Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-04-25

preached. In preparing his twenty
volume series OF sermons he used only
800. or less than half the total number
he had preached. In addition to at
least n thousand sermons of 1000
words each. each sermon different
from the other. this vast pulpit roper,
tory aggregating probably 100000
, words. he was the author of q number.
or lectures, the most popular being
The New Life of the Nation" "Grum-
blers,' "Our New Home" big Blum
ders" ana The Bright Side of Things"
Originality in all things was perhaps
the most pronounced trait OF DIR. Tai
IMAGES character. In his literary work
be scorned to borrow, though his own
unique phrases and ideas were the
prey of many petty plagiarists. AL
though his fame will rest chiefly upon
his sermopic writings, his treatment OF
lighter topics was brilliant and clever.
But his finest work was not among the
shadows. His pen could go deeply into
the secrets of the heart and soul. and
such was his rare gift that with sim
gle sentence he could move a multitude.
Some of his volumes written in the
early part of his career show rare vi
yacity and witsand give a ciew to his
wonderful success as an entertaining
lecturer In maturer years. Among the
periodicals to which he contributed at
various times were the New York
Weekly, Hearth and Home, The Inde-
pendent and The Christian at Work.
About thirty volumes of his sermons
have been published, twenty volumes
appearing In single series in 1900.
His other works besides those already
mentioned include Crumbs Swept Up,"
Around the Tea Table" Sparks From
My Anvil, "a Thousand Gems" "From
Manager to Throne, sports That KILL"
"The Wedding Ring" might Sides of
City Life" "The Poetry of Life" "Old
Wells Dug Out" denominations of
Modern Society" and "The Earth Cir
died" For many years his revenues
from his editorial and other literary
work, his book royalties and his lee
lures Detted him the princely income of
$4,000 q year, these figures by no
means representing the maximum.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.
In person DR.. Talmage was above
the medium height aud well proper
toned. His head was of average size,
with marked evidence of Intellectual
power. His eyes were light and his
complexion fresh and indicativeo of ro-
bust health. His face shone with amia-
bility and cheerfulness. his conyersa-
ton was animated. his manner gentle
aud cordial in the extreme. Self reli-
ance, calmness and Judgment were APP
parent. and his bearing, Indicated dig
nifty and self possession, yet he was no
wise ostentatious or affected, and his
hearty manner and genial fiow OF con-
versation placed even a stranger on
agreeable terms with him at once. He
was most fascinating conversational
list. His language was marked by noble
sentiment, poetry and humor. and be
talked with u Cue originality, never be-
ing afraid TO show bis feelings. When
in the glec and enthusiasm of the mo-
ment at church festival he exclaimed
that he felt like q morning star" il
was not that his taste Induced him TO
take his illustration from negro min
strelsy; but. acting on the impulse OF
the moment, he seized upon a popular
saying to express his own feelings.
Men OF stiff propriety and starched dig
nifty would not have done such thing.
With him it was the impulsive express
sion OF free, cheerful heart bubbliug
over with the love of humor and the
milk of human kindness" Whether II
was due TO ecceutricity or 10 an unusu-
al store OF rich, cxubcrant animal spir-
Its, he was certainly more real and
true TO genuine auman nature In social
life than most OF his ministerial con
temporaries.-
DR.. Talmage was three times mar
ried. His first wife was Miss Mary
Avery OF Brooklyn. a son, Thomas
(who died in his nineteenth year,. and
a daughter, Jessie. were the fruits of
this union. y great sorrow Swallowed
his life when Mrs. Talmage was acct.
dentally drowned In the SchuylkiIl riv
er near Philadelphia In 1862. His sec
ond marriage was with Miss Susie
Whittemore. and five, children were
born 10 them, the eldest. Frank, being
now Presbyterian minister In Chica-
so. Again bereaved by death OF his
matrimonial companion, he married, in
1899, Mrs. Collier of Allegheny. who
survives him.