Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-22
THEODORE TIuTON'S LIFE
BE is Not Living in Obscure Self
Exile.
Prediction That He VIII Leave to the
World Important Liter
airy Work.


now living in Paris, will yet contribute
proof to the question of Henry Ward
Beecher's guilt or innocence of the charge
brought against him by Tilton in 1876. He
says:
1t was about four years after the close CT
the great trial when the writer was acct
dentally thrown for a few days into init
mate companionship with Mr.. Tilton. FIRE.
quent similar meetings throughout several
years had resulted in a somewhat trustful
acquaintance, and previous to this time GER
tain phases Of the deplorable affair had
been discussed. Upon the occasion referred
to Mr.. Tilton received a mass Of mail that
had been forwarded to him. Among the
many letters was one from Elizabeth Til
ton. The great orator was greatly moved
when he read it, and, holding 1t in his
hand, walked the floor in silence and ap-
parent agony for some time.
Read it," he said, finally, with broken
voice. You have a cool head and sound
Judgment. My mind is like a maelstrom;
don't know what to think of it. must I'M
burden myself. 1 must have advice"
The letter told one of the strangest Of
stories. 1t related how the wife had as the
Wronged husband well knew, been living a
lie during all the years since she had re-
canted her first and true confession; how
she had been led to do so by the agonizine
entreaties of friends of the accused preach
er and of the latter himself she being per-
suaded that her untruth would be best for
the cause of religion and morality; how she
had been brought to view the matter in a.
new light by the advice of an old friend of
the family, who was well known to the hus-
band-an aged Quaker upon whose knees
she had sat when child, and whose pure
life and deep convictions as to the right
and wrong of things made him an almost
lnfallible guide; how he had convinced her
that 1t was her most sacred duty, and
should be her one mission, to tell to the
world the whole truth, as the lie had been
told to the whole world and thus relieve
her own soul and show that her husba nd
was not the traducer not only of the char
acter of Beecher but of her own, as was
still asserted by many
Acting upon this advice, coming from so
nigh and holy source she had determined
10 write confession and give it to the pub
nc press Before doing SO, however, she
desired to know If her purpose would
meet with his (Mr. Tilton's) approval The
letter was in no way emotional. The
writer had suppressed all sign of the agony
she must have suffered 1t was the ex-
preston merely OF one who had been con.
WINGED that her only remaining duty in life
was 10 tell the truth In regard to a tragedy
that had convulsed all Christendom, no
matter what the effect might be-
In the course of the long conversation
that followed the reading of this letter TIL
ton, as though it were his only means of re-
nef from mental suffering, told the story of
INC sSdhodl, uOW ne QdQ Deen at the time
engaged in completing and revising a vol
ume of poems for his publisher; how he
was wrapped up in his work. shut away
TOO much from his family and friends, and
possibly even neglect1ng his wife TO some
extent in his absorption; how, while almost
at the end of his labor, the blow came in
the terrible confession Of his wife; how his
NE seemed to be ended; how he had trust
ed Beecher as father; how much they had
been to each other; how Beecher came and
went at the Tilton residence always as
though he were a beloved member Of the
family; how horribly CHASTITY the revelation
was; now he had determined at one mo-
ment to Kill Beecher by shooting him down
Ike dog, and then saw that this would
be but a poor and inadequate ending of the
matter; how he had been astounded and
dazed by the wife's disavowal of her con-
fess1on. though he very well knew how she
had been led to the step; how she was a re-
ligious enthusiast, full of strange emotions,
and how the man they trusted had per
suaded her that In their case there could
be no moral wrong; concluding the terrible
history with repeated EXPLANATIONS that
fhzapeth was a pure and good woman;
that her blind confidence in her religious
mentor had led her almost unconscionsIv
TO the act, that she was convinced there
was no moral turpitude involved and that
therefore, she was irresponsible and not
morally guilty. Such reasoning NAV ha We
been satisfactory as bit of abstract mill
osophy, but 1t was certainly not enough to
lead the husband to reunion with tho
Wl1e. Inc letter which went to Mrs. Tilton
IN answer to her request for advice was
short and without sentiment 1t simnIv
told her that she must be her own Guide
and that no word could be said that would
influence her one way or the other.
few weeks later the confession was
given to the press, with the reasons why
the first confession had been disayowed, 1t
was a reason too refined for many minds
! as some could not appreciate the exalted
religious sentiment of the woman. Possibly
1t convinced no one.
1t was pretty well understood that a mass
of the most eager champions of the great
preacher would not have permitted them
selves to be convinced even by stronger
proof than any that was adduced. And
some there were also who were not con-
WINGED. though they professed to be wholly
unpretudiced and willing to be sWayed
solely by evidence. This article is not writ
ten to champion any side to the controyer-
sy, but simply to relate occurrences with
out any attempt to color them, and to cor
rect misstatements carelessly made and
which do injustice to the living
1t has been frequently stated within the
lest few weeks that Tilton left America
very soon after the trial. the intirna tton he
Ing that he was discradited and disgraced
and that America was not a pleasant coun-
try for him to abide in. The trial ended in
the spring OF 1915. For years after that TIL
ton Occurred in every part of the country
to immense audiences doubtless the most
popular figure of the rostrum and went
abroad to live only after eight Years had
eidpSeo since the famous court episode In
the early spring Of 1888 he went to London
remained there and at other places in Eng
land, principally at Oxford, during most of
the summer, and then betook himself to
Paris where he has since lived, engaged in
literary work, most of which will doubtless
be posthumous in its appearance before
the public.
There is reason to believe that one of his
legacies to posterity will be an exact his
tory of the famous case with a mass Of
| matter unknown to any but a few and
dwelling upon persons and influences con-
nected with the affair, making I'D a reyela-
ton that may possibly be without a parallel
as comment upon phases Of the strictest
society Of modern times
Upon several visits in Paris the writer
found Mr.. Tilton occupying ideal lodgings
| for poet. in apartments Of the third floor
| of the ancient palace of the Due de Noailles
| situated upon the lower point of the Isle
| st. Louis. its walls washed by the waters Of
| the Seine and overlooking the towers nj
| Notre Dame de Paris Far from being a
| recluse a misanthrope, he was surround
| ed by the most fascinating society TIE
| cream of the American literary COLONY
with a constant accession from the ranks
| Of the Paris litterateurs. his companionshjp
being sought by the most radical of the
poets and dramatists of the most modern
! school, including the most brilliant Of the