Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-02
THE BEECHER FAMILY.
what Jewett, the Publisher, Says
About Beecher's Early BO0ks-In-
terestfng Facts About Harriet and
EafherInR.
Meg York L,tfsT 10 BOSTON Netes.1

wnot 5eWSNH. inc k'uDIlsnSr, SAYS
About Beeeher's Early BOOks-In-
terestinx Facts About Harriet and
Catherine.
[Nec York Letter 10 Boston Newt
Happening recently into the Grange Pub
Itching house, in Clinton Place. encountered
John p. Jevett, the former weli-knoun pub
Usher of your city, who is still doing little
business In this. The Proctor NOHlton trial
WAS the theme of talk, and naturally Mr.. Jew
cit Was asked what he thought Of the case and
the Beecher's generally. he was not at all
HAD an opinion not favorable to Henry Ward.
Butt do not propose TO narTate that, but tell
you some interesting "reminiscences he re-
counted.
Mr.. Beeeher's first popularity east, so MIR.
Jewett says, grew out of a book of the preach.
er's be (Jewett) worked into favor thirty years
ago, in this wise Mr. Jewett was then in bust
ness in Cincinnati, with Lowell Mason, musical
composer. Dir. Beecher was then settled over
his Indianapolis church Mrs. Jewetts health
falling, physicians ordered her TO New Eng
land, and the partnership was dissolved. As
he was nearly ready to leave, one Deacon Cut
Ter, of Indianapolis, brought little book,
7" Sermons TO Young Men," which he wished
Jewett TO read. The latter did so, and liked it.
They were Beecher's. The deacon, who was a
printer and bookseller, had published these
diseOurses OF his pastor, printing AL edition OF
1000, of which he still had L, 2U left Ia sheets.
He proposed that Jewett take the book to Bos-
ton purchasing the sheets, aud issue it there.
This was greed to. An agreement as TO cops
right was entered Into-Cutler representing
Mr.. Beecher. Mr.. Jewett worked up the book.
IL became great success, and Mr.. Bsecher no
only ecetved substantial copyright returns, buI
was talked of, invited esst 10 the anniversaries,
and d ally settled over Plymouth Church. BGt
now comes the sequel, which, as Dir. JeweIr
narrates IL, justites his
WANT OF TRUST IN THE PLYMOUTH PASTOR
As Mr.. Beecher became more popular bis
book was seen by others, besides Mr.. Jewe.t, TO
be good property. Deacon Burgess, OF Ply
mouth, a well known bookseller OF John street,
in this city, coveted the publication. He per-
suaded has pastor that Mr.. Jewett could be in
cuced to give up the plates on payment OF their
cost. MIR. Beecher was foolish enough to SO
write MIR. Jewett. The latter was astonished,
and 20 wrote Mr.. Beecber, at the same time alb
sOutely declining To consider such PROPOSE
ton, reminding him also that his taking the
publication was direct cause of the change in
his Mr.. B.'s) own circumstances. The response
to this reply was cruel letter from the
preacher, saying that Mr.. Jewett had no con-
tract with him; tn 1t il WAS with former par
ishioDer, and he Mr.. Beecher) repudiated IL,
and directed Mr.. Jewett to surrender the publ
cation at once.
The publishers reply can be easily under
stood by business men. He tod Mr.. b. that he
had never received so cool q proposition before;
that he was sure Mr.. Burgess h adj not suggested
IL, for he knew law enough 10 be sure OF its
folly. AZ TO the contract not being with Mr..
Beecher, Mr.. Jewett reminded him that he held
six receipts for quarterly payments of copy
hight, signed, not by the parlshoner, but by the
pastor and author. II Is needless to say that Mr..
Jewett never heard from Mr.. Beecher again,
and that he continued the publicstton OF the
him TO retire. when it was sold to Mr.. Brooks,
who afterwards sold it to j. b. Ford 6 Co., by
whom the said work is now published. Mr..
Jewetts sales amounted To Is 600, anu the vol
ume is still in demand.
The conversation naturally drif.ed or was
slowed away IN the direction of
UNCLE TOMS CABIN.
