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

with curiosity as to what vas going
to follow.
Beecher In the South.
"Then." said Mr.. Beecher, his face
lighting UP, II want to offer you this
right hand. which. in its own way,
fought against you and yours years
ago. but which l would now willingly
sacrifice to make the sunny south pros
porous and happy. Will you take it,
general:" There vas a moments hes
itation, a moment Of deathlike still
ness in the hall, and then Eitz-Hugh Lee
was on his feet. his hand was extended
across the footlights and was quickly
met by the warm grasp of the preach
er's. At first there was a murmur,
half Of surprise and half Of doubtful
ness, from the audience, Their there
was a hesitating clapping of hands, anu
before Beecher had Embossed the hand
Of Robert l.. Lees nephew there were
cheers such as were never before heard
in old Mozart, though it had bcen the
scene of many Il war and political
meet. But this was only the beginning
Of the enthusiasm. When the noise
subsidized Mr.. Beecher continues:
when l go back home l shall proud
~ tell that l have. grasped the hand
Of the nephew of the great southern
chieftain; | shall tell my people that
I went to the Confederate capital with
a heart full Of love for the people whom
my principles once obliged me to op-
pose and that l was met halfway by
the brave southerners, who can forgive
as we'll as they can fight"
Five minutes Of applause followed.
and then Mr.. Beecher, having gained
the hearts Of his audience, began his
lecture and was %applauded to the echo.
That night he entered his carriage and
drove to his hotel amid shouts such as
have never greeted Il northern man in
Richmond since the war.
VIII Of lnsersoll.
Ingcrso!l himself was as quick as
the quickest at repartee. One day i ma
lignant believer III an awful time for
the wicked after death asked him:
Are you trying to abolish hell?"
EYES," said Ingersoll.
"Well, you can't do it."
"You'l be sorry if | DON'T the colo
mel replied.
Agnostic though he was, Ingersoll is
frequently quoted by preachers, for in
one respect he was very like the best
of thenl-he never wearied Of urging
men to right living, not through fear
of eternal punishment, but because
goodness is its Owl excuse for being.
No pastor was ever more severe than
he in condemnation Of everything mean
and wicked in human life. In his
lighter moments he was one Of the mer-
riest companions that any one could
meet. No matter what he had to say,
he would illustrate it With a story. One
day he was talking of people who have
Il knack of saying the right thing at
the wrong time and told the following
as a sample:
A well to do merchant out west lived
in a town not remarkable for much but
malaria and funerals. His wives had
n he went into another county and
married again. a l%oluacious lady in
the healthy county kindly assisted him
in finding young women who were will
ing to marry him and take the chances.
About six months after burying his
fourth wife he appeared again in the
healthy county, called on his friend
and vas greeted with:
slows your wife. Mr.. Thompson? {"
"She's dead" he replied sadly.
"What! Dead again:" the woman
cried.
Talmage and Cartoonists.
The late r. DE Witt Talmage never
lost a chance to emphasize a point with
a good story. AS l knew him to be Il
good man and n first rate fellow, l used
to be indignant at newspaper abuse Of
him, and particularly with some carl
catures that We're made of his express
i've features. l took occasion to tell
him Of this, but he replied:
"Marshall. I'm as thick skinned as a
r~hinoccvos. and l never mind what is
said about me. Some of the carica-
lures annoy me. but only because they
pain people l love-my wife and fam
lily. You see. my boy, it doesn't pay
to be too sensitive. for it breaks Il man
up, and that's The worst thing that IA
happen to Him if he has any duties in
the world. BESIDES. everything de-
ponds on the point Of view. Once q
German family emigrated to America
and settled in Milwaukee. The Oldest
son, in his teens. concluded he would
start out for himself. He fetched up
in New York and without any money,
50 he wrote home: Dear father, l am
sick and lonely and without a single
cent. Send me some money quick.
Your son john The old man couldn't
read. SO he took the letter to Il friend.
a great strapping butcher with n loud.
grutf voice and an arrogant manner of
1 aAa.lisa-