The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-25
MlRNlG Is / failure
80 SAYS TME INV. FLAvlVs BnoDsI
EnoA HIS PRISON CELL
we0an 10 Q Snare-Trfea Matrfmony
- Scientific Lines aaa Got In
Jail-PreeeAer Diseearses Frsa
DeAan1 Dars en the wees % Nan.

~ VERY remarkable arrest Of =
~ naas 70 nj Il. s,sarsss q u. lie han s
N been made in Chicago. The cir
a Ia cumssAnces are pathetic. and the
minister himself presents .
strange compound Of sincerity and self
deception The following from the Chicago
Inter Ocean discIoses the story:
How does popular preacher enjoy jail
life?
"Ah-welI.' said the Rev. Flavius J.
Brohst. former pastor of the Westminster
Presbyterian church. who was trying 1t In
the Cook county bastile. this place is not
unpleasant except that the smells are-ah--
something like the smells on board ship"
This Il all Mr. Brobst complained of. He
expressed . mild wish that other incar-
cerafed gentlemen would not smoke such
strong tobacco Mr.. Brobst Is man who
tried matrimony conscisntious.y and scien-
tifcaIy. he says, and found Ii a failure
so far as am personally concerned" he
explains. He was in jail as a result az
his matrimonial experiment. Mr.. Brohs.
was married In February. lN&. to Mrs.
Julia Allen. In the latter part OF that
summer Mrs. Brohst brought suit for di-
vorce. charging cruel treatment. The Rev.
Mr.. Brobst failed to pay $50 month all
nony and was ordered to Jail last week
by Judge Holdom for contempt OF court.
He was put IN the Cook county Jail, faring
like an ordinary criminal
1T was the tragedy Of my hfe." said
Mr.. Brobst. IL thought understood the
science of II and the scriptural and spirit
ual meaning Of 1t. when I used to perform
the marriage ceremony for other people.
and l always took the groom aside and
said, Young man. you must determine to
make your married life a success You
must subordinate business and politics and
everything to the great problem Of making
your home a success !.
Marriage Was HIS Downfall.
"And then got married. continued Mr..
Brobst scornfully shaking his head. II
brought to bear all my knowledge and SCI
ence and sentiment (for am sentimental
mani upon the question, but pooh. the ship
went down!"
The ship went down, In fact, with such
q thud that the Rev. F'lavius J. Brobst
was put In prison cell for failure to pay
alimony.
A reporter for the Sunday Inter Ocean
visited Mr.. Brobet on Thursday morning.
The former pastor Of Westminster Presby-
terrain church and OF large independent
congregation at the Great Northern thea
ter, was walking up and down the jail
corridors. piacidiy so!iloquizing. He occu-
pies an ordinary little cell. which gives an
occupant about as much leeway as would
a'sma.l-slzed dry goods box. II has a cot
bed, which Mr.. Brobst says ne hopes won't
be 30 hard TO sleep on when he gets used
TO II. He was dressed In a clerical suit
OF black. with spotless collar and white
tie. and neatly polished shoes. lie does not
look like man who would beat his wife
and then advise her to take an overdose
OF opium. as he is charged with doing.
On the contrary. he talks aud acts like
a man who would take a desc OF poison
himself II his lady love requested him 10
do SO. He says that he Is sentimental,
and that Is certainly the way he impresses
people. He is a big. tall. dark man. with
heavy features and mild. rather kindly
expression. He wears his hair long, and
has big. fierce. black mustache.
Philosophical In Adversely.
Apparently he has reached the stage
where he can look back upon his matri-
moniai venture and subsequent troubles al
sort OF panoramic tragedy enacted for
his edification.
II expect to enter upon the most useful
and successful portion OF my career when
I get out Of this" he said. MY life has
been deepened and broadened and my
character mellowed. I can get hold of
crowds great deal more readily than l
Cid"
He said he hoped to arrange for open-air
preaching services OF some kind IN the
city this summer.
THE ministry is my profession" he re-
marked. II am not exactly fitted for any
thing eise-ah. cierkship or anything Of
that sort. have tried. but couldn't get
work. Now, under these circumstances.
how was TO pay $50 month aliusony?
l don't pay because I haven't got II. The
stories circulated about me ruined my pros
poets at time when I was making 80 a
week"
Mr.. Brobst also alleges that his useful
ness as an evangelist II impaired. "You
see" he explained, 'it's this way. When
I go into a town to carry on series OF
meetings the first thing I have to-do is
10 explain all this trouble I've got into.
That distracts the congregation so that
they are thinking about my affairs when
they ought to be thinking about something
else. The same thing has to he gone over
every place I go. and II ruins the MEETINGS.
When l get settled pulpit can explain
once for ali and that will be the end
ofeis.
His story Of the Marriage.
Yes. II Ia ,rue." admits Mr. Brobst,
that we went Ell to Milwaukee and got
married and didn't tell anybody for a good
while. That was no. my idea al at,.
said 10 Mrs Allen: Why there are plenty
of preachers right here In Chicago that
would like TO perform the marriage cere.
mony for me- But. no--she said. Now.
please. p.ease. don't get married In CHI
cage And yielded or course / knew
that We were going 10 get married, ais---
thoroughly. II may say ard In dead earn
est. and I thought Milwaukee would do
just as well a. any pace.
II had met other women, OF course
continued Mr.. Brobss. They were al
alike 20 me. and-and-all nice. but. ahv'
he said renactiveiy she was different
She was the one woman and everything
that was lovely to me-
lis she really a handsome w0man7"
r,s.nriad tbs hari. heartad rafrartar AIsra.