The New York herald., 1870-02-09
MRS. HARRIET BEECHER stowe.
Shc is Interviewed at Her Florida Plnnin.
tiOn by Excursion Party-Curions Ac.
count Of Her Domestic Habits ana Pccu.

She is Interviewed at Her Florida Plunin.
tiOn by Excursion Party-CuriOms Ac-
count Of Her Domestic Habits ana Pccu-
Iinrities.
Jacksonville Fla. Jan. 81, correspondence OF the
Nashville Union ana Americana
About twelve O'Clock party Of about thirty ladies
and gentlemen took excursion small steam.
boat twelve fifteen miles up the ST. Johns.. After
we mad been some time out the captain informed us
that Mrs. Harriet Beecner Stowes plantation lay i'm
medately the bank 0f the river, and that the old
lady mad arrived there but u lew days previous Tor
her usual winter soourn. IL was then determined
tnat the excursonists would call upon ner ana
when the boat arrived Opposite her residence COM
mittee OF Cincinnati gentlemen called at the house
to learn whether would be agreeable for us to pay
respects TO her. Sne informed the committee tDat
she would be pleased 10 receive the adies and gentle
men OF the excursion. Accordingly all marched up 70
the house ana were presenten TO Mrs. stowe. We
were very much disappointed IN her appearance.
She Is scarcely up to the medium height and has
strong masculine features, but greatly lacking in the
intelligence she has displayed IN her contributions TO
the literature OF the day. ere she placed IN
with number OF ladies selected promiscuously
there IS scarcely one in hundred who would select
her woman OF genius. she appeared dnident
ana Ill at ease in the company OF our ladies' Whether
she was embarrassed and forgot, or whether it is
characteristic Of her, she certainly exhibited none
OF the hospitality with winch lady IN the
South receives visitors. She lett the ladies
not introduce them TO her daughters, VINO were
present, did she offer them cup OF water, nor
an orange, which hung In proiuson on the trees
around the door. Tier daughters, twin sisters, had
nothing to say; indeed, we believe they did not
speak 10 one OF the VlSilOfS one OF tleu was en-
gagged on piece OF crochet work. and she Piled her.
self TO the work before her US though Sue were
hired seamstress who had no right TO speak. This
conduct attracted tue attention OF bOth ladies ana
gentlemen OF the party ana 1t was suggested IN ex-
lenuation OF their want OF Hospitality tnat, be.
ing tIe family OF q distinguished authoress
Jney were perhaps subjected to visits from
q great many curious aud impertinent people,
ana that they had adopted this method 10 rid taem
selves OF botn Doors and bores. One OF the party,
mschievous fun.loylng disciple OF Blackstone from
Atlanta states tnat wnle one portion OF the party
ainfar ma
fronting the river, and others were viewing the
oranges as Lney hung temptingly on the trees on
either side and IN tae rear OF tue house. he made hts
way to the Kitchen TO interview the servants. lie
encountered ratner pretty and witty Irish girl,
from whom he learned good deal In regard To the
domestic habits oil the stowe lanly. IN response 10
an inquiry she stated that Mrs. stoves twin daugh-
tiers were thirty years Old and that they dd not
as much from their behavior.
Mrs. stowe looks to be sixty-nve years Old though
under hity-eight having been born June ID. 1872.
she wears her hair. which Is quite gray, IN cuI s and
was oressed IN very pam, unpretendlng style She
was married III 1886 10 the Rev. Professor CALVIN
Ellis Stowe. Shortly afterwards she commenced her
literary career and In 1851 began the publication In
the National Era. an antislavery paper at Washing
ton, as serial tale OF her celebrated work entitled
''Uncle Toms Cabin" II attracted SO much atten-
tion that when completed, III 1852 1t was published
III book form IN boston, aud 80 great was the de-
mand for II that at least 4n0,0 copies were sod
The English reprints are- estimated TO have
reached 5000 copies and 1t was rapidly
translated into all European and some Asiatic
languages, and 1t was also extensively dramatlzcd.
IL has been justly SAID with reference To tins book,
that never ana an American achieve 30 sud
den and great q literary success, exert more
profound influence upon American politics and Soc-
ety.n one 0i our party, arepublican, remarked that
our troubles date from the PRONUNCIATION of lns
WORK, ana the memory Of the .iat, sleek negroes,
he lost by the war inspired In him no high respect
Tor Mrs. stowe. Although size has written TWO other
anL-slayery and number Of literary books none OF
them are remembered except her last, which has
called forth the denunciat0n OF almost every press
III The country. Notwithstanding her abuse ana
misrepresentation OF the people OF the South, she Ii
treated by them with the courtesy due to O lady.
Ii was learned IRON the gentleman W no has charge
OF the place mat Mrs. Stowe owns about ninety
acres OF land, on which there is small orange
grove lie stated that the trees yield iIom 1000 to
5000 oranges each. and that they sell for five dollars
TO elgnt dollars per barrel, averaging $50 to 900
oranges per BARREL The demand for oranges ls not
80 good this season as formerly and prices lower
IL was noticed that Mrs. StOwe's oranges were not
so large as those on an adjoining place but perhaps
the larger ones had been gathered and marketed.
few minutes before the party returned 10 the
boat Professor stowe made his appearance and was
introduced 10 few VINO still fingered AT the house.
He Is a venerable, pairiarchal looking man. and
made rather u favorable impression upon those who
conversed with him. Mrs Stowe stated that size
would return to her New Eng and home in May.
her residence on the st. Johns Is unpretendlng
buI neat cottage, and II Ia claimed to have been
punt upon the spot where the first dwelling was
erected IN Eor!ua.