the americanization of edward bok-第13章

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d　already　learned。

Then；　his　interests　and　sympathies　were　enormously　wide。　He　took　in　so　much！　One　day　Edward　was　walking　past　Fulton　Market；　in　New　York　City；　with　Mr。　Beecher。

〃Never　skirt　a　market；〃　the　latter　said；　〃always　go　through　it。　It's　the　next　best　thing；　in　the　winter；　to　going　South。〃

Of　course　all　the　marketmen　knew　him；　and　they　knew；　too；　his　love　for　green　things。

〃What　do　you　think　of　these　apples；　Mr。　Beecher？〃　one　marketman　would　stop　to　ask。

Mr。　Beecher　would　answer　heartily：　〃Fine！　Don't　see　how　you　grow　them。　All　that　my　trees　bear　is　a　crop　of　scale。　Still；　the　blossoms　are　beautiful　in　the　spring；　and　I　like　an　apple…leaf。　Ever　examine　one？〃　The　marketman　never　had。　〃Well；　now；　do；　the　next　time　you　come　across　an　apple…tree　in　the　spring。〃

And　thus　he　would　spread　abroad　an　interest　in　the　beauties　of　nature　which　were　commonly　passed　over。

〃Wonderful　man；　Beecher　is；〃　said　a　market　dealer　in　green　goods　once。　〃I　had　handled　thousands　of　bunches　of　celery　in　my　life　and　never　noticed　how　beautiful　its　top　leaves　were　until　he　picked　up　a　bunch　once　and　told　me　all　about　it。　Now　I　haven't　the　heart　to　cut　the　leaves　off　when　a　customer　asks　me。〃

His　idea　of　his　own　vegetable…gardening　at　Boscobel；　his　Peekskill　home；　was　very　amusing。　One　day　Edward　was　having　a　hurried　dinner；　preparatory　to　catching　the　New　York　train。　Mr。　Beecher　sat　beside　the　boy；　telling　him　of　some　things　he　wished　done　in　Brooklyn。

〃No；　I　thank　you；〃　said　Edward；　as　the　maid　offered　him　some　potatoes。

〃Look　here；　young　man；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher；　〃don't　pass　those　potatoes　so　lightly。　They're　of　my　own　raisingand　I　reckon　they　cost　me　about　a　dollar　a　piece；〃　he　added　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。

He　was　an　education　in　so　many　ways！　One　instance　taught　Edward　the　great　danger　of　passionate　speech　that　might　unconsciously　wound；　and　the　manliness　of　instant　recognition　of　the　error。　Swayed　by　an　occasion；　or　by　the　responsiveness　of　an　audience；　Mr。　Beecher　would　sometimes　say　something　which　was　not　meant　as　it　sounded。　One　evening；　at　a　great　political　meeting　at　Cooper　Union；　Mr。　Beecher　was　at　his　brightest　and　wittiest。　In　the　course　of　his　remarks　he　had　occasion　to　refer　to　ex…President　Hayes；　some　one　in　the　audience　called　out：　〃He　was　a　softy！〃

〃No；〃　was　Mr。　Beecher's　quick　response。　〃The　country　needed　a　poultice　at　that　time；　and　got　it。〃

〃He's　dead　now；　anyhow；〃　responded　the　voice。

〃Not　dead；　my　friend：　he　only　sleepeth。〃

It　convulsed　the　audience；　of　course；　and　the　reporters　took　it　down　in　their　books。

After　the　meeting　Edward　drove　home　with　Mr。　Beecher。　After　a　while　he　asked：　〃Well；　how　do　you　think　it　went？〃

Edward　replied　he　thought　it　went　very　well；　except　that　he　did　not　like　the　reference　to　ex…President　Hayes。

〃What　reference？　What　did　I　say？〃

Edward　repeated　it。

〃Did　I　say　that？〃　he　asked。　Edward　looked　at　him。　Mr。　Beecher's　face　was　tense。　After　a　few　moments　he　said：　〃That's　generally　the　way　with　extemporaneous　remarks：　they　are　always　dangerous。　The　best　impromptu　speeches　and　remarks　are　the　carefully　prepared　kind；〃　he　added。

Edward　told　him　he　regretted　the　reference　because　he　knew　that　General　Hayes　would　read　it　in　the　New　York　papers；　and　he　would　be　nonplussed　to　understand　it；　considering　the　cordial　relations　which　existed　between　the　two　men。　Mr。　Beecher　knew　of　Edward's　relations　with　the　ex…President；　and　they　had　often　talked　of　him　together。

Nothing　more　was　said　of　the　incident。　When　the　Beecher　home　was　reached　Mr。　Beecher　said：　〃Just　come　in　a　minute。〃　He　went　straight　to　his　desk；　and　wrote　and　wrote。　It　seemed　as　if　he　would　never　stop。　At　last　he　handed　Edward　an　eight…page　letter；　closely　written；　addressed　to　General　Hayes。

