The New York herald., 1868-04-20
BOOK NOTICES.

BOOK NOTICES.
merry a slave, but more recently modiste and
friend to Mrs: Abraham Lincoln Or' Thirty Years
Slave and Four Years In the White House. New
York: G. W. Carleton Co. 1868.
Mn Keckley is q colored woman who was born
slave In Virginia about fifty years since, ana having
made her way from the plantation to be sort OF
court dressmaker in Washington during the war,
has deemed the contrast between the two extremes
Of her career sufficiently striking to make her
history worth writing She has consequently writ
ten it, or had it written In direct and natural
way, and has made q book that, without being
remarkable for any particular excellence, is well
enough done not to be dull. Doubtless those who
arc In the habit OF selling upon the smallest in
dicatons Of intelligence In the negro sort
Of capital for agitation viii be ecstatic this
volume and nnd 1t food for astonishment that
colOred woman should write at all.
Mrs. Keckey's early life in Virginia Is recounted
with some minuteness and we have detail Of
that point to the brutality ana degradation OF the
peculiar institution, with the names OF the persons
who beat the dusky authoress In her early years with
cudgels and the information that the persons named
are still alive, so that they may know how they ap
pear in print Elizabeth Keckley seems inferen-
tally to have been person Of stubborn
will, az the savage punishments OF which she
q view to bend this "will.n 1t was, perhaps for
the sake Of condensing her narrative that she 80
stndiousy omitted all the little collisions that pre-
ceded the use Of the cudgels. No person rightly
sympathize with brutal punishment anywhere, and
all, hope equally and earnestly rejoice that such
scenes are no longer natural part OF our social
order. We can see, also, what a sat faction 1t is
that the former masters of Mrs. Keckley should,
at this late day. be gbbeed in print for their bru-
tality But suppose every menal servant could thus
put before the world her account Of the crueltes
she had suffered at the hands Of those she hated,
what satisfactory opinions we should be able to form
OF our fellows
Our authoress was brought up as seamstress, and
found among Southern people those who were will
ing to advance her from mere good will, enough
money TO buy her freedom so she became free on
the faith OF what she could do, and by dressmaking
subsequently earned the money. Her positive will,
therefore, had excellent results when 1t worked in
right direction. Becoming dressmaker in Wash
ington, she was employed by Mrs. Jefferson Davis.
Mrs. stephen Douglas, Mrs. Abraham Lincoln and
less frequently by the daughters OF President John
son, whom the dusky artist evidently regards as
very poor 'white trash" dscharglng them from her
pages in few supercous sentences.
The main interest that this book will have for
the public will be it gives avew OF the inner life
of Mr. Lincoln and tells OF the career of his wife and
widow as seen by the colored dressmaker. Mrs. |
Keckley il plainly put forth the advocate OF Mrs.
Lincoln; and the minute account she gives OF the
cent endeayOr Of that lady TO sell her wardrobe will
inspire an inquiry whether the whole book was not
written for the sake OF this chapter.
The following extract presents the tone in which
statesmen were sometimes discussed en- Jdmi1e:-
CANDID OPINIONS
Often Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln discussed the rela-
tiOns Of Cahnef officers and gentlemen prominent
In politics ID ny presence; soon learned TINT the
Chase at that time Secretary Of the Treasury. She
was well versed In human character, was somewhat
suspicious OF those by whom she was surrounded,
ana often her Judgment was correct. Her intuition
about the sincerity OF individuals accurate
then that OF her husband. She looked beyond, and
read the rejection Of action In the future. Her hos
ty to Mr.. Chase was very bitter. She claimed that
and warned Mr.. Lincoln not to trust him too far
The daughter Of the Secretary was quite belle In
the popularity OF others, had no desire TO build up
her social position through political favor to her
father. Miss Chase, now Mrs. Senator Sprague was
lovely woman, and was worthy OF all the admlra- |
tion she received. Mr. Lincoln was more con idiDg
than his wife, He never suspected the fidelity or |
those who claimed to be his friends. Honest to the
very core himself aud frank q child, he never |
dreamed OF questioning the sincerity OF Others.
into the motives OF Chase said his wife one day
The President was lying carelessiy upon sofa,
holding I'm, newspaper ,n ID MS So you
but you disposed to magnify tribes. Chase Is a
patriot and one Of my best friends"
''Yes, one Of your best friends because II IL his
interest to be so. He Is anything for Chase. II be
thought he could make anything by 1t he would be-
II fear that you are prejudiced against the man.
mother. know that you do him injustice"
"hr. Lincoln you are either blind or will not see.
] am not the only one that has warned you against
him."
country telling not To trust Chase but then these
letters arc written by the political enemies OF the
Secretary and il would be unjust and foolish To pay
xtsz,.e klAxx
"very we'll you wiz find ont some day. II you live
long enough, that have read the man correctly.
truth when il is too laten The President as lar as
I could Judge from his conversation with his wife.
continued TO conde In Mr.. Chase to the time of his
Mrs. Lincoln was especially severe on Mr.. williaru
II. seward, Secretary OF state. She but rarely lost
An opportunity to say an unkind word OF him.
One morning I went to the While House earlier
than usual. Mr.. Lincoln was sitting IN u
head Of little Tad. was Wasting a dress for Mrs.
Lincoln A servant entered and handed the President
a letter just brought by MESSENGER ne broke nc
seal AMI when he had read the contents his wife
asked.--
"Who IL the letter from. fatherr'
seward must go over and see him today"
seward wish you had nothing 10 do with that
man. lie cannot be trusted"
''You say the same Of Chase " listened TO You
should soon be without q Cabinet"
Better be without II than 70 connde IN some OF TIC
men that you do. Seward Is worse tnan Chase. lie
mother, you are mistasen your prejudices are 81
violent that YOU do not stop 10 reason seward ~ On
able man, and the country as well ~ myself can tret
him"
Father, you are too honest for this world You
should have been born saint. You will generally
hnd IL safe rule TO distrust disappointed, aplbi-
tions politician II makes mad 10 see you at sfil
aud let that bypOcre, seward twine you around MS
| finger as II you were n sken VI thresd.n
"lt is useless to argue the question, mother. fOu
cannot change my opinon.n
| Mra. Lincoln pfidcd herself upon her ability
TO read character. she was shrewd and far-secng.
and bad no patience With the frank cophdng nature
| VI the President.
einof ~ tennessee, Mrs. Lincoln bitterly opposed the
| appointment.
4 "ue N demag0gue" she ssld, almost hercely,
| "snd you place him In power. Mr. Lincoln, mark
| my words, ,ou viii rue Il some day"
| oeBersl Mcclellan, when made CommaDder.i in
Chcf, wa The Idol ~ The soldiers aud never was
general mort universally popular. "He IL n hum
phg, Fch7fseu Mrs. Lincoln day In INV pre-