Smyrna times., 1899-08-02
DEATH OF COL, INGERSOLL,
DEPICTED AS A CULTIvATOR OF APPLES
OF SODOM,
The New York christian Advocate Tell,
of the Life of this Great
AgnOstic.

In the vicinity of the Dead Sea grows
a large shrub that bears a species of
apple of exquisite greenish-g golden
color, which, glistening in the sun,
sparkles as though filled with moist
ure. But when plucked or pressed by
the weary traveller seeking refresh
ment, it yields only dust and ashes.
Concerning the death of Robert G.
IngersOll, silence on the part of the
Christian Church would have been
seemly; for its belief is that the Lord
will reward every man according to
the deeds in his body. But the peo-
pie are not silent; the press is not
silent; and many strange things are
said by Christians and Agnostics, by
Deists and Theists, by TheosOphists
and Spiritualists. Already several
incompatible types of character have
been portrayed and labeled with his
name.
That he was conspicuous for some
years as a politician, noted as a law
yer, justly celebrated as an orator,
and notorious as an opponent of Chris
tianity, is known of all men although
those of his way of feeling toward re-
ligion would substitute the word fam
Gus for notorious, we have to choose
between this word and the harsher-
Infamous.
Ample opportunity has been afforded
to estimate his mental and moral pc
culiarities and methods. He was an
orator of high rank. Wit, humor,
pathos, energy, rapidity of thought,
susceptibility of being stimulated by
an audience and aroused by an oc.
casiOn; good humor Except when at
tacking Christianity, the talent fol
irony, satire, and caricature,- in fine,
every quality Except that which is
deeper and higher than any of al
these, genuine moral earnestness) was
in his wonderful Oratorical equipment
These gifts were supported by an i'm
posing frame, mobile and expressive
features, and an excellent voice. AS {
local reasoner his legal brethren
thought him not superior to ordinary
practitioners in good standing; indeed
some of them counted him noticeably
weak at that point. In certain case
before the Supreme Court at Washing
ton, after prodigious industry il
preparation, he acquitted himself ad
mirably. These were spoken of as ex
ceptional.
Before the juries no advocate knev
better than he chow to laugh ba,
case out of court" Nor was he abov
saying, 'Why, gentlemen, my oppon
ent wishes to hang my client because
don't agree with him in religionw n
doubt in some cases this was use,
against him. In the famous trial @
Elliot F. Shepard he was pitted agains
perhaps the most dangerous man a
the bar of New York-Mr. John
Parsons-a contrast to Colonel Inge1
soil in every particular; but the shar
spears of his opponents logic cause
Colonel IngersOll oratory to bleed a
every pore; though he tried by all hi
resources of wit to make capital wit
the jury and take advantage of his or
pOnent's references to religion, an
though Mr.. Shepards case was by n
means easy to defend, Colonel Ingel
soil lost the verdict.
No one has ever spoken of him as
philosopher; for never in his speecht
or writings has he exhibited the e
sential capability of that calm, prC
found, unbiased, and protracted r,
Election which views a subject equal
in itself and in its relations.
In reality he was a poet, in spiri
mode of thought, language, an
rhythm-a prose poet, not of the higl
est, but of no mean order. All h
speeches, even the most argument
tive, exhibit this element. An e,
quisite superficial sensibility; gill
ing current of thought spontaneous
NOAhCCbAhE 4loClA llu ltllClbOuS ID
guage, and not subjected to close cri
icism- except with respect to euphor
characterized his spoken style. F
possessed little of that quality of il
agination which enables one to pla
himself at auother's point of view. T
could forecast how a legal oppone
would defend his client and prepare
meet him; for that is part of t
technique of the profession. Only
genius could radically surprise a ski
full lawyer as to the plan. But G,
onel IngersOll appeared to have lit
or no power to form true idea of ht
another would regard complex sy
tenn of thought upon a strictly philC
optical theme.
Speaking one day of cathedrals,
conversation with one of the most d
tinguished scholars and philosophe
at that time fl1inO an evaItad din