The evening times., 1895-10-31
some ORAfoRlCAL Giants
One Veteran, Who Does not Lag Superda-
pus, Gives Valuable "reminiscences.
Beecher Extemporized or Spoke
from Notes, Talmaze and Storrs
Prepare More Carefully.

A very intelligent critic said to me last
night in the Waldorf, "Beecher. Sturrs aud
Talnage sto,d at the head of cXtefnpo-
raneous preachers" tn which 1 replied:
..Beecher yes; the others, no."
For years 1 reported Beecher's sermons
for the New York Times, and lie invariably
handed me his manuscript. His habit was
to 60 to his study after good break
fast Sunday morning, and, having selected
a tonic put down a series vi heads, suodl-
yjdiug them, with notes of scriptural ref
erences Now and then be would have
sentence or two written in full. His Illus
trations were simply suggested BY word
or a line.
1 have known him at times to have two or
three old-iashiuned letter sheets filled with
introduction OF argument, written IN q
large flowing hand. That's all very weil
SO 1ar as it went along the line of prepara-
ton, but don't believe it was once in iifty
times he ever got beyond the first head
in its entirety, and generally only to the
first subhead, Under the inspiration of
the moment, argument suggesting argu-
ment illustration blossoming into fur-
ther illustration, his time would be FUZZY
occupjed, and the remainder was liter
ally left undone.
III seems Iu HIT d Stitti u bENNbSi o
genius was the marvellous fitness ana PIC
turesoue effect OF his illustrations, sone-
times prethought. but ordinarily the out
work of the Imagination of The momeut.
wonderfully affected was he himself. mar
yelousIy Impressed was he himself, by
bis word pictures, children of his poetic
nature. Some years before bis death,
while waiting for Tha hanksgiving dinner, he
threw himself at length to rest ON au old
in fhp hnn ,f m
fathers house.
THAT was q curious mistake you made
this morning." said /. You pictured
Liberty sitting regnant in the skies with
diamond scepter in her hands. or course
YOU meant a diamond pointed scepter."
Quick as q flash he raised himself on one
elbow, and with fiery impetus replied: mon
sense, guessI know what saw. Ii was
diamond scepter."
Shortly after the assault upon Charles
Sumner in the Senate in 1856 a meeting of
protest against the outrage was held in the
Broadway Tabernacle in this city 1t was
desired, to have It entirely in the hands OF
the conservative element, so that it might
be more effective. Indeed. its character
may be understood when it is recalled that
the chief participants in its procedure were
William NJ. Evarts, Daniel Lord. ir.-so-
called for distinguishing purposes-and John
Van Buren,.
Mr.. Beecher had been here but few
years, and had never heard any of our
Eastern orators. At the dinner table of a
friend it was proposed that they should go
to the tabernacle and hear the speakers.
The audience-room was packed, and II was
with great difficulty the party got in at a n.
Among the reporters present were Ned Tn
tlerhill and Theodore Tilion.
It suggested to them it would be good
idea for us TO call out Beccher. This.
toward the close of The meeting we did.
wterrupon Mr.. Evarts. who wasn't as fond
of Beecher then as be was later ON. ad-
vanced to the front of the platform and 81 id:
'.Wc would be very glad. Indeed. to hear
from the eloquent preacher from BROOKLYN,
but, unfortunately. he is out OF town."
and then dismissed the meeting.
The calls for Beecher were kept up. how