〃Read　that；　and　mail　it；　please；　on　your　way　home。　Then　it'll　get　there　just　as　quickly　as　the　New　York　papers　will。〃

It　was　a　superbly　fine　letter；one　of　those　letters　which　only　Henry　Ward　Beecher　could　write　in　his　tenderest　moods。　And　the　reply　which　came　from　Fremont；　Ohio；　was　no　less　fine！



IX。　Association　with　Henry　Ward　Beecher

As　a　letter…writer；　Henry　Ward　Beecher　was　a　constant　wonder。　He　never　wrote　a　commonplace　letter。　There　was　always　himself　in　itin　whatever　mood　it　found　him。

It　was　not　customary　for　him　to　see　all　his　mail。　As　a　rule　Mrs。　Beecher　opened　it；　and　attended　to　most　of　it。　One　evening　Edward　was　helping　Mrs。　Beecher　handle　an　unusually　large　number　of　letters。　He　was　reading　one　when　Mr。　Beecher　happened　to　come　in　and　read　what　otherwise　he　would　not　have　seen：

〃Reverend　Henry　Ward　Beecher。

〃Dear　Sir：

〃I　journeyed　over　from　my　New　York　hotel　yesterday　morning　to　hear　you　preach；　expecting；　of　course；　to　hear　an　exposition　of　the　gospel　of　Jesus　Christ。　Instead；　I　heard　a　political　harangue；　with　no　reason　or　cohesion　in　it。　You　made　an　ass　of　yourself。

〃Very　truly　yours；　__　__。

〃That's　to　the　point；〃　commented　Mr。　Beecher　with　a　smile；　and　then　seating　himself　at　his　desk；　he　turned　the　sheet　over　and　wrote：

My　Dear　Sir：

〃I　am　sorry　you　should　have　taken　so　long　a　journey　to　hear　Christ　preached；　and　then　heard　what　you　are　polite　enough　to　call　a　'political　harangue。'　I　am　sorry；　too；　that　you　think　I　made　an　ass　of　myself。　In　this　connection　I　have　but　one　consolation：　that　you　didn't　make　an　ass　of　yourself。　The　Lord　did　that。〃

〃Henry　Ward　Beecher。

When　the　Reverend　T。　De　Witt　Talmage　began　to　come　into　public　notice　in　Brooklyn；　some　of　Mr。　Beecher's　overzealous　followers　unwisely　gave　the　impression　that　the　Plymouth　preacher　resented　sharing　with　another　the　pulpit　fame　which　he　alone　had　so　long　unquestioningly　held。　Nothing；　of　course；　was　further　from　Mr。　Beecher's　mind。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　the　two　men　were　exceedingly　good　friends。　Mr。　Beecher　once　met　Doctor　Talmage　in　a　crowded　business　thoroughfare；　where　they　got　so　deeply　interested　in　each　other's　talk　that　they　sat　down　in　some　chairs　standing　in　front　of　a　furniture　store。　A　gathering　throng　of　intensely　amused　people　soon　brought　the　two　men　to　the　realization　that　they　had　better　move。　Then　Mr。　Beecher　happened　to　see　that　back　of　their　heads　had　been；　respectively；　two　signs：　one　reading；　〃This　style　3。45；〃　the　other；　〃This　style　4。25。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher；　as　he　and　Doctor　Talmage　walked　away　laughing；　〃I　was　ticketed　higher　than　you；　Talmage；　anyhow。〃

〃You're　worth　more；〃　rejoined　Doctor　Talmage。

On　another　occasion；　as　the　two　men　met　they　began　to　bandy　each　other。

〃Now；　Talmage；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher；　his　eyes　twinkling；　〃let's　have　it　out。　My　people　say　that　Plymouth　holds　more　people　than　the　Tabernacle；　and　your　folks　stand　up　for　the　Tabernacle。　Now　which　is　it？　What　is　your　estimate？〃

〃Well；　I　should　say　that　the　Tabernacle　holds　about　fifteen　thousand　people；〃　said　Doctor　Talmage　with　a　smile。

〃Good；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher；　at　once　catching　the　spirit。　〃And　I　say　that　Plymouth　accommodates；　comfortably；　twenty　thousand　people。　Now；　let's　tell　our　respective　trustees　that　it's　settled；　once　for　all。〃

Mr。　Beecher　could　never　be　induced　to　take　note　of　what　others　said　of　him。　His　friends；　with　more　heart　than　head；　often　tried　to　persuade　him　to　answer　some　attack；　but　he　invariably　waved　them　off。　He　always　saw　the　ridiculous　side　of　those　attacks；　never　their　serious　import。

