The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-01-08
HOW UNCLE T0Ms CABIN was WRIT.

expressed in a recent number OF the
ADVANCE. We believe that all good
and perfect things come down from a
| bove, as Christ said, and that the great
Spirit-world is within and around US,
working through men for the elevation
of the race and the redemption of man.
kind from ignorance and every form OF
evil. AS bearing upon this point, we
give below the account of how Mrs.
Stowe wrote Uncle Tom s Cabin, which
did more to abolish slavery than any
other one influence. This account APP
pears in the introduction to recent
edition of the work published by llousl'-
ton, Osgood 4 Co., Boston:
The first part of the book ever COM
mitted to writing was the death Of
Uncle Tom. This scene presented itself
almost as Il tangible vision to her mind,
while sitting ut the communion table
in the little church at Brunswick,
Maine. She was perfectly overcome by
it, and could scarcely restrain the con-
vGlsion OF tears and sobbings that
shook her frame. She FASTENED home
and wrote it, and, her husband being
away, she read it to her two sons of ten
and twelve years of age. The little fel-
lows broke out into commissions of
weeping, one of them saying, "Oh,
mamma, slavery is the most cursed
thing in the world!" From that time
the story can less he said to have been
composed by her than imposed upon
her. Scenes, incidents, conversations,
rushed upon her with Il vividncss and
importantly that would not he denied
The hook insisted upon getting itself
into being, and would take no denial.
After the two or three first chapters
were written, She wrote to DR.. Bailey,
of the Irrational Era" of Washington
u. e., that she was planning Il story
that might possibly run through sever
al numbers Of the Era" In reply she
received an instant application for it.
and began Immediately to send of
weekly installments. She was then in
the midst of heavy domestic cares,
with II young infant, with Il party of
pupils in her family to whom she was
imparting daily lessons with her own
children, and with unframed servants
requiring constant supervision; but
the story was so much more intense Il
reality to her than any other earthly
thing that the weekly instalIment never
failed. 1t was there in her mind day
and night. waiting to be written, and
requiring but few moments to bring
into visible characters. The weekly
number was always read to the family
circle before it was sent away, and all
the household kept up ali intense inter,
est in the progress Of the story.
In shaping her material, the author
had but one purpose, to show the iISti'
tuition of slavery truly, just as it existed.
She had visited Kentucky, had formed
the acquaintance of people who were
just, upright and generous, and yet
shareholders. She had heard their
views and appreciated their situation:
she felt that justice required that tleil
difficulties Should he recognized, and
their virtues acknowledged. 1t was
her object to show that the evils OF
slavery were the Inherent evils Of bad
''system," and not always the fault OF
those who had become involved in it
and were its actual administrators.
AS the story progressed, young
publisher, J. p. Jewett, Of Boston, set
| his eye upon it, and made overt,Wts fol
the publication of it. in book form, te
which the author consented. After 4
while she had IL letter. from him ex
pressing his fears that she was making
| the story too long for a one volume
| publication. lie reminded her that il
was an unpopular subject, and that
people would not willingly hear mucl
Of it; that one short volume might
possibly sell, but if it grew to two il
might prove fatal obstacle to its sue
cess. Mrs. Stowe replied that she did
not make the story, that the story made
itself. and she could not stop it till il
was done The feeling that pursncc
her increased in intensity to the last
till with the death of Uncle Tom il
seemed lis If the vital force had left her
Il feeling Of profound encouragement
came over her. Would anybody rea(
it? Would anybody listen? Would
this appeal, into which she had phi
heart, soul. mind and strength, wl,i:t
she had written with her hearts blood
would it, too, go for nothing, as 81
many prayers and groans, and entre;,
ties OF these poor suffering souls ha(
already gone?
1t was when the last proof sheet ha<
been sent to the Office that Mrs. Stowe
alone, and thoughtful, sat reading
Horace Mann's eloquent plea for thos
young men and women, then about t.
be consigned to the slave warehouse o
Bruin 4 Hill, in Alexandria, plea
eloquent, impassioned. but vain, as al
other pleas on that side had ever proye'
in all courts hitherto. 1t seemed t.
her that there was no hope; that no
body would hear; nobody would read
nobody would pity.