THEODORE TILTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4260, 14 November 1874, Page 1 (Supplement)

THEODORE TILTON.

<s, A SKETCH BY AN OLD FRIEND. A sketch of Mr. Tilton's life has appeared in the Brooklyn Union, Dr. McDonald, the medical superintendent of the Insane Asylum at Flatbush, had mentioned to a reporter the fact that Mr. Tilton's brother had died in that institution several years ago. This led to inquiries of one who had known Mr. Tilton from boyhood, and the following story, in which the insanity of the brother is fully corroborated, was told : Theodore Tilton was born forty-two years ago in Greenwich-street, New York. His father w»3 engaged in the shoe trade, and had the respect of a large connection. Father and mother were known as ardent Baptists, most strict in all the observances of their Church. Keared in such tutelage it was no wonder that Theodore Tilton started out early in life with a highly spiritualised nature, strongly pronounced opinion on church matters, and a desire to identify himself with what were known at that time as the " growing reforms of the age," a desire which grew out of a disposition which, though dogmatic enough, had a tendency to be dogmatic outside the practical, or, to put it more plainly, to become visionary—a curious complication, which, when added to a strong and animal nature, and a great force of will, made up an individual who, in tho ordinary course of events, was bound to startle society some day or other. Such was young Tilton when the Free Academy of New York found him entered on its roll-book as a student. Here he could confessedly have taken any quantity of medals and prizes, but he had scarcely left his father's house when his strange eccentric nature began to show itself, and foreshadow a stormy career when the school-boy life had ended. His convictions were opposed to the competitive systems in the schools—- " it engendered petty jealousies and bickerings," which were unworthy of the high and mighty coming men; ho wouldn't run for a prize, and though facile\princejps in his class, he never held a medal. Ho remained at the Free College but a comparatively short time, in which he received all the education he ever got, and tossed himself out into the world with nothing to back him, and true to his instincts, into the most stormy whirlpool on life's Boa—a newspaper office. But before leaving school ho had made two friendships, which exercised a wonderful influence on his after life. There wore two boys in the same class with Tilton at the Free College, with whom he was more intimate and mOro in sympathy than with all the others, from whom ho rather stood aloof. One of these boys was a russet-haired, good-natured robust little fellow, whose appearance was in strong contrast to his dreamy-looking classmate, who was accustomed with true schoolboy " bumptiousness" to write out his high-sound-ing name in full—Francis De Pau Moulton. The other was a boy named "Joe" Richards, who lived with his widowed mother in a cottage on Livingston-street, Brooklyn, owned by Judge Morse, whero sho received select boarders! Young Tilton had often crossed over the ferry to Brooklyn with " Joe" Richards in the old schoolboy days, and had been introduced to his mother and a bright-eyed little sister, Elizabeth, just about Tilton's own ago, and as inclined to bo ideal as himself. When the school door of tho academy closed behind Tilton he saw in journalism the only field for a full expression of his pronounced opinions to any kind of an audience, and he found his way to tho Observer office, whero he was accepted for anything he could do. He soon discovered means to show a brilliant imagination, wroto acceptable poetry, and was ready with pen and tongue, and everybody round the office said that Theodora Tilton would one day lnuko his mark. Meantime he had found work to do as an occasional 'reporter, and everything went well with tho young journalist. Ho had mastered the mysteries of stenography, and by-and-bye came to be considered one of tho best shorthand writers around the newspaper offices, where ho had many friends and still more admirers. The visits to tho cottage in Livingston-street still continued. A warm affection gradually grew up between the young journalist and Elizabeth. Tilton had identified himself with Plymouth Church, and Elizabeth had attended the Sunday - school regularly. When Tilton was twenty years of ago lie asked her to unito her fortunes with his, and ho got tho expected answer, "Yes," that they would journey through the ups and downs of life together. Theodoro had a warm friend, a reporter, and he asked Maverick to "stand up" with him. The marriage took place in a short time

