The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-08-02
sinaERsoL i LETTERS
Obserqnnce OF the tenth anniFerEar,

ltheHpnbileatloR OF man ietteFS RllcH
threw an interesting light on the
fame and character Of the great ag-
nostic. This correspondence was Civ
en- publicity by Mrs. Ingersoll and Ter
daughter. Miss Maud 1ngersoll.
through the columns OF the New York
Truth Seeker. an agnostic weekly with
which Colonel Ingersol1 was Identi
fed as a contributor.
Perhaps the most Interesting OF the
letters. from literary standpoint. is
ora from the "goodI gray poet" Walt
Whitman. In an epistle couchcd in
his Characteristic styles. Whitman ac-
l'nuwletges receipt OF some 5000 con.
ltributed by Colonel Ingersoll. and ai,ls
tiat the sum has directly beneftr!
me and does to-day. in ways w'd please
you well II you cd know. 1t has Of
ten been stated that In his latter years
tina poet was largely supported by
Colonel Ingersoll, and his letter
serves as partial proof OF such n state
ment.
Many of the great men OF Europe
have written to lngersoll in terms of
highest admiration. among them
Ewinburne, the English poet. ana!
George Meredith, the novelist. both Of
whom died recently. Another inter-
eating letter to Ingersoll Is from
iBjornstjerne Biornson, the Norwegian
poet and dramaust. who said. 81
envy the land which brought forth
such glorious fruit as an Ingersoll.'
In letter dated Paris. November l.,
1884. the great poet wrote: II admire
free America, where n man can stanl
| forth and say to the, church what
you nave said. In Northern Europe
would man therefor be placed in
prison. . - Your lectures and
books have helped many OF our c0un.
lrymen In America TO freedom, and
these have since helped many In their
oil home. >. am very sorry
that, when | was in America. | lid
MOI have the opportunity TO grasp the
| nnnd OF n man who with the sword
fought to free from bodily slavery
Et.,ree millions OF people, and VINO has
shown the way to intellectual free
dom to many millions
George Jacob Holyoake. the Eng
fish reformer. wrote In 1887: "ThE
debating portrait from Puck hangs
on my walls. Daily my eyes behold
the radiant face. My splendid poem
Life enriched by my inscription.
Is always before me. Thou are ever
IT, my thoughts and nll VINO dwell
with thee and whom I know through
tnte."
There Is letter from Mrs. Jhcob
G. Blaine. wife. OF the statesman upon
whom Ingersoll bestowed the .;uhrl-
qaet of .''plumel! knight" In "hom
she says: "There is no one In whom
have more confidence than in your
seif-few in whom I have so much.
Walker Blaine. son OF james G.
Elaine. nlso wrote from Yale College
IN 1876 to TANK Ingersoll "fnr The
gnnd and eloquent tribute which you
paid my father In nresuming his name
to the Cincinnati convention" the
enthusiastic youth added: II wollll
sacrifice all the honors which po-
;Ilical life might bring for the power
of eloqnence which your short speech
so well evinced."
f,+n 1nffnr 10 f.1nt frnni
the distinguished Presbyterian clergy
man, DIR. Henry NJ. Field. with whom
Colonel Ingersoll had controsers;;
through the columns OF the North
American Review. It Is written In
the friendliest manner. but contains
this threat: "By next Monday go
back to tine city. and that evening or
Tuesday evening, unless I hear from
you to the contrary. I will present
myself at your door prepared tn de-
molIsh you in tie neatest manner
and the shortest time"
Several of Colonel Ingersoll's let
tiers to friends are published for tic
first time, and abound In the benu.i-
full word pictures that enriched his
oratoricnl and more formal literary
efforts. In thanking friend for n
box OF cigars. he pays this tribute To
tobacco: "Ilet them say what they
will. there Is in tobacco the essence
the aroma of friendship.
But whether smoking shortens life
or not, whether 1t puts my soul In
peril or not, I send nou n thousand
thanks for sending me n box nj
iemntations-from which my sincere
prayer Is not to be delivered
In n letter discussing flshinS he
makes this sarcastic statement: "Tie
APOSTLES were fishermen. and their
SUCCESSORS even to this day IRE
gt.nlv ant - r a.H.