Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe _

me.-The "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin."-"Uncle Tom" Abroad.-How it was Published in England.-Preface to the European Editio

d man) and Milly (a slave) Edmondson, had, for trying to escape from bondage, been sold to a trader for the New Orleans market. While they were lying in jail in Alexandria awaiting the making up of a gang for the South, their heartbroken father determined to visit the North

rest in the case were disheartened over the prospect of raising it. The old man was finally advised to go to Henry Ward Beecher and ask his aid. He made his way to the door of the great Broo

th him to it, Mrs. Stowe's brother made such an eloquent and touching appeal on behalf of the slave girls as to rouse his audience to profound indignation and pity. The entire

851, when she had been appealed to for aid in educating them. From that time forward she became personally r

ng man, from falling into the trader's clutches. Twelve hundred dollars was the sum to be raised, and by hard work the father had laid by one hundred of it when a severe illness put an end

ching New York she made her way to Mr. Beecher's house, where she was so fortunate as to find Mrs. Stowe. Now her troubles were at an end, for this champion of the oppressed at once made the slave woman's cause her own and promised that

ached its fullest development under the crushing wrongs of slavery, but in this woman I see it. I never knew before what I could feel till, with her sorrowful, patient ey

be redeemed. If I can't raise the money otherwise, I will pay it myself.' You should have see

e put my own name down for an equal amount. A lady has given me twenty-five dollars, and Mr. Storrs has pledged me fifty dollars. Milly and I are to meet the ladies of Henry's and Dr. Cox's churches to-morrow, and she is to tel

ong to hear you say how much you love me. Dear one, if this effort impedes my journey home, and wastes some of my strength, you will not murmur. When I see this Christlike soul standing so patiently

lace to-morrow. Four hundred dollars were contributed by individuals in Brooklyn, and the ladie

eedom and that of her children, and sent her home rejoicing. That this sum was made up to her by the generous contribu

r gold-piece for the Edmondsons. Isabella's ladies gave me twen

ongratulations and praise of her book, the most pleasing incident of this time seems to have been

d beauty. Her face and movements are full of poetry and feeling. She has the artless gr

s impossible to get any good ones, as they were all sold. Mr. Howard said he regretted that, on Mrs. Stowe's account, as she was very desirous of

seats in the house, inclosed in an envelope directed to me in his wife's handwriting. Mr.

th a copy of my book. I am most happy to h

e great singer

sincere thanks for your very kind lett

the dignity of human existence: so I with my miserable English would not even try to say a word about the gr

ncle Tom's Cabin" that great changes will take place by and by, from the impression people receive out of it, and that the writer of that book can fall asleep to-day or to-morrow with the bright, sweet conscience of having been a strong means i

and the liberty I have taken, a

most

dschmidt,

appeal on behalf of the Ed

of the black family at Washington. It is with pleasure also that

arewell to you in this way. Hoping that in the length of time you may live to witness the

in fri

Goldsc

ved and accepted a most urgent call to the Professorship of S

unswick, I would rather leave at once. I can tear away with a sudden pull more easily than to linger there kn

on, and it had a year or two before been fitted up by Charles Munroe and Jonathan Edwards[13] as the Seminary gymnasium. Beneath Mrs. Stowe's watchful care and by the judicious expenditure of money, it was transformed by the first of November into the charming abode which under the name of "The Cabin" became noted a

hristian in spirit. Mr. Dexter, his wife, and sister are delightful. Last evening a party of us went to ride on horseback down to Pomp's Pond. What a beautiful place it is! There is everything here that there is at Brunswick except the sea,-a great exception. Yesterday I was out

NDOVE

so much and to think so much of you. I am almost afraid to accept it, and should not, did I not see the Hand that gives it all and know that it is both firm and true. He knows if it is bes

which afterward appeared as a serial in the "Independent," was already contemplated, is shown by a letter written July 29th, in which Mrs. Stowe says: "What a lovely place Andover is! So many beautiful walks! Last evening a n

, who in his youth sailed all over the world and made up his mind about everything. In his old age he attends prayer-meetings and reads the 'Missionary Herald.' He also has plenty of money in an old brown sea-chest. He is a great heart with an inflexible will and iron

perhaps unconsciously so) authoress of this book. The woman who wrote it must be either a very bad or a very fanatical person. For her own domestic peace we trust no enemy will ever penetrate into her household to pervert the scenes he

ory, Mrs. Stowe found it necessary to take notice in some manner of the cruel and incessant attacks made upon her as the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and to fortify herself against them by a published statement of incontrovertible facts. It was claimed on all sides that she had in her famous bo

ich the story is founded, with some very interesting and affecting stories parallel to those told of Uncle Tom. Now I want you to write for me just wh

chess of Sutherland upon hearing that she had headed an

is awful indictment upon my country. I write it in the anguish of my soul, with tears and prayer, with sleepless nights and weary

neral voice of humanity may quicken our paralyzed vitality, that all Christians may pray for us, and that sha

r the op

. St

f April, 1853, when, upon invitation of the Anti-Slavery Society of Glasgow, Scotland, Mr

omenal and unprecedented. From the pen of Mr. Sampson Low, the well-known L

ted, through a friend who had bought it in Boston the day the steamer sailed, for his own reading. He gave it to Mr. V., who took it to the late Mr. David Bogue, well known for his

resh supplies, and these created an increased demand. The discovery was soon made that any one was at liberty to reprint the book, and the initiative was thus given to a new era in cheap literature, founded on American reprints. A shilling edition followed the one-and-sixpence, and this in turn became the precursor of one 'complete for sixpence.' From April to December, 1852

ined facts, I am able pretty confidently to say that the aggregate number of copi

printing it, however, as there was one night allowed for decision, one volume was taken home to be read by Mr. Vizetelly, and the other by Mr. Salisbury, the printer, of Bouverie Street. The report of the latter gentleman the following morning, to quote his own words, was: 'I sat up till four in the morning reading the book, and the interest I felt was expressed one moment by laughter, another by

le of June, although we advertised it very extensively. From June it began to make its way, and it sold at the rate of 1,000 per week during July. In August the demand became very great, and went on increasing to the 20th, by which time it was perfectly

namely, the Royal Victoria and the Great National Standard. In 1853 Professor Stowe writes: "The drama of 'Uncle Tom' has been going on in the National Theatre of New York all summer with most unparalleled success. Everybody goes night after night, and nothing

introductions by Elihu Burritt, Lord Carlisle, etc., it was also making its way over the Continent. For the authorize

