The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13
Lectured at Home and Abroad, and
Whose Sermons Were Read ny
People in All Lands.
SKETCH OF HIS LONG CAREER
STUDIED LAW BEFORE ADOPTING
THE SACRED PROFESSION.
Well known to Correspondents at the
Capital, with whom He often
Walked and Talked.
pecisI to the indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, April 12.-The Rev. T.
De Witt Talmage died tonight, after an
illness OF six or seven weeks. He began
sinking soon after his daughters mar
riage this week. and was conscious little
OF the time since then.
DR.. Talmage will be sadly missed in
Washington. For many years he has APP
peared on Pennsylvania avenue between
and o'clock. He started from his house
near Dupont Circle. walked down Four
teenth street to the main avenue. walked
briskly TO the Capitol, then around the
magnificent building and then back by
he arrived just little before dinner time.
He was usually walking alone, although,
as he knew nearly every man in public life,
he was stopped very frequently for little
chat. He would not permit himself TO be
detained long, no matter how consequential
his friend might be. Yet he was thorough
ly alive and in touch with the business OK
the day as it was reflected by the people
he met on the street. He had pat
question 10 ask every man, and wanted
the latest - inside news from his nSSs-
paper friends. had CHEEKY brfgS
for his countless friends.
A few newspaper correspondents walk
from the Capitol TO their downtown offices
nearly every afternoon, and they nearly al
ways met the distinguished divine. lie
hailed these friends in great good humor.
and when he did stop TO talk it was TO
show as close and sympathetic informa-
tion about current affairs possessed by
those whose business II was to keep track
of current events. He did not resent the
suggestion that he was newspaper
preacher. The fact that he had no church
or congregation did not strike him at all
singular. Ii was estimated by those IA
miliar with those things that he had the
largest audience of any man in America
His sermons were given their peculiarly
wide circulation through the means Of the
plate associations. That is they were dis
tributed in form ready for press use TO
thousands OF the smaller dailies. which, in
addition TO their use I'm the city newspa-
pers, gave to his sermons a circulation
much greater than that OF any other regu-
lar contributions TO current literature. The
writer once asked the manager OF these
sermons if he ever noticed any falling of
in their popularity. He replied: THE SER
mons require absolutely no attention.
When publisher who has been using them
tries to stop he usually comes around soon
10 renew old engagements. Ii was hardly
a churchgoing reading public. 1 think
many of them were those who thought
they ought TO go to church and accepted
the reading of these as a sort of compro-
mise"
DIR. Talmage was very active socially
while in Washington. lie was an inveter-
ate dinner guest This does not mean that
he affected fashionable society. but he had
a great fondness for social intercourse
with men who did things. He was a good
listener and thoroughly understood the
world of affairs. He cherished few de-
lusions and was eminently practical. lie
did not hesitate to admit that he found
the routine of pastoral work tedious and
burdensOme. He required constant and
arduous intellectual activity
For several days past the physicians at
tending DR.. Talmage have been without
hope, and the family was notified 10 pre-
pare for the worst. Death came at o'clock
tonight The patient for three or four
days gradually grew weaker until life
passed away so quietly that even the men,
bers OF the family. all OF whom were
watching at the bedside, hardly knew that
he had gone The immediate cause of
death was Inflammation OF the brain
DIR. Talmage was in poor health when he
started away from Washington for Mexico
for a vacation and rest six weeks ago. lie
was then suffering from influenza and
rious catarrhal conditions. Since his re-
turn TO Washington, some time ago. he has
been quite ill. Until Thursday however.
fears for his death were not entertained.
The last rational words uttered by Dr. Tall
mage were on the day preceding the mar
riage Of his daughter. when he said: "Of
course. 1 know you. Maude." Since then
he had been unconscious.
At DR. Talmage's bedside besides his
wife, were these members OF his family:
Rev. Frank De Wit Talmaee. Of Chicago:
Mrs Warren g. Smith. Of Brooklyn: Mrs.
Daniel Mangam. Of Brooklyn. Mrs. Allen
r. Donna. OF Richmond. Mrs. Clarence
Wykoff and Miss Talmage. OF Washington.
While arrangements for the funeral have
not been finally completed the family have
about decided 20 have the remains taken
70 the Church OF the Covenant here
Tuesday. where services viii be held. The
body will then be conveyed 10 Brooklyn.
where interment will be made in the family
plot I'm Greenwood Cemetery. probably on
Wednesday
nnUEE SKETCH nIr MS GAnEEn