The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-25

OlIlNtIollY DtIlIdl COIltBt.
Mr.. Stowe is the author of Z
Sinners and Beechers."
After I heard that DR.. Leonard
Bacon, New Haven said in the
fiftIes that the country was inhabi-
tea by saints, sinners and Beechers
l always wanted to write a book
under that title Mr. Stowe eX
planned. Il also decided that the
general public knew nothing about
the Beechcrs with the exception Of
Harriet Beecher Stove Henry Ward
Beechor and possibly Lyman Beech
er, and l knew that other members
of the family were just as interest
ing, amusing and dynamlc.-And
so | wrote the book"
Prizes Historic Table
Tn his home in New York, over
looking East River, he has the table
on which his grandmother wrote
Uncle Toms Cabin"
She inherited it from her great
grandfather, Gen. Andrew Ward,
one of George Wa5hingtonS
generals, and on it presumably we're
written presidential dispatches dur
ing the revolution.
In gathering family history for
his book, he was fascinated by the
romantic story of the portrait Of
Eliza Tyler first wife of his grand
father, Prof. Calvin Ellis Stowe. The
picture hangs over Mr.. Stoves desk
III his home.
1t was painted by an artist in
love with Eliza from daguerreotype
and his memory of her Mr.. Stowe
explained. He was failing with
tuberculosis and he became 50 weak
before n, completed the picture
that he was unable to reproduce her
hands and arms, so he finished it by
painting a cloud of tulle around her
shoulders.
She only lived a year after her
marriage to my grandfather and the
shock of her death was SO great
that friends feared for his sanity.
Harriet Beecher was his dead WifeS
best friend and became his greatest
comforter and later his wife. Every
year for the rest of their lives, on
Eliza birthday they sat together
before the portrait and reminiSced
about her. he explained.
Dedicated to Sons
Mr.. Stowe, who is to go to Har-
ward University next week to be
with his son. David Beecher Stowe,
on his nineteenth birthday, dedi-
Gated Saints, Sinners and Beech
crs' to him and another son, Robin
son Boecher Stove, who are quite
properly not interested in an
Ces. orS.'
In his book, published By Bobbs-
Merrill, Mr.. Stowe tells about
Charles BeeCher, also connected
with early Indiana history. Charles
authorities on church music and had
his first parish at FIT. Wayne. When
he preached his inaugural sermon,
he attacked the strait jacket"
methods of most theological semin-
aries and this branded him With q
faint Of heresy. Hereto hunting was
a popular sport among the kill-jOy
Christians and so they tried Charles
BeeCher for heresy and expelled
him from the Presbyterian synod,
The church sided with him and
withdrew from the synod.
The book tells about Thomas K.
BeeCher. next to the youngest o.
Lyman BceChers seven sons, who
founded the first Institutional
church in America at Elmira, N. Y.
He established a gymnasium, bill
lard room. dancing hall, library and
social room in the church in the
days when such pleasures were con-
Sidered wicked.
Ancestor Headed College
He reviVeS memories of Catherine
Beecher who with Mary Lyons and
Emma willard were early pioneers
for higher education for American
women.
He describes DR. Edward Beecher.
first president of the Illinois Col
lege, then known as The Yale Of
the West" One of his friends was
Abraham Lincoln, who assisted him
in getting a charter from the Illinois
legislature Thomas K. Beecher
was a student and a friend of Mr..
Lincoln.
Mr.. Stowe intends to return 10
indianapolis on LincolnS birthday
to address the Womans Department
Club. He recalled a remark credited
to Thomas K. Beecher:
Lincoln wasn't considered good
enough to associate with a Beecher,
but 1t never did me any harm"