The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-08-30

cueu lOI IIc OrUeuI
Marshall r. Wilder. l eve was able to
discOvep, but the
ministers always laughed at every
joke l cracked, so there is a very warm
spot in MY heart for them.
One Of the first of the profession I
ever met was Henry Ward Beecher.
l became we'll acquainted with him,
and he was always friendly, fatherly
and merry when met him. l had the
pleasure Of travelling through Scotland
and Ireland with him, and no man
could have been better company.
Beecher In Glasgow.
We spent one Sunday together in
Glasgow. and the depression of that
city on the holy day cannot be i'm
aginei. l have heard that some Scotch
men get full Of bad whisky on Satur-
day night for the sole purpose of be-
ing properly dismal on Sunday, but
perhaps that is not true. But the
street cars do not run; there is no sign
of animation; the very houses look as
dull as if they We're ~untenanted. To a
person accustomed to the cheer and
bright faces Of Americans on Sunday
gloom of death.
In the morning l awokc very early.
l veritably believe that the appalling
silence disturbed my slumbers. l felt
so lonely and dismal that l Instructive
~ went Owe to Mr.. Beecher's room;
better a drowsy American than a
whole city full Of wide awake Scotch.
men OH a Scotch Sunday. Mr.. Beech
er was also awake, though in bed, and
in spite Of the morning being quite
chilly he lay with one toe uncovered.
"AIr. Beecher, aren't you afraid Of
catching cold?' l said.
"Oh, no." he replied. II always sleep
that way" l was greatly mystihed at
this and asked him the reason. He
l~aughed-and what a laugh he had!
1t was as big and solid and enduring
as the Berkshire hills amid which he
was born. Then he replied:
Marshall, that toe is the key to the
situation"
A Dry lishman.
In ireland we went about a good
deal together in jaunting cars and *
tracted a lot of high grade Hibernian
wit from the drivers.
One day we were driven to our hotel
In Belfast through a drizzling rain.
When 1 paid the driver l said:
"Are you wet, Pat?" With a merry
twinkle of his eye he replied:
"Sure, your honor, If l was as wet
outside as l am inside I'd be as dry
as a bone"
Mr.. Beecher's quickness at repartee,
Of which Americans knew well. was
entirely equal to Irish demands upon
II. One day in Ireland, after he had
made an address to Il Sunday school, q
bewitching young colleen came up to
where we stood chatting and said:
"Mr. Beecher. you have won my
heart"
"Well." replied the great man quick.
". with a sunburst Of Il smile, ''you
can't get along without a heart. sc
suppose you take mine?"
Beecher and lngersol.
Which reminds me of the day wheI
he and Colonel Bob Ingersoll We're OF
the platform together at a public meet
ing and Beecher went over and shool
hands heartily with the great agnostic
though he knew that the act wOul(
bring 4 storm of criticism from people
with narrow guage souls. Then Inger
soil brought up II of his daughter:
and introduced her, saying:
Ns. rao>. l>.> s., &, r.sv1 ,r-1,n NV
err read the Bible" Bob delighted il
shocking ministers, but he missed hi!
fun that time. for Beccher quickly re
piled:
IF all heather We're so charming
am sure we should all become mission
aries"
After the war Beecher made a lee
ture tour of the south and appeared a
Mozart hall. Richmond, with an ad
dress entitled. 1.-The North and tn
South" He was rather doubtful as t
the reception he would have. but h
knew what he wanted and was deter
mined to get it. No applause welcome
him as he appeared on the platform
:. but Il few Kisses We're heard in the ga.
lery. In the better rows Of seats wer
some grim eX-Confederates - Genera
Fitz.Hugh Lee. General Rosser. eA
Governor Smith. Governor Camera
and others. Reecher fixed his eye Il
!, rectly ON Lee and said Il quote Il new
paper report Of the incident:
~ have seen pictures Of General Fit;
, Hugh Lee. sir. and l assume You ar
the man. Am l right:"
The general. slightly taken back b
this direct address. nodded stitiy. Will
the audience bent forward, breathles