Beecher admirers； which I was permitted to attend； would reproduce these informal talks of Mr。 Beecher。 He was the most ready orator； and with his almost feminine sympathies and emotional nature would add immensely to his formal speech by ideas which would occur to him in the heat of delivery； or with comment upon conversations which he had heard on the way to church or meeting。
I happened to be on a train with him on an all…day journey； and he never ceased talking in the most interesting and effective way； and pouring out from his rich and inexhaustible stores with remarkable lucidity and eloquence his views upon current topics； as well as upon recent literature； art； and world movements。
Beecher's famous trial on charges made by Theodore Tilton against him on relations with Tilton's wife engrossed the attention of the world。 The charge was a shock to the religious and moral sense of countless millions of people。 When the trial was over the public was practically convinced of Mr。 Beecher's innocence。 The jury； however； disagreed； a few holding out against him。 The case was never again brought to trial。 The trial lasted six months。
One evening when I was in Peekskill I went from our old homestead into the crowded part of the village； to be with old friends。 I saw there a large crowd and also the village military and fire companies。 I asked what it was all about； and was informed that the whole town was going out to Mr。 Beecher's house； which was about one and one…half miles from the village； to join in a demonstration for his vindication。 I took step with one of the companies to which I belonged when I was a boy； and marched out with the crowd。
The president of the village and leading citizens； one after another； mounted the platform； which was the piazza of Mr。 Beecher's house； and expressed their confidence in him and the confidence of his neighbors； the villagers。 Then Mr。 Beecher said to me： 〃You were born in this town and are known all over the country。 If you feel like saying something it would travel far。〃 Of course； I was very glad of the opportunity because I believed in him。 In the course of my speech I told a story which had wonderful vogue。 I said： 〃Mr。 Lincoln told me of an experience he had in his early practice when he was defending a man who had been accused of a vicious assault upon a neighbor。 There were no witnesses； and under the laws of evidence at that time the accused could not testify。 So the complainant had it all his own way。 The only opportunity Mr。 Lincoln had to help his client was to break down the accuser on a cross…examination。 Mr。 Lincoln said he saw that the accuser was a boastful and bumptious man； and so asked him： 'How much ground was there over which you and my client fought？' The witness answered proudly： 'Six acres； Mr。 Lincoln。' 'Well；' said Lincoln； 'don't you think this was a mighty small crop of fight to raise on such a large farm？' Mr。 Lincoln said the judge laughed and so did the district attorney and the jury； and his client was acquitted。〃
The appositeness was in the six acres of ground of the Lincoln trial and of the six months of the Beecher trial。 As this was a new story of Lincoln's； which had never been printed； and as it related to the trial of the most famous of preachers on the worst of charges that could be made against a preacher； the story was printed all over the country； and from friends and consular agents who sent me clippings I found was copied in almost every country in the world。
Mr。 Beecher was one of the few preachers who was both most effective in the pulpit and； if possible； more eloquent upon the platform。 When there was a moral issue involved he would address political audiences。 In one campaign his speeches were more widely printed than those of any of the senators； members of the House； or governors who spoke。 I remember one illustration of his about his dog； Noble； barking for hours at the hole from which a squirrel had departed； and was enjoying the music sitting calmly in the crotch of a tree。 The illustration caught the fancy of the country and turned the laugh upon the opposition。
Hugh J。 Hastings； at one time editor and proprietor of the Albany Knickerbocker； and subsequently of the New York Commercial Advertiser； was full of valuable reminiscences。 He began life in journalism as a very young man under Thurlow Weed。 This association made him a Whig。 Very few Irishmen belonged to that party。 Hastings was a born politician and organized an Irish Whig club。 He told me that he worshipped Daniel Webster。
Webster； he said； once stopped over at Albany while passing through the State； and became a guest of one of Albany's leading citizens and its most generous host and entertainer。 The gentleman gave in Webster's honor a large dinner at which were present all the notables of the capital。
Hastings organized a procession which grew to enormous proportions by the time it reached the residence where Mr。 Webster was dining。 When the guests came out； it was evident； according to Hastings； that they had been dining too well。 This was not singular； because then no dinner was perfect in Albany unless there were thirteen courses and thirteen different kinds of wine； and the whole closed up with the famous Regency rum； which had been secured by Albany bon…vivants before the insurrection in the West Indies had stopped its manufacture。 There was a kick in it which； if there had been no other brands preceding； was fatal to all except the strongest heads。 I tested its powers myself when I was in office in Albany fifty…odd years ago。
Hastings said that when Webster began his speech he was as near his idol as possible and stood right in front of him。 When the statesman made a gesture to emphasize a sentence he lost his hold on the balustrade and pitched forward。 The young Irishman was equal to the occasion； and interposed an athletic arm； which prevented Mr。 Webster from falling； and held him until he had finished his address。 The fact that he could continue his address under such conditions increased； if that was possible； the admiration of young Hastings。 Webster was one of the few men who； when drunk all over； had a sober head。
The speech was very effective； not only to that audience； but； as reported； all over the country。 Hastings was sent for and escorted to the dining…room； where the guests had reassembled。 Webster grasped him by the hand； and in his most Jovian way exclaimed： 〃Young man； you prevented me from disgracing myself。 I thank you and will never forget you。〃 Hastings reported his feelings as such that if he had died that night he had received of life all it had which was worth living for。
I do not know what were Mr。 Webster's drinking habits； but the popular reports in regard to them had a very injurious effect upon young men and especially young lawyers。 It was the universal conversation that Webster was unable to do his best work and have his mind at its highest efficiency except under the influence of copious drafts of brandy。 Many a young lawyer believing this drank to excess； not because he loved alcohol； but because he believed its use might make him a second Webster。
Having lived in that atmosphere； I tried the experiment myself。 Happily for me； I discovered how utterly false it is。 I tried the hard liquors； brandy； whiskey； and gin； and then the wines。 I found that all had a depressing and deadening effect upon the mind； but that there was a certain exhilaration； though not a healthy one； in champagne。 I also discovered； and found the same was true with every one else； that the mind works best and produces the more satisfactory results without any alcohol whatever。
I doubt if any speaker； unless he has become dependent upon stimulants； can use them before making an important effort without having his mental machinery more or less clogged。 I know it is reported that Addison； whose English has been the model of succeeding generations； in writing his best essays wore the carpet out while walking between sentences from the sideboard where the brandy was to his writing…table。 But they had heroic constitutions and iron…clad digestive apparatus in those times； which have not been transmitted to their descendants。
I heard another story of Webster from Horace F。 Clarke； a famous lawyer of New York； and a great friend of his。 Mr。 Clarke said that he had a case involving very large interests before the chancellor。 He discovered that Mr。 Webster was at the Astor House； and called upon him。 Mr。 Webster told him that his public and professional engagements were overwhelming； and that it was impossible for him to take up anything new。 Clarke put a thousand dollars on the table and pleaded with Mr。 Webster to accept a retainer。 Clarke said that Webster looked longingly at the money； saying： 〃Young man； you cannot imagine； and I have no words which can express how much I need that money； but it is impossible。 However； let me see your brief。〃 Webster read it over and then said to Clarke： 〃You will not win on that brief； but if you will incorporate this； I think your case is all right。〃 Clarke said that when he presented the brief and made his argument before the chancellor； the chancellor decided in his favor； wholly on the suggestion made by Mr。 Webster。 An eminent lawyer told me that studying Mr。 Webster's arguments before the Supreme Court and the decisions made in those cases he discovered very often that the opinion of the court followed the reasoning of this marvellous advocate。
Henry J。 Raymond told me the following story of Mr。 William H。 Seward。 He said that one morning a messenger came to his office （Raymond at that time was editor of the New York Times） and said that Mr。 Seward was at the Astor House and wanted to see me。 When I arrived Mr。 Seward said： 〃I am on my way to my home at Auburn； where I am expected to deliver a speech for the whole country in explanation and defense of our administration。 ＇Johnson was president。＇ When I am ready I will wire you； and then send me one of your best reporters。〃 About two weeks afterwards Mr。 Raymond received this cryptic telegram from Mr。 Seward： 〃Send me the man of whom I spoke。〃
When the reporter returned he said to