THE EUROP

tinent of Europe, the author has only this apology, th

nvests human existence with an awful sacredness; and in the eye of the true believer in Jesus, he who tramples on the rights of

lose mosaic of facts! But that it is not a fiction the proofs lie bleeding in thousands of hearts; they have been attested by surrounding voices from almost every s

ggle that now convulses America,-the outcry of the demon of slavery, which has heard the voice of

e Frenchman, the German, the Italian, the Swede, and the Irish all mingle on terms of equal right; all nations there display their characteristic excellences and are admitted by her liber

nations, meets this barrier, behind which is concentrated all the ignorance, cruelty, and oppressi

nd Maryland, at different times, strong movements have been made for emancipation,-movements enforced by a comparison of the progressive march of the adjoining free Stat

preservation; and if no new slave territory be added, the increase of

gained, slavery dies; if it is gained, it lives. Around this point poli

to Europeans as those of America; for America is fast filling up from Eu

of permanent freedom, let them come prepared, heart and hand, and vote against t

o nation can remain free with whom free

, arranged in the alphabetical order of their languages, are as follows: Armenian, Bohemian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Flemish, French

confess that in the whole modern romance literature of Germany, England, and France, we know of no novel to be called equal to this. In comparison with its glowing eloquence that never fails of its purpose, its wonderful truth to nature, the largeness of its ideas, and the artistic faultlessne

t; it is the very reason she appears to some not to have talent. Has she not talent? What is talent? Nothing, doubtless, compared to genius; but h

mony to the good Mrs. Stowe has done. The article of George Sand is a most remarkable tribute, such as was hardly ev

age Charles Kingsley

ou. You will be flattered and worshiped. You deserve it and you must bear it. I am sure that you have seen and suffe

we meet about the effects of the grea

ver fai

ings

present at the examinations this term, I think it proper to make to you a statement of the reasons of my absence. During the last winter I have not enjoye

se of emancipation in the United Kingdom, was gladly acc

llen in London, asking for information with regard to herself, he

ry characteristic letter, which may be sa

February

resting that I have long been acquainted with you, and during all th

ld write to you, and tell you how much I was oblig

tistics free of charge. To begin, then, I am a little bit of a woman,-somewhat more than forty, about as thin

en was bought for eleven dollars. That lasted very well for two years, till my brother was married and brought his bride to visit me. I then found, on review, that I had neither plates nor teacups to set a t

ntly enriched with we

his dying bed and at his grave that I learned what a poor slave mother may feel when her child is torn away from her. In those depths of sorrow which seemed to me immeasurable, it was my only prayer to God that such anguish might not be suffered in vain.

t in the awful scenes and bitter sorrows of that summer. It has left now, I trust, no trace on my mind,

hought the most profitable investment. After this I thought that I had discovered the philosopher's stone. So when a new carpet or mattress was going to be needed, or when, at the close of the year, it began to be evident that my family accounts, like poor Dora's, "wouldn't add up," then I used to say to my faithful friend and factotum Anna, who shared all my joys and sorrows, "Now, if you will keep the babies and attend to the things in the house for one day, I'll write a piece, and then we shall be out of the scrape." So I became an author,-very modest at fir

found in the city, is next to an impossibility to obtain in the country, even by those who are willing to giv

price, a number of poor families settled in our vicinity, from whom we could occasionally obtain domestic service. About a dozen families of liberated slaves were among the number, and they became my favorite resort in cases of emergency. If anybody wishes to have a black face look handsome, let them be left, as I have been, in feeble health in oppressive hot weather, with a sick baby in arms, and two o

ouisiana. She has often told me how, without any warning, she was suddenly forced into a carriage, and saw her little mistress screaming and stretching her arms from the window towards her as she was driven away. She has told me of scenes on the Louisiana plantation, and she has often been out at night by stealth ministering to poor slaves who had been mangled and lacerated by the lash. Hence she was sold into Kentucky, and her last master was the father of all her children. On this point she ever maintained a delicacy and reserve that always appeared to me remarkable. She always called him her husband; and it was not till after

ver occurred to me. It was therefore an agreeable surprise to receive ten thousand dollars as the first-fruits of three months' sale. I presume as much more is now due. Mr. Bosworth in England, the firm of Clarke & Co., and Mr. Bentley, have all

tland, and shall probably spend

he colored race might be created out of the proceeds of a work which promises to have so unprecedented a sale. My own share of the profits will be less than that of the publishers', either English or American; but I am willing to g

n all the facts and documents on which that story was founded, and an immense body of facts, reports of trials, legal d

o measure the depth of the abyss. The law records of courts and judicial proceedings are so incredible as to fill me with amazement whene

Many times in writing "Uncle Tom's Cabin" I thought my health would fail utterly; but I prayed earnes

own brothers, for the South, and am pained by every horror I am obliged to write, as one who is forced by some awful oath to disclose in court some family disgrace.

to see me, and now I cannot help thinking that they will think, w

's grave, and Milton's mulberry-tree, and the good la

ffectio

. St