The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-22
For the National Era.
TO NY READERS.

n hi0hu hoo idociy oohe ho PoisiOh VI d
letter from the pen of Miss Alice Carey, pub
lished in the Cincinnati Gazette of March Goth
from which extract the following:
In some of the popular poetry of the day
the poison of infdelity is widely diffused, the
author for a pretence,' making nature his
source of Inspiration; for in reality he has no
inspiration above the love of the sensuous and
no ability save what is mechanical Amongst
our women writer's, | especially regret to see
any of this spirit Miss Chesebro', a young as
pirant for literary honors, has in press new
it, she does battle, according TO her powerS, for
the dark. am also sorry for this, as she has
honored me with part of the dedication, and
would not willingly be thought to share the
sentiment There is, think, in the trick of
manner, the familiar and commonplace way
of speaking of sacred things the CHASING our
Saviour with great and good men, philanthro-
pists, and the like, miserable subterfuge for
downright skepticism In this bold, bad Styie,
often writes Grace Greenwood, E. Cakes Sm,th,
and some other notable wonen."
At an ordinary time should not think of
replying to an attack like this, come from
whatever source it might, trusting soon to live
it down, and indirectly to write it down But
now, am peculiarly circumstance, and must
speak Being on the eve of going abroad for
many months, regarding my impaired health
and the dangers of ocean-voyages, it behooves
me to look to the possibility of my never re-
turning-and so, before | go, would set this
matter right as far as lies in my power
think that you cannot fail to be surprised
by the contemptuous and severe manner in
which Miss Carey speaks of Miss Chesebro',
an authoress whose writings have ever been dis.
tinguished by high, moral and religious tone
Miss Carey has certainly gracious way Of
her own of acknowledging the compliment of a
dedication she has also her own ideas of JUS
tice, in thus condemning a book UNREAD-oi
the kindly courtesy, the generous sympathy
the "aid and comfort" proper to be extended
by famous woman like herself to sister au
thoress-a patient, conscientious, toiler in the all
too unproductive fields of American literature
like Miss Chesebro'. But is it quite magnani
nous in her, just at this time when her fresh
foreign bays are clustering SO thick about hen
brows, to reach out her hand to rob us of our
simple little wreaths of home grown laures
Is it fair in her to come crushing down upon
us with all the weight of the prestige and au-
thority conferred by the Journal deS Debats
and The WESTMINSTER REVIEW l-
Miss Chesebro' and Mrs E. Cakes Smith are
well qualified to defend themselves if they see
fit, but, as for the charges brought against me-
Of holding in6del sentiments, and Of often wr
ting in "bold, bad STYLE" do not hesitate to
pronounce them false. No thought poisoned
with skcpticism could ever have crept into my
writings, for | have never harbOred one in my
heart. There, have kept "pure through all
these years the Christian faith my mother
taught me in my childhood 1t is true that
have never set myself up as a religious teacher
it is true that ! have 40 intense detestation
of cant and hypocrisy rs to make me liable
rather at any time seem worse than better
than | am. Ii is true that where feel strong
ly, often make use Of extravagant expressions
which afterwards regret. 1t is especially
true, that where the question of freedom il
concerned, | have small reverence for men
however great and gifted, whom believe false
to liberty and to the oppressed, and sometime,
speak Of them bitter and burning words out o.
AN indignant heart. But this fault if it be a
fault, is one native to hasty and imprisoned
naturc-one which time and the discipline Of
life alone can correct.
As to dealing lightly with sacred things,
can solemnly affirm that have never been vii
fully or consciously irreverent.
No distinct charge or dark insinuaton ear
be made against the moral tone of an authores'
without injury to the reputation of the woman
for out of pure fountain issue no polluted
waters Miss Carey is woman, and well
knows this.
For rude reproof from some politician
whose party prejudiccs ] had reused, or sharp
satire from some starched conservative whose
exquisite sense Of feminine propriety had
shocked, | could have seen some motive and
acknowledged some provocation Il could
have been prepared for SUCH could have par
ried the one with argument and answered the
other with quiet smile but this quick thrust
of sharp, unsupported weapon, in soft wo-
manly hand, reached heart up to that mo-
ment beating kindly toward her who struck
Two of us thus wounded, have beloved mothers
who doubly feel all hurt which comes to us
for the sake of the memory of hers, she should
have spared ours this pain.
GRACE GREENWOOD.