Mr. Beecher acquired some reputation in Brooklyn a few years ago as a preacher; this contributed somewhat to his fame. His principal claim to greatness, however, rests on his wonderful power of recognizing genius in others. He early saw the advantage of seeking out and connecting himself with the great geniuses of his neighborhood. I need scarcely add that I was raised in Brooklyn, and that he was among my first admirers.
QUERY THREE.
Should a young man smoke cigarettes?
I notice on glancing over our advertisement columns, that the cigarette trust has given up its devilish attempt to make our American women nicotine habitues, so I will divert from my usual plan of never referring to myself, and tell you my own experience as a reply to this question.
Ten years ago this very day, a large cigarette firm in New York City offered me ten thousand dollars a year if I would smoke their brand of these death-dealing instruments of the evil one. I was very very young at the time; this is my explanation of my only great temptation. I confess that I did not see the horror, the degradation in this suggestion; I saw only in the offer the gold. I am changed now, but, then, it was a fierce battle. But my mother plead with me, and she made me promise never even to think of such a wicked thing again. See the result. I now edit the largest journal in the world, and am educating the women of America what to do and how to do it. This lesson teaches you to do always as your mother tells you. Some day you may edit the Homely Ladies’ Journal, and then you can catch the sympathies of your readers with this sentiment, without fear of your conscience keeping you awake at nights.
QUERY FOUR.
Which of our great poets do you consider led the happiest lives?
Whittier and Tennyson, because they were so blessed with great friendships. I knew them both well myself.
I shall never forget that glorious day in London, when Tennyson told me, with tears in his eyes, that his only regret was that he had written himself out before I had taken charge of the Homely Ladies’ Journal; while Whittier, the dear old chap, told me his fiery war songs that brought him social ostracism, need never have been written had I edited the Woman’s House Journal during that period.