The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-02
INGERsoLL ~ LEISURE.

UgAtGNeN lib OUT "a - e"sAt"ts
New York Sun: The only tine ever
met Colonel Ingsrsoil." remarked .
western newspaper man. now in New
York, was In Cincinnati n 1854 he
was going further west on a lecture
tour, and a couple Of US reporters were
sent down TO md out why he wasn't
doing Republican campaign work on
the stump. We found him at the Bur
nett House, alone. in a big double room
1T was a hot Sunday. about half-past
5 in the afternoon-wIth the windows
open, his coat and vest Oh. and his feet
In big easy slip-ofs. he greeted rs In
his usual genial. sunny, bIg-boy way.
and In response to the question Of the
moment he said: 'Well. I've got more
against the Christian religion than I
have against the Democratic party,
and I'm out lighting IT, and the inter-
view was ended. No other reason being
given. we took up our hats to leave. but
the colonel stood In the way.
Now boys. look here he said. in
his most persuasive voice and manner,
don't 60 OF and leave me. I'm here
by myself with nothing on earth to do
till dress for my lecture. unleSs It Is to
be bothered by callers don't want to
see, and want you to stay and talk to
me. Here are some good cigars
reaching for box OF hne ones on a Ia
ble-'and you can Just sit down and
wen smoke and talk and enjoy our
selves
1--WE weren't looking for that kind Of
a reception from so distinguished a
man and were rather upset by 1t.
WED like to do 1t the best In the
world l said, but wouldn't 1t be i'm
posing on you?
"'Eot bit Of IT, not BIT Of IT, he
said In a tone Of frankest sincerity.
And If you'll only agree to stay by me
I'll lock the door and not another visi-
tor shall be allowed to disturb Us. Is
it bargain"
"It was, of course, and. helping our
selves to the cigars. we proceeded to
make ourselves as comfortable as the
colonel was, and in ave minutes he was
doing all the talking, with dogmatic
Christianity as his subject. That he
talked well there could be no denial.
but q more Illogical argument I never
heard. for, being a believer myself, I
asked the simple questions that are the
most difficult to answer. He hadn't the
opportunity for ridIcule and oratory
that the stage afforded him, and when
he had to come down to plain methods
of question and answer he was lacking
In material. and ran over in my mind
dozen pIous old fellows in my native
village who could have defeated him in
argument at every point. After we had
talked for quite long time I put this
question, the answer to which Will show
how weak he was:
you will admit. colonel said, that
all the representative men and women
Of the world. all who have done the
greatest work for the betterment Of
their fellow beings, all who stand for
the worlds progress, all who are fore
most In the field of the highest human
endeavor. are believers in Christian
ltyT
YES he admitted. most of them
are
That being true. then. how do you
account for Et?'
"well. he replied promptly, Its be-
cause they are all id fools.
"oh,' I said. and the colonel ask
ed me to take another cigar and went
ahead with his talk. After some time
he spoke OF Washington, and told a
story had never heard of about that
great man.
"'I suppose said the colonel with a
twinkle in his baby blue eyes, that you
have heard of George Washington
81 confessed that 1 had.
well, now. there's George he said,
very familiarity. I suppose you think
George was everything lovely. Let me
tell you about him. When the Revolu-
ton was over and the country was try
Ing to get on It's feet. George came to
the front like n noble. self-sacrifclng
patriot and says he to the Continental
Congress: Gentlemen, don't want to
be too hard on you in this business. I
have some means Of my own and can
stand reduction, possibly. better than
my fellow officers OF the army can.
Now you can pay them In full in Con-
tlnentul money for their services. and
as have not yet drawn any pay and
you owe me good deal, will be glad
to scale my bill down to a mere nomi-
nal sum. say $1,000. II you viii pay 1t to
me in gold. That is all ask. gentle
men. at your hands" OF course Con-
gress was pleased TO death at this fur
Their evidence OF the seif-sacrihcing
spirit OF the great patriot and took him
up on the spot, handing over the 5000
without word except expressions Of
gratitude. And how did It turn out7
Why, the other fellows took all OF
theirs In Continental money and It
wasn't any time until George could
have bought all the Continental money
In America for his 5000 In gold and
then had poeketful OF change left
colonel Ingersoll told the story In
his inlnitable way and with an ERNEST
ness that not only made us feel that
possibly the father Of his country had
done the Continental Congress, but he
also made us feel that wonderful pow
er OF the man who could tear down our