At　one　time　a　fellow　Brooklyn　minister；　a　staunch　Prohibitionist；　publicly　reproved　Mr。　Beecher　for　being　inconsistent　in　his　temperance　views；　to　the　extent　that　he　preached　temperance　but　drank　beer　at　his　own　dinner…table。　This　attack　angered　the　friends　of　Mr。　Beecher；　who　tried　to　persuade　him　to　answer　the　charge。　But　the　Plymouth　pastor　refused。　〃Friend　　is　a　good　fellow；〃　was　the　only　comment　they　could　elicit。

〃But　he　ought　to　be　broadened；〃　persisted　the　friends。

〃Well　now；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher；　〃that　isn't　always　possible。　For　instance；〃　he　continued；　as　that　inimitable　merry　twinkle　came　into　his　eyes；　〃sometime　ago　Friend　　criticised　me　for　something　I　had　said。　I　thought　he　ought　not　to　have　done　so；　and　the　next　time　we　met　I　told　him　so。　He　persisted；　and　I　felt　the　only　way　to　treat　him　was　as　I　would　an　unruly　child。　So　I　just　took　hold　of　him；　laid　him　face　down　over　my　knee；　and　proceeded　to　impress　him　as　our　fathers　used　to　do　of　old。　And；　do　you　know；　I　found　that　the　Lord　had　not　made　a　place　on　him　for　me　to　lay　my　hand　upon。〃

And　in　the　laughter　which　met　this　sally　Mr。　Beecher　ended　with　〃You　see；　it　isn't　always　possible　to　broaden　a　man。〃

Mr。　Beecher　was　rarely　angry。　Once；　however；　he　came　near　it；　yet　he　was　more　displeased　than　angry。　Some　of　his　family　and　Edward　had　gone　to　a　notable　public　affair　at　the　Brooklyn　Academy　of　Music；　where　a　box　had　been　placed　at　Mr。　Beecher's　disposal。　One　member　of　the　family　was　a　very　beautiful　girl　who　had　brought　a　girl…friend。　Both　were　attired　in　full　evening　decollete　costume。　Mr。　Beecher　came　in　late　from　another　engagement。　A　chair　had　been　kept　vacant　for　him　in　the　immediate　front　of　the　box；　since　his　presence　had　been　widely　advertised；　and　the　audience　was　expecting　to　see　him。　When　he　came　in；　he　doffed　his　coat　and　was　about　to　go　to　the　chair　reserved　for　him；　when　he　stopped；　stepped　back；　and　sat　down　in　a　chair　in　the　rear　of　the　box。　It　was　evident　from　his　face　that　something　had　displeased　him。　Mrs。　Beecher　leaned　over　and　asked　him；　but　he　offered　no　explanation。　Nothing　was　said。

Edward　went　back　to　the　house　with　Mr。　Beecher；　after　talking　awhile　in　the　study；　the　preacher；　wishing　to　show　him　something；　was　going　up…stairs　with　his　guest　and　had　nearly　reached　the　second　landing　when　there　was　the　sound　of　a　rush；　the　gas　was　quickly　turned　low；　and　two　white　figures　sped　into　one　of　the　rooms。

〃My　dears；〃　called　Mr。　Beecher。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Beecher；〃　came　a　voice　from　behind　the　door　of　the　room　in　question。

〃Come　here　one　minute；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher。

〃But　we　cannot；〃　said　the　voice。　〃We　are　ready　for　bed。　Wait　until〃

〃No；　come　as　you　are；〃　returned　Mr。　Beecher。

〃Let　me　go　down…stairs；〃　Edward　interrupted。

〃No；　you　stay　right　here；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher。

〃Why；　Mr。　Beecher！　How　can　we？　Isn't　Edward　with　you？〃

〃You　are　keeping　me　waiting　for　you；〃　was　the　quiet　and　firm　answer。

There　was　a　moment's　hesitation。　Then　the　door　opened　and　the　figures　of　the　two　girls　appeared。

〃Now；　turn　up　the　gas；　please；　as　it　was；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher。

〃But；　Mr。　Beecher〃

〃You　heard　me？〃

Up　went　the　light；　and　the　two　beautiful　girls　of　the　box　stood　in　their　night…dresses。

〃Now；　why　did　you　run　away？〃　asked　Mr。　Beecher。

〃Why；　Mr。　Beecher！　How　can　you　ask　such　a　question？〃　pouted　one　of　the　girls；　looking　at　her　dress　and　then　at　Edward。

〃Exactly；〃　said　Mr。　Beecher。　〃Your　modesty　leads　you　to　run　away　from　this　young　man　because　he　might　possibly　see　you　under　a　single　light　in　dresses　that　cover　your　entire　bodies；　while　that　same　modesty　did　not　prevent　you　all　this　evening　from　sitting　beside　him；　under　a　myriad　of　lights；　in　dresses　that　exposed　nearly　half　of　your　bodies。　That's　what　I　call　a　distinction　with　a　differencewith　the　difference　to　the　credit　neither　of　your　intelligence　nor　of　your　modesty。　There　is　some　modesty　in　the　dress