The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-11-23
from The Ne1U York Erenang Post.
THE LIFE or il Pifttashhff Pitt ashhffaHR9PIST aHRR9QPPIST.
IsAAC r.HOPPER--A t. TRUE LIFE.
BIZ LYDIA MARIA CHILD.

This volume is friendly and honorable tribute
to the memory of a most worthy and useful man.
Mrs. Child enjnyed the privilege of a long aud in
innate acquaintance with friend Hopper, resided
for many years in his family, and was more famil-
lar with his numerous virtues, perhaps, than any
other person not of his own kindred. She was
theref re. the most proper person to make up the
record of his useful life. She has done it affec-
tiouately, but, We believe, faithfully. We take
that she has crowned the performance by an act
worthy Of the distinguished phiIanthropist whose
career she has narrated. She has declined to
ceive any portion of the proceeds of the work.
which has in itfhe elements of great popularity.
insisting that they should all go TO the widow of the
deceased, to whom she presented the entire man.
uscripr as soon as it was completed. Those only
who shall read this volume, and measure the labor
it must have cost. appreciate the generosity of
this act, and the depth of sympathy and affection
which dictatedit.
Friend Hopper was f"e years old when the
United States declared their independence; he
died in May. 1852 in the SD year of his age,and
five years older than the Republic. He spent his
whole life in laborng 10 the vices and ameli-
orate the distresses of other people. Before he
was twenty years of age his sympathies were
aroused in behalf of the slaves in Penn, and from
that period to tie close ofhis life. he probably made
more efforts and gveater sacrifices to free
dom to euslaved and abused Africans than any 9TH
or man in the nation and his efforts were crown
with corresponding success. He estimated that
during his forty years residence in Philadelphia.
he was engaged in assisting over one thousand flu
sitive slaves. large portion Of this volume is oc
cupied with of this description, which illus
trate at once tn, eaormities TO which the unnatur-
able tact, energy, conscientiousness and courage
which formed the prominent features of Friend
Hoppsr's character.
Our readers may find it not Improbable to read
one or two of these cases, that they may see how
sla- e-huHters were braved half century ago,
and with what success.
Some of the occurrences reported by Mrs.
Child would have seemed incredible few years
ago. #
A CHILD KIDNAPPED.
In the year 1901. a Captain Dana engaged pas
sage in hilad "lphia schooner bound to Charles
ton, South Carolina The day he expected to
SAIL he called at the house of colored woman,
and told her he had good suit of clothes, too
small for his sou, but about the right size for
her lttlo boy. He proposed to take the child
home to try the garments, and if they fitted him
he would make him present of them. The
mother was much gratiied by these friendly pro.
fessions, and dressed the boy up as well as she
could to accompany the captain, who gave him a
piece of ginger bread, took him by the hand and
led him away. Instead of going to his lodgings,
as he had promised, he proceeded directly to the
schooner and left the boy in care of the captain,
saying that he himself would come on board while
the vessel was on the way down the river. As
they were about to sail, sudden storm came on.
The wind ragged so violently that the ship dragged
her anchor, and they were Obliged to haul to at
wharf in the district uf Southwark. A respecta-
BILE man who lived in the neighborhood, was stand
ing on the wharf at the time, and hearing child
crying very bitterly on board the vessel, he asked
the colered cook whose child that was, and why he
in such distress. lie replied that passen-
ger by the name of DIna brought him ON board,
and that the b y said he stole him from his moth
or. .a-..
A note was Immediately dispatched to Isaac T.
Hopper, who being away from home, did not
ceive it till ten o'clock at night. The moment he
read it. he called for constable, and proceeded
directly tot he schooner. In answer to the enqui.
ries, the captain declared that all the hands had
gone on shore, and that he was entirely alone in
the vessel. Frieno Hopper called for lghr and
asked him to open the forecasile, that they might
ascertain whether any person was there. He
peremicriy refused; saying that his word ought to
be sufficient to eali fly them. Friend Hopper took
up axe that was lying on the deck, and declar-
ed that he would break the door unless it was
opened Immediately. In this dilemma, the cap
tan with grt at reluctance, unlocked the furecas-
tie; and there found the cook and the boy. The
constable took them all in custody. and they pro-
ceeded to the Mayors. The rain fell in torrents
and it was extremely dark; for in those days there
were no lamps in that part OF the city. They went
stumbling over cellar-doors and wading through
cutters, till they arrived in Front street, where
Mr. Inskeep, the mayor, lived. 1t was past mid
nieht. but when the servant informed him that
Isaac r. Hopper had been ringing at the door,
ana WlSl0Q 10 see DlIll, W 10
up into his chamber. After apoogising for the
unseasonablenes, of the hour he briefly stated the
urgency of the case, aud asked for a verbal order
to put the captain and cook in prison await their
trial the next morning. The magistrate replied.
"It is matter of too much importance to be dis
posed of in that way. l will come down and hear
the case" A large hickory log, which had been
covered with ashes in the parlor fire -pluce, was
rnked open, and they soon uad blazing fire to
dry their wet garments and take off the chill of a
cold March storm. The magistrate was surprised
to find the captain an old acquaintance; and he
pressed much regret at meeting him under such
unpleasant circumstances. After some investiga-
ton of the affair, be was required TO appear for tri
al the next morning, under penalty of forfeiting
three thousand dollars. The cook was committed
to prison, as witness; and the oolored boy
was sent home with Isaac T. Hopper, who agreed