“He said that during the last
six weeks at least a half million of people had
passed before him, and they all gave signs of their
encouragement. Especially, he said, the women
and children looked and acted as though they expected
better times.
“The President looked uncommonly
well. I told him that during the past summer
I had travelled in many of the states, and that from
the people everywhere I gathered hopeful feelings.
I told him that they were expecting great prosperity
would come to the country through his administration.”
Of course these are merely scraps torn from old note-books,
but I cannot help commending the value of first impressions,
of the first-hand reports, which are made in this
way. There is in the unadorned picture of any
incident in the past a sort of hallowed character that
no ornate frame can improve.
So the pages of these recollections are but a string
of impressions torn from old note-books and diaries.
* * * *
*
From scrap books and other sources, some other person
may set up the last milestones of my journey through
life, and think other things of enough importance
to add to the furlongs I have already travelled; and
I give permission to add that biography to this autobiography.
[Illustration: T. De Witt Talmage signature.]
BY
1898-1902
BY
1898-1902
The wishes of Doctor Talmage reign paramount with
me; otherwise I should not dare to add these imperfect
memoirs to the finished and eloquent, yet simple,
narration of his life-work which has just charmed the
reader from his own graphic pen. Dr. Talmage
did not consider his autobiography of vital importance
to posterity; his chief concern was for his sermons
and other voluminous writings. The intimate things
of his life he held too sacred for public view, and
he shrank from any intrusion thereupon. His autobiography,
therefore, was a concession to his family, his friends,
and an admiring public.
So many people all over the world have paid homage
to his personality, and to his remarkable influence,
that it seemed evident not only to us but to many
others, that his own recollections would give abiding
pleasure. I remember when we were travelling to
Washington after our marriage, many men of prominence,
who were on the Congressional Limited, said to Dr.
Talmage: “Doctor, why don’t you write
your memoirs? They would be especially interesting
because you have bridged two centuries in your life.”
Then, turning to me, they urged me to use my influence
over him. Later on I did so, placing over his
desk as a reminder, in big letters, the one word—“Autobiography.”
