The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-07

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While the colonel may be cynical in the
field of politics and skeptioal in the field of
happiness of those about him he is anything
but that. When he lived in Washington
he kept an open house. His hospitality was
OF the most genial western west. He found
this hospitality most tremendously abused.
The tribes of crank who flourish in WASH
inRton swarmed into his house until he was
obliged to practically shut it up to guard
himself against the horde of crack Drained
visitors. One night, during one of his un-
day evening receptions, Dr.. Mary Walker
came to the door and insisted on coming
in. The servant did not know what to do.
Or. Mary was dressed in q full salt of broad
cloth and carried a high hat. The colonel
came himself to settle the difficulty. He
said to DR.. Walker: "Inever yet have closed
my door in the face of any human being,
and do not say that my doors now close in
your face. Dressed as you are you cannot
come in here. If you care to come back in
the habiliments of you sex you are vel
come" Il is needless to say the doctor
went away angry.
1t is in the household that tho colonel is
seen at his very best. His wife is as keenly
interested in life and in the mental ocoupa-
tions of her husband az he can be. The at
mos. here OF the house Is the happiest con-
IA EsA VI l. IU.O0 0V0Iy-
where. The colonel is devoted to his fam
lily, and his life is as pure and as clean on
the private side as the most severely critic
could demand.
Ono day in Washington n lady called ut
the coloners house for the purpose of con-
vertinR him to the cause Of religion. she
represented some missionary society. She
came into tho hall Of the house trembling
at her own audacity in invadinQ the house.
hold OF this great free hinker. The colonel
was called and she explained. with t,smb-
ling voice, the object Of her visit. She ex-
pected to be overwhelmed with rude and
sarcastic laughter. but sho met only the po-
lite and smiling good nature Of the colonel.
He said: Il feel complimented, bat
lots not make the matter too serious. Pm
just going out to dinner. Won't you come
out and dine with us. and you may have an
opportunity there Of saying what you want
troduced the lady to tho Inpersoll family,
who were prepared for everything always,
and who showed nothing but cordially to
the missionary. who WAS n real lady, and
who came there animated by a high pur-
pose. This lady came to the Ingersoll house
and made several attempts to convince the
colonel of the error Of his ways. Ii tho
end she was 10 affected 10y the atmosphere
OF kindness and content in the house that
she came to the colonel at last and begged
his pardon for attempting to convert him,
saying tnht sue DelleveO that no was in
practice a much better Christian than she,
One Of the strongest and best things that
l have witnessed in the colonies career CO.
Cured at a supper given By an uptown club
in New York several years ago. Around the
table there were gathered actors, authors,
newspaper men, dramatic writer's and club
men. Colonel Ineersoll was one OF the
honored guests Of the club. 1t was the
habit OF this club at the dinners thus given
to have = special subject for discussion.
This night the subject was. "Is Marriage a
Failure?" Ihe tone of the talk was coIn-
monplacs. vulgar. inane, almost idiotic.
One guest after another made some COM
monplsce attempt to be witty at the OK
pense Of tho institution of marriage, In
the midst Of this talk the colonel's turn
came, and | have never seen Il moro tri-
umphant display OF the influence Of seri-
Gus and dignified treatment OF what In the
most serious and dignified thing in life. |,
was like Il cool wind displaoinR an atmos
phsrs OF malaria. The colonel with \ b. ust
of his hand waved aside tho idle talk of thu
moment and said that the man who SAWS this,
marriage In n failure has never stood viii
his hand locked in tho loyal grasp OF a Wit.
and mother at the side of n child's grave.
The tribute which followed TO mn,rings, Il
love and its duties WAS so eloquent, so CON
vincinR and so touching that there wa,
hardly Il dry eye In the room when he fin
ished. His speech put an end to ths. dis
c%nssion. Tho colonel ~ by nature a loya
enthusiast. He IN a firm friend. and does
not understand friendship cloudsd by Dor
sonal interest. His devotion to his family