention their
names ard speak Of them even to their
mother. Pictures of Mr.. Beecher, looking
over smiling viStas Of flowers that surround
them, face from their place in this house
plymouth Church over tie way, and from
her seat at her desk, where her regular
literary work is done, Mrs. Beecher can see
as often as she looks out this famous church
linked with her great husbands fame.
Mrs. Beecher began her trip 10 the Pacific
Coast, about which so much has been writ
ten, on the first day Of April last, and what
a picture she made on the day OF her de-
parture, seated in her own parlor with
every preparation made: all her arrange
mPnts perfected fer the care Of her home
until her return, and she in her neat suit
aole travelling costume, TRANQUILITY wait
Ing the coming OF friends who were TO
accompany her to the train. The tTadi-
tional hurry Of women setting out on
journey; The furry with regard 10 ''the big
parcel, the little parcel and the bandbox,"
so often humorOusly sdescEbsd, had no rep
Tesentation here. There was no excitement
al the b ginning Of the long iaunt from ocean
to ocean, not bit more than there plight
have been in making a visit TO friends few
streets away.
As bride Mrs. Beecher made the first
long Journey from her New England home
with her young husband. nearly ffty-four
years ago. 1t then took two weeks of con-
lnuous travel 10 reach Cincinnati, Ohio
their destinaticn) by stage, steamer, canal
and little bit by rail.
or her last trip she says: 1.-The 1st of
! April we left home for Puget Sound,
y journey Of GOO miles the round trip
fatigqed? No, not at all. How could we
be IN the palatlal cars of these modern days
with every conceivable arrangement for
comfort and ease? AOparlor could provide
more quiet pleasure. We could read, write,
knit, sew and talk, or watch tho wonderful
country through which we we're flying. With
10 household cares TO disturb US, with
no responsibility as to what we should
eat or what We should drink, simply to
walk through our car to the dining-roo {;
with exceedingly courteous conductors.
with table generously supplied with ex-
celent foOd, and served by the best of we'll
trained walters, what more could any one
desire? And so without fatigue. as easy
ana comfortable as if in our own parior
we passed through this grand country,
WIN every variety OF scenery and novelty
Green fields and trees white with bios
soms-in April-oyerlooked by mountains
wrapped in perpetual snow, until we
reached Tacoma, and the next morning
took boat only a few hours distant, having
Travelled $3.50 rifles in six days!
How often during this ride we contrast
ed this journey with that long and dreary
one, so full of discomfort, which We made a
half century ago.
If could take you to the window in
Port Townsend, overlooking Puget Sound.
where L so often stood just as DAYLIGHT be-
gan to chase the mist away, and have you
watch the first rays of the sunlight; see it
slowly creeping Up Mount Rainier, the
Olympic Range, until the full glory uf the
slSlnG sun had flooded those grand noun
tainS from the base to the highest peak
An! 1t was as if the windows of heaven
had opened and poured its golden light over
their snowy crests. Can any Alpine glories
compare with such morning visions? do
not know have never seen them But | do
thank God for what have seen and known
Of this, my native landp'
The journey undertaken by Mrs. Beecher.
this time to the Pacific Coast, was for the
purpose of paying a visit to her youngest
child (her baby boy, Captain Herbert f.
Beecher, and his family, who are residents
of Port Townsend, and whom for seven
years she has not seen until now.
Meantime the Statue of the iilustrious
preacher, to the cost OF which 10000
people. irrespective of creed, contributed,
and to which many times $1,000 more Won Id
consider il privilege to contribute, were
it necessary, was unveiled in City Hall Park
Brooklyn, on the anniversary of his birth.