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


letter from the pen of Miss Alice Carey, pub
lished in the Cincinnati Gazette of March Goth
from which extract the following:
A." 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
book, in which, am told by one who has seen
it, she does battle according TO her powerS, for
the dark. | am also sorry for this, as she has
honored me with a 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, phlanthro-
pists and the like, a miserable subterfuge for
downright skepticism In this bold, bad sye,
often writes Grace Greenwood, E. OakeS Sn,ith,
and some other notable women"
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 behooyes
me to look to the possibility of my never re-
turnng-and go, 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 a high, moral, and religious tone
Miss Carey has certainly gracious way o.
her own of acknowledging the compliment of a
dedication she has also her own ideas of jus
tice in thus condemning a book UNREAD-o
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 al
too unproductive fields of American literature
like Miss Chesebro'. But is it quite magnani
nous in her, just at this time, when her fresl
foreign bays are clustering so thick about hel
brows, to reach out her hand to rob us of our
simple little wreaths of homegrown laurels
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 Debdts
and TIE WESTMINSTER REVIEW l-
Miss Chesebro' and Mrs. f. Cakes Smith are
10 Iafa
fit, but, as for the charges brought against me
of holding infdel sentiments, and of often wri
ting in "bold, bad STYLE" do not hesitate t.
pronounce them false. No thought poisoned
with skepticism could ever have crept into my
writings, for | have never harbored one in my
heart. There, have kept "pure through al
these years y 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 a detestatior
of cant and hypocrisy rs to make me liabl,
to err on the other sde--and that ! wOulG
rather at any time seem worse, than better
than am. 1t is true that where feel strong
w. often make use Of extravagant expressions
which | afterwards regret. 1t is especial,
true, that where the question of freedom i
concerned, have small reverence for men
however great and gifted, whom believe falls,
to liberty and to the oppressed, and sometimes
speak of them bitter and burning words out O
am indignant heart But this fault if it be q
fault, is one native to hasty and impassioneC
naturc-onc which time and the discipline O
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 insinuation 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 wei
knows this.
For rude reproof from some politician
whose party prejudiccs ! had roused or SHARP
satire from some starched conservative whose
exquisite sense of feminine propriety | had
shocked, | could have seen some motive and
acknowledged some provocaton 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 thrus,
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.