The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-06-04