MIR. ,Jewett saws be was induced to propose
the publication In book form of this work by
his Wit e interest in 1t, as it appeared in the
National Era. Her Importantly was constant,
and at last, when some affecting scene in which
Eva figured was printed by DR.. Bailey, Mrs.
Jewett secured her husbands promise to offer
to Professor and Mrs. Stowe the publication.
AT the time he had not read a line of the story.
Next morning lie wrote TO BOwdOiD College, in
which MI Stowe was then professor; a reply
came, saying that Mr. and Mrs. Stove would
be i'll Boston within a month, and would there
see Mr.. Jewett. They came, and were much
astOnished to find Mr.. Jewett quite confident he
could make a success of the volume. He had
in the meantime read the story, and became a.
enthusiastic as his wife. He was OF course cooler
In his mani festations. 1t was quite entertaining
to hear him tell OF the amusing simplicity Of
husband and wife. Prof Stowe was very CON
scientious, and after agreeing to let Jewett pub
lish IT, said he did not believe it right. He was
sure Mr.. Jewett would lose money. None
would want 10 read an anti slavery novel, ex-
cept those who had already read 1t i'll the Era.
OF course the publisher said it WAS his risk.
Then the question came up, whether the copy
right should be sold in full or retained, Mr.
.Jewett strongly advising the latter course.
marking with a dubious smile, 81 shall be well
pleased II Harriet gets coed black elk dress
out Of it." 1t was the
DAY OF MODEST BEGINNINGS.
Now comes on the stage that member OF the
Beecher family whom no one have heard seems
to delight in hoDoriDg-MIss Catherine Beecher.
Az Dir. Jewett expressed 1t, abe seemed u re-
gard herself as mother and guardian to Nrs.
Stowe. She insisted that Atty of per can
tsse was unfair, and wanted that there should.
be an agreement to share profits, as she lsi
Will har pvur hnnk M
lished by the Harpers. She Insisted 50 siren
uously that Prof. Stowe at last submitted the
question to Mr.. Jewett. The publisher object
ed, and very justly, saying that such contract
proposed to draw two contrac.s--ons for u roy
atty and the other for half me prOnts-to be
submitted by Mr. Stowe to any three frienis OF
his acquainted with the book trade, and he, Mr
Jewett, would abide by their verdict. The Pro-
fesso< consented and carried the contract 10
Mr.. Dean, connected with the Sunday school
Union, Mr.. Gregory, then collector OF Boston,
his brOther-in law, and Mr.. Marvin, Of the
publishing firm Of Perkins & Marvin. All of
them &C once advised what Mr.. Jewett hal
rot, that Mr. and Mrs. Stowe had no money
wherewith to meet half Of the expenses OF
Losses If such there were. This last item
was reason MP. Stowe fully appreciated
go the original plan was adhered to.
One OF the most amusing episodes, as now told,
though 1t must have been very annoying to Mr..
Jewett, was Miss Beecher's subsequent perse-
into which she at once succeeded in drawing
DR.. coward X. and other members OF he
Beecber family. While the book was going
through the press, Mrs. Stowe rewrote whole
chapters, greatly improving portions, Mr.. Jew
EFT was writing notices, ETC., sending them on.
broadcast. So innocent was Prof. Stowe as Well
as his wife Of all worldly or business kno wledse,
that on one occasion, as Mr.. Jewett tells, the
professor being in Boston, began to tell him OF
the notices he saw in so many different apers,
and declared that Harriet and bimsef were &C.
tually building air castles over his possible sue
cess. Mr.. Stowe, with An almost shame ia ced
mOdesty, confessed they dared to hope that they
might really get enough out OF it to buy little
cottage and 8 quarter OF an acre OF ground at
tached thereto, TO which he had taken a fancy,
in Brunswick, Maine. 1t took some encOur-
aging to induce the professor to tell what his
castle building would cost in fulfllment. But
at lsst he said III 500, and went his way deli ht
ed at MIR. Jewett's cheering assurance that he
would have that amount. and more too.
THE FINANCIAL EPIs0DR
was Mr.. Jewett's account OF his first payment
to the Stoves. 1t consisted in check for
So 900. The author-then famOus-but no5 real
izIng the money value OF her fame-with her
husband, the simple minded Professor, stood
looking with a daZed surprise and perplexty at
the little bit Of paper, by which they were in.
~.I