The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-09-04
OLD CINCINNATI DAYS.
BY HENRY A. MANNING.


the Stars acquaintance.
1t was in the spring of 1866 when l
entered upon business life in Cincin-
natl, and found my way to the old
Plum Street church. The Star office
was the rendezvous for the visiting
brethren, and being frequent visitor
there myself, l made the acquaint-
ance of good many of our ministers
from nearby parishes, whose people
| met on many occasions during the
next ten years, in the good associa-
ton meetings and profitable State
Conventions of that period.
My thought, however, goes chiefly
to that modest but delightful home
of the Stars editor" "Ingleside,"
overlooking from its height the beau
tiful valley of la belle reUiere, six miles
below the Queen City, where the wei
come was greater than newcomer
could expect, and the hospitality to-
ward all guests seemed larger than
the house.
Such an experience through term
of years is indeed a green spot in the
memory of one who came as stranger
to the city, and there are many friends
there who still recall these delightful
times "In the days of Auld Lang
Syne."
And if this is not getting too per-
sonal, Mr.. Editor, may | acknowledge
that it was there | was first impressed
with the nature of true hospitality? {?
| saw that there was time to enter
tain and time to let guests alone
to neglect them as it were-to let
them roam about at will over the
terraced grounds, or perchance up
into the overfowing library, which,
at Ingleside, was sort of liber eyrie
up in the front gable. I mention
this feature of hospitality because we
all know those who, in the utmost
kindness, are over-solicitous for the
welfare of guests, and are sometimes
said to "visit them to DEATH"
want to mention next what was
really first in my mind when | sat
down to write, the many visits | made
by the invalid chair or at the bed
side of the senior editor and pub
Usher of "The Star" and of the gra-
cious presence and cheerfulness of
that sanity woman who SO blessed
his life, up to its ending here in that
transition which we call death.
Never was a more just or loyal
tribute paid to a wife than that
touching dedication of his great work,
"Rudiments of Theological and
Moral Science"-the rare product of
logical, terse and cogent reasoning
"a noble work, worthy of generous
dedication-a noble woman worthy
such testimonial.
take this book off its shelf now, to
read again this dedic alton, and will
you not allow me to transcribe it
here, in memory of both DIR. and
Mrs. williamson
To My Wife.
who for forty and two years, has,
by her hopeful and cheerful spirit,
strengthened me in every weak
ness, helped me in every difficulty,
conforted me in every sorrow,
cheered me in every moment of des-
pondency, and made home the
dearest place in all the world,
this volume is
Afrectionately Dedicated.
| never knew DIR. Williamson in
the years of health and strength in
dicated by his stalwart form, but |
was glad to meet him in those clos
ing years of his life here; and even
in the suffering of those weary days
l thought could always see the ex.
preston of welcome in his brighten
ing eyes and kindly smile. when
would enter his room.
Somehow another book comes into
my mind now, in connection with
these reflections, perhaps because
written by Rev. A. d. Mayo, then
pastor Of the Unitarian church in
Cincinnati, but quite as much be-
cause have recalled, during the in
teryening years, the significance of
its title, while | have forgotten most
of its contents.
"Graces and Powers of the Chris
tian Life" is the title of the book,
and the thought has been growing
upon me that while we see many of