Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-10-11
rFor the Cleveland Leader.l

Few persons who are at all familiar
with newspaper literature are not familiar
with the names that have placed at the
head of this article. Not because they
have been associated together in any work
whatever, but because each in his or her
own way has made for himself or herself
name and fame, and now I have put them
side by side simply because for ten days
we have sat at the same table and talked
morn, noon and eve of the war, of slavery,
of American affairs generally, and have
ventured to suppose that the readers Ofthe
LEADER would be glad, for one meal at
least, to be introduced to our party.
There at my right, at the head of the
table, you see a venerable looking gentle
man, with whiskers white as snow circling
from the ears to the tip of the chin, a soft,
blond, fair face; it is plain, very plain.
The nose is large, the eyes deep set yet
very soft and of blush grey, and the hair,
which is more brown than the beard and
thin, is drawn from the left side to the
right, fall, smooth and soft entirely over
the head, leaving no badness.
He is not either tall or short neither fat
nor lean, but a medium. His voice is pleas
ant, with the least bit of Scotch tone, and
he sits at table, or deals out the steak or
lamb with the easy air of good father
among his children. He is now in New
York on business for the war from the
State of Indiana, and is earnestly at work
with his powerful pen, aiding and abetting
! the emancipation question which he feels
is the only safety for our beloved institu-
| tons But what will astonish most people,
as it did me, is to know that this man
seems to feel the most entire faith in God,
and that He is working out this great
problem of human liberty in His own way.
and it will succeed Mr.. Owen seems to
be universal philanthropist. He has
work to do for the Port Royal
Mission; helps ladies to start juvenile
schools; young authors to publish books,
and though very quiet man at home, has
seemingly a mountain of work on his
hands which he is pushing off with great
deal of system and force. He plays games
with the children evenings in the parlOr-
chats as familiar as brother with the Ia
dies-receives the literati of the city and
discourses the affairs of the nation like q
prophet.
If he was ever Democrat of the Val
landigham school, he is not now. Heart
and soul he is for Liberty-for emancipa-
ton; but is ready to wait the appointed
time of the President, and thinks that
Abraham Lincoln will answer to the de-
mands of of the people by the first of jan
uary, 1868.
Mr.. Owen was recently called to Wash
ington. We all wait anxiously his return,
hoping that he will bring good news of
great joy from the Capital. He goes at the
call of Governor Morgan.
Opposite me, at Mr.. Owens right hand,
sits Matte Griffith, the little Kentucky
poetess, once such favorite of the Louis
Vile Journal and the Missouri Republi-
can, known now more generally il the
free States as the Emancipator of her
slaves, and the author of sundry
books and tales on slavery, among them
" Autobiography of Female Slave" "
Miss Griffith's parents died when sne was
quite young. She was nursed from her
birth by n mulatto slave, loved her for her
kindness, and grew up without any Of that
"natural instinct of antipathy to the
black people which we hear white people
of the north prate about. Her sole wealth
descending from her father was in slaves.
She was petted and loved for her genius,
which broke out very early in life At
twenty-one, in spite of all remonstrances
from friends and relatives, she gave free
dom to every one, and by that act left her
self dependent upon her own untried ener-
gies for support.
Such an act of course rendered the South
no place for her; she came North and has
realized in part the saying, "Cast thy
bread on the waters, and after may days il
will return to thee"
Lovable in herself, the friends of free
dom everywhere gave her a warm and
generous welcome. She is a student
and author, has Travelled in Europe
and returned without being spoiled
A pretty figure, dark brown hair, and
eyes 10 match, complexion Of a chalky
whiteness, but neither clear orbillious. She
is simple in her manners, artless, playful,
impulsive, and as she sits slipping her tea
before us, we would suppose her yet in her
teens. We honor her for the work of hu-
manity which she has done, and give her
words of praise, because she has been true
to herself, and being true to herself is be-
ing true to man and to God.
ado you unto others as ye would that
others should do unto you" was to Matte
Griffith living principle. Long may she
live to enjoy the peace that comes of well
doing. Few young girls have ever been
known in our slavery-bOund country that
have had moral force to do as she has
done.
New York, Oct, 6, 1862. FRANCIS D. GAGE.