The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-07


The colonel is profound student of
Shakespeare. A bust of Shakespeare
always occupies most important placein
his household. A copy of one of the first
editions of Shakespeare occupies as proml-
nent a position in his house as does the
Bible in most houses. He is beautiful
reader and his home readings of the great
poet have been so admired by critics that
the colonel has been repeatedly invited to
give series of dramatic readings 1t is
possible that some of his future lectures
will be upon Shakespearean subjects.
The colonel is great believer in a man
having sincere convictions. Some time
ago would-be lecturer called upon him
for advice as to how he should succeed in
the lecture field. The colonel asked him
If he had any special subject in hand. The
visitor replied no: he had come to the
colonel for a subject. The latter replied
that the only advice he had to give to any
man before going into any held of litera-
ture or the like would be, first, to have
something to say; second. to believe what
he said sincerely; and, third, to say it in
as simple manner as possible.
The colonel has made. perhaps. the
greatest number of admirers and the few
est enemies in his lectures upon The
Family" His lecture on The Liberty of
Man, Woman and Child" has had, per-
haps. the widest circulation of any of his
writings. A friend of the colonel related
an incident which is suggested by the
topic of this lecture. He said that he and
the colonel We're once walking through
the Union railway station at Plttsburg 10
change train. On their way through the
station they met man and his family
coming in the opposite direction. The
man had his hands in his pockets and las
smoking comfortable cigar very much at
his ease. Behind him came his wife, car
rx-Tn hai,, snh1 81
dies, and With second child dragging at
her skirts. The man caught sight of Col
onel Ingersoll, and then darted back and
took up one of the children and all the
bundles. His wife then turned and
stopped Colonel Ingersoll, She
said: Colonel IngersolI l want
to thank you for your lecture on
husband was very much impressed by it,
and he is trying to do his best to be
thoughtful. Your presence here in this
station just suggested to HIM this division
of labor which he has just assumed" The
colonel smiled and passed on. 1t was of
the many thousand and one incidents in
his iife-the coming in contact with peo-
pie who like his humanity, his gentle dis
position and his thoughtful regard for
others. He has a passionate desire for
every one to be comfortable, contented.
have heard him say over and over again ::
Every one has right to be happy, and
he is swindled out of his rights when he is
unhappy"
think that much of his hatred of re-
Egious forms and orthodox methods
comes from an ultra Puritanical training
given him by his Vermont ancestors. He
is natural born rebel against pre-
scribed methods for doing anything I'M
less those methods appeal to his common
sense. He is an extreme believer in
equal rights, and as freely accords the
right of criticism to the clergymen who
oppose his views as he does in return de-
mand on his own part the privilege of
criticising them. 1t is one of his lines of
thought that if religion is strong it cannot
be weakened by criticism.
He does not believe in the Parkhurst
system of reforming society. / shall not
quote any of his language on the subject,
because he is rather averse to criticising
clergymen to the public, upon the theory
that his view of this class is considered by
many prejudiced. He considers, however.
Parkhurst's method q wrong one, that has
done more to poison the minds of the
youth throughout the country than any
one thing that has occurred during the
century. The name of Parkhurst is as
ISOLATED in the minds of nearly every one
more with what was sought to be destroyed
than by the purpose which is supposed to
The colonel is nearly always at work
He possesses monumental industry and
an extraordinary capacity for mastering a
case. His mind works with lightning like
rapidity. He seems to see all around and
through question at the same time. He
cuts short long-winded clients by antici-
pating in the briefest possible moment
patient with those who seek to waste his
time. He is wide reader of the best liter
allure of this country and OF Europe, and
is today student.
His powers of satire coupled with
colder disposition would make him very
unpopular, but his satire is shaded by a
kindly humOr that sottens the shaft. He
has such keen appreciation of the ludi-
crous, such hatred of posing, that he
soon brings opposing counsel who are
anything but simple and natural down to
this earth. One day he was arguing a case
in Chicago against very pompous attor-
ney, who from the time he entered the court
room until he left it always played along
the line of prescribed part. He never
made a natural move. In the course of his
argument before the jury the Chicago law
yer laid out With great show of theatrical
display fifteen sheets of paper in a row.
Upon each sheet of paper was massive
point which he argued for the jury, then
formally laid the sheet aside. As he pro-
crossed down this row OF points laid out
in this elaborate fashion the colonel, who
was then much younger than he is now,
was seized with wicked idea He pos
sessed himself of fifteen sheets of blank
paper. and when it came his turn 10
answer the tifteen-point lawyer he walked
up TO the table in front of the jury, laid
out his fifteen blank sheets with as great a
solemnity and as much preparation as
his opponent had employed. Now"
said the colonel II will address
myself to the fifteen points made by
the learned counsel who preceded me"
He then picked up the first sheet, which
was blank He addressed his remarks to
the point contained thereon. which was
Just nothing at all. He went through with
the fifteen sheets III this same way, call
ing the attc:1s.on of the foreman of the
Jury gravely to each blank sheet of paper
This witty fashion of saying to the jury
that counsel who preceded him had said
nothing which had any real bearing on
the case was SO effective that il convuIsed
every one and carried the case without
any real serious argument.
Colonel Ingersoll is very proud. high
spirited, kind-hearted man. He loves the
beautiful things of life. For music, for
art. for literature, he Is an enthusiast. He
is always ready to help a beginner in any
walk in life which leads upward. He is
always finding some person of talent and
genius His introductions and his help
have contributed to the success of many