Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-24

right of way" through their desert
Then. in the Jericho valley itself the
few Migrants who spend about four OF
FIVE months about the old ruins OF Jerl-
cho are of the vilest reputation. 'They
have degenerated since the days of Rahab
and her fellow-citizens. 'Tramps would
not find much favor among these bandits
Even the miserable Russian pilgrims go
down to the Jordan in companies, and
few Turkish troops accompany eacn carr
avan DR.. Talmage would hardly have met
an American tramp in such surround
ings.
Then too. a number of travellers accom-
panied Dr. Talmage on his journey.
Among these were one or two newspaper
correspondents. What an agreement OF
liars there must have been that sucn
detailed story as the baptism OF the
tramp could have been manufactures,
and then retailed to an unsuspecting pup
lie. and vet not one of the company should
peach on the matter!
The writer had the good fortune to
lodge with DR.. Talmage in q private
home in Waseca Mimi, in July, 1880. only
a few months after his return from the
Holy Land DR.. Talmage, who was one OF
the most social and genial OF men, was
full of his trip to the east. He gave the
writer many episodes from that journey.
Among others, he told Of meeting with
this American, who asked to be Immersed
by him in the sacred river. The writer mas
forgotten the name and place or residence
Of the tramp American whom DR.. Tai
mage baptized. though he feels eonnoent
that the doctor gave both.
one fact he does remember, however,
most distinctly-Dr. Talmage's interviews
with the tramp" in his (Talmage 81 own
library in his Brooklyn home month OF
two after his return. (.
The gentleman (''tramp'') having been
admitted into the ROOM asked DR.. Tai
mage whether he recognized him. 1ne
preacher, having surveyed him for mo-
ment, answered: Yes. you're the man
whom I baptized in the Jordan.
A very pleasant interview followed. Tne
tramp had reached America shortly
after the preachers arrival home.
: The jealousy among the great daily
neuvspauers of New York IS well known
Some Of us can remember how the other
great dailies for two years hayed the new
York Herald for its cock-and-buil story
about the finding of Livingstone by stan
lev: how many people in America believ-
ed that the whole story was out OF prot
on the part of Bennett, Stanley and otn-i
ers of The Herald men, to create SEN
sation and give The Herald great pre-
eminence among the Gotham newspapers
That DR.. Talmage had much OF the SEN
sational in his manner no one az all &C
quainted with his career VIII attempt 70
deny.
Beecher was sensational; so were many
| other eminent preachers. But sensational
J ism doesn't draw a great and ever-increas-
I ing audience of intelligent people for more
than a quarter Of century. Ihere must
be more than that behind.
DR.. Talmage was friend to the south.
He had warm personal feeling toward
J such men as Governor Colquitt, Henry
Grady and other distinguished Georgians-
He seemed to dwell with much pleasure
] upon the life and work Of his uncle, Or.
/ Samuel Talmage, so long the presloent o.
| 0gIsthorne college. near Milledgeville. and
| he seemed to fee himself, in some sort, re-
/ lated. to Georgia. This impeachment OF
! DIR. Talmage's veracity seems TO the writ
I or TO come with bad grace. so soon as the
H. A. sCoMP.