Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1877 — A Letter to Bob Ingersoll. [ARTICLE]

A Letter to Bob Ingersoll.

Lexington, 111.. July 10, 1877. Col. R. G. Ingehsoll—My Dear Silt: When on the cars coming home from my mother’s funeral, the other day, your address, .delivered at Ban Francisco, JeU into my hands, Just forty hoprs before I had knelt by my mother while she gave up her life, and there, with her children around her, we sung “Home, Sweet Home,” and parted full of hope of a glorious reunion iu heaven in tiie sweet by and by. My thoughts were full of these things when I saw and -read your address. It went like a dagger to my heart. I have learned to love you, and will love you all my life long. Your burning; words for “our dear boys” and for freedom have been precious to me, and so deep has been my love for von, and so deep and abiding is my love for the Christian’s hope, that 1 was sad at heart when I read what you said about the Bible and the Christian religion. I have no sympathy" with those who abuse you and call you hard names on account of your opinions, and regret thut any one should do this, and I hope it may never be done again; but while this is done by some, there are many who love you too dearly to say one Word of harm; many who weep because of what you say about the Christian religion, and who pray earnestly for you that you may learn to love the Savior. Hardly a man in the nation is loved more or prayed for more earnestly by a large part of the Chris tain people of our country. I, to<>, have had many doubts and fears regarding the future life, and what you say troubles tiie; and there are many others whose tears and sorrows are augmented l>y your arguments, and I fear you have—picreed forever many an already wounded heart. Standing by the cold, narrow grave, the Christian’s hope of a future reunion ramies like a sweet benediction, and over this hope you draw a dark pall. Lfte ft<itTm!Fl?rflT?tnv: thty qtrgsftnn with you, nor do I wish to do so; hut tliis I know, that you are a strong, good man, and that many an humble follower of Jesus prays often for you that some day you may follow the Master.. Without one harsh word, without one feeling save that of respect and love, I would close these lines, praying tbafthe clear Master may bless you always, and that some day you may come to Him. Your obedient servant, John McCoy, M. D.

Women are forging right ahead in England, as in this country. The Senate of the University of London lately heard a petitition of 200 doctors against the granting of medical degrees to women, their protest being grounded avowedly on their fear of competition. The Senate concluded to go on with its degreegranting, however. The chief prize in applied mat hematics and mechanics in the University was won this year by Miss Ellen M. Watson, over a hundred or so young men; she has also won the Meyer de Rothschild scholarship of $250 per year. When Prof. Clifford called out her name for the honor, he said hers was the finest mathematical blind he had ever met with iu a pupil of either sex, and a few more students like her would raise the young university above the older institutions. And yet Miss Watson is young and pretty. She was not’ the only woman to win distinction in the college; for Prof. Huxley’s daughter Marion took the first prize in art. Miss Constance D’Arcy the first in anatomy, and Miss Orme, sister of Prof. Masson’s wife, gained the Joseph Hume scholarship in jurisprudence. We observe that the Paris faculty of medicine have given a doctor’s diploma to Zenaide Oukonoff, a young Russian woman, at the same time complimenting highly on her scientific attainments.* —Springjield (.1 fuss.') Republican. ~~~ ' « The late Judge Pettit is said to have been a most earnest admirer of poker and billiardsr~Congres«man Ewing once related that at one time when Pettit, ex-Chief Justice Leconipte and himself were going through Missouri to attend court, they -stopped at St. Joseph and played the usual game. About midnight a dispute arose between Pettit and Lecompte as to who had won “the pot.” Pettit insisted that his hand was the best and that he was entitled to the money. So did Leconipte. In the midst of the dispute and of his wrath, Pettit arose, seized every bill on the table, tore them in pieces, and threw them out of the window. Leconipte was very much chagrined, but not disposed to give it up. It was a raiDy night, and there was only mud around the hote ! ,but Lec-ouipte went down stairs and iuto the mud, feeling for torn hills. The search was fruitless; he returned a sad mau, hut the laughter of Pettit and Ewiug had no bounds. It turned'* out soon afterwards that each man had bet all his money, and wheu they came to pay the hotel bill in the morning, they had to ask the forbearance of the landlord. -,