The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-24
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE ERA.
LETTERS FROM GRACE GREENWOOD--No. 5
Nkw BRIGHTON, Pa, Jan. Q, 1880.

NkW DhiGHToN, IA, Jan, y, 1901
To TIE Editor Of the National Era:
DsAR SrR fully intended doing myself the
honor Of writing to you from Philadelphia, from
whence | have lately returned, but during my
brief stay in that city completely sunk literary
In social lfe ! was too busy to find the quiet
needed for any mental effort, and too happy to
feel the necessity Of writing. mean that in the
society of SO many whom loved, in intercourse
lived out all my poetry and talked out all my
thought Perhaps you will think this fanciful
sort of an apology, but it is no less true
My visit at Philadelphia was one succession OF
bright and pleasant scenes. | had returned after
an absence of nearly two years, somewhat fearing
that those dear friendships which had once made
my happiness here, might have fallen away. But
found them still full Of generous life-ripened,
not withered. II was harvest season to my
heart.
There were many little events ofthis visit, which.
had they been chronicled ut the time, might
have interested your readers, but to note them
30 long after date would be serving up cold meats.
must, however, be allowed to recall and briefly
remark upon some Anti-Slavery meetings, held
at the time Of the annual Fair. These were Deep
ly interesting, and we were favored with someno-
BILE addresses. The one by Mr.. Furness was es-
pecialy beautiful and impressive. This was his
first public address before an anti.slavsry audi
ence, though he has always held the broadcast
principles Of human freedom, has advocated them
incidentally, and bravely preached reform from
his pulpit All honor to him now, for he stands
side by side with Freedoms noblest champions
his place Is now where the struggle Is ghtiest--
he has flung himself into the very heart Of the
battle.
Mr.. Furness was followed by VIM. Elder, who
broke upon his audience in perfect tempest of
eloquence-a egular thunderstorm on the Alps
rafting, and crashing, and blazing about u.s. /
never was more terribly excited than by his strong,
passionate, genuine Irish oratory. 1t is pleasant
to hear Lucretia Mott, after Elder. IL Is like a
soft morning after tempestuous night-like the
west wind blowing off the shore, gently calming
down the reused and fosming waves.
On the day following, we listened to brief ad.
dress from MIR. b. X. Plumley Of Philadelphia
This was an earnest impctuous outpouring of q
great heart filed with the pure love Of truth, and
all on fire with the passionate fervor Of freedom
1t was simply this, softened by the refinement Of
poetic spirit, and 90 IL Il was not that oratory
which took the heart by storm, ii was that elo-
quence which :" slid into the soulD
! have very distinct recollections of some paint
ings and statuary which saw while was In the
city. One Of my first visits was to the Hero and
Leander of Steinhauser The Leander is GER
tainly beautiful above all praise, but the Hero
hardly satisfied me. The upturned face Of the
lover is If with the glow, the rapture, of divine
love-a mighty, immortal passion. All warmth,
all vitality, seem TO have left his chilled and
ried frame, and to have flowed and crowded up in
TO that glorious face. That pure and eIultant
light Of JOY, breaking up through the cold and the
damp, says-"I have found my rest Here Is
my recompense, my exceeding great reward.n
But HERDS reception OF the bold swimmer Is
more lady like than womanly--more sisterly than
lover-like. There is much tenderness in her face
and attitude, bat it Is not impsssioned tenderness
She seems TO have awaited him with the utmost
calnness and patience, and though he comes
through darkness, and cold, and flood, wearied
nigh unto death, yet with the great love Of a
great soul leapng upward to his lips she receives
him tendery indeed, but NJ calmly and properly
as though he had come In his coach and four,
journeying by easy stages, TO do his wooing ac-
cording TO common forms and conventional ussges.
I have little print from an English picture,
the idea Of which like better. 10 this, Hero has
fastened down TO the very brink Of the food, and,
with an impulse Of truest womanly affection, Is
reaching ont her slight arms 70 the help Of her
tired lover a. he struggles up the shore. II msy
be said Of the marble group that its time is that
succeeding the 6rst enraptured meeting, when
the eager expectancy, the moment OF welcome,
with It's loving abandon, had given place TO the
sense Of safety, Of possession, almost Of reposs
But 70 me, Hero seems, II not cold compsrs-
lively insensibls. Her nature 70 wanting In IRE
and strength, and, despite her name, she IL not
heroic. That breast was never "shaksn by
storm Of sighs" Those lips were never parted
In keen, impatient expectation, or quivsrsd with