after Elizabeth's consent was obtained, and they started out blithely to housekeeping, bound up each in the other for all time to come, as young couples will until the world ends. Mrs. Kichards, Elizabeth's mother, had mai-ried Judge Morse, and for a time the families lived separately. But ono year after the young people had plighted their troth there came about an unpleasant disagreement in the Obsener office on the slavery question, which unfortunately led to Theodore Tilton's dismissal from the establishment. He was afloat in the world with a young wife on his hands, and no adequate meaus of support just then. Tilton had become the superintendent of tho Sundayschool of Plymouth Church, and in his welfare and that of his young wife both pastor and people -took a decided interest. In the year 185 G the Kev. Henry Ward' Beecher used his influence to havo Tilton employed on the staff of the Independent, of which paper Mr. Beecher was then editor. Then began a controversy between Mr. Beecher and Mr. Tilton, which attracted general attention to the latter. Mr. Tilton took the ground that as a consistent antislavery man Mr. Beecher could not support the American board. Mr. Beecher defended his position, and Mr. Tilton assailed it before crowded audiences, who were attracted by the discussion. Mr. Beecher was tender and conciliatory. Mr. Tilton was fierce, almost vindictive, aud denunciatory. One of tho hitter's speeches was reported in the Independent, and from that moment he became one of the most prominent anti-slavery orators of the day, and a favorite speaker at all public meetings. It brought him into the lecturing business, in which he achieved for a time a marked success.- At this time the Itov. Dr. Omiiston, of Canada, writing of Theodore Tilton, said that he once saw him on a visit to this country in Plymouth Church, and though he was. then a mere strippling, he spoke in answer to Mr. Beecher with •an eloquence and fire and depth of thought that were perfectly electrifying. The doctor never had heard anything like it in all his life before. Theodore Tilton has in his possession letters written by Mr. Beecher to him on lecture tours in the West at that tune, in which ho addresses him as the " God-given," from his name Theodore, which is made up of two Greek words signifying "God" and " a gift." When Mr. Bsecher went to Europe, Mr. Tilton was left in charge of the Independent. On the withdrawal of Mr. Beecher from the editorship of the paper, without any formal introduction, Mr. Tilton was continued in the position of sole editor of the paper, and was left to conduct it as he pleased. Henry C. Bowen akso made him editor of the Union, and he held both positions until his quarrel with the former. Meantime Theodore Tilton and his young wife went back to live at Judge Morse's house in Livingston-street, and here was celebrated with gr«at eclat their tin wedding. Numerous friends gathered round them, and the world outside said that the path of the young couple through life was strewn with roses. By-and-bye Judge Morse gave the house in Livingston-street to his stepdaughter and her husband. Meantime Mr. Tilton had kept up his intimate friendship with Mr. Moulton, his old schoolfellow, who had joined the warehouse firm of Woodruff, Kobinson, and Co., in business, and in his turn married the niece of Mr. Robinson. The families wore intimate, and Theodore Tilton a little over four years ago introduced Mr. Moulton to Mr. Beecher, who, too, conceived a warm regard for his friend's friend. Theodore Tilton had a brother and a sister, both of whom came to live with him wh,en Jndgo Morse made Ins wife the present of the house in Livingston-street. The brother became idiotic from scarlet fever ; tho sister was a highly accomplished lady, a thorough musician, and sang for many years the alto score in the choir of St. Peter's Church, in State-street, in this city. She still resides in Brooklyn, and is esteemed for her amiable qualities by a large circle of friends. During one of Mr. Tilton's lecturing tours West the idiot brother became violent, so violent that Mrs. Tilton, without the knowledge of her husband, removed him from the cottage. . Under the pretence of taking a carriage ride, she induced him to go out with her alone. Once in the carnage they were driven rapidly to the County Insane Asylum at Flatbush, where she left him in charge of the attendants. Finding himself immured, the > lunatic lost all restraint. He became perfectly wild at times, and it was necessary to put him frequently in that garment known to keepers in lunatic asylums as a straight jacket. Mrs. Tilton visited him frequently in her husband's absence, and was the only one of tho family he would allow to approach him. He lingered for a time, and died two years ago in the asylum, but was buried from Mr. Tilton's residence in Living-ston-street. The latter's father and mother are still alive, and reside in comfortable circumstances at Keyport, N.J. His friends assert that no blight ever fell across his life until his wife's alleged infidelity with Mr. Beecher; that that " drove him to free-love," and that the pernicious doctrines of the latter ruined him. At all events, it is certain that the alleged date of his wife's confession found him a thriving and eminently successful man ; that he never saw Mrs, Woodhull until she printed the story of a horrible Brooklyn scandal, and that he has since seemed utterly reckless of his social standing. Mr. Tilton's friends repel the insinuation that he is insane, and those acquainted with tho family say that it is ridiculous, to suppose that there is any taint of hereditary insanity because his brother died in a lunatic 4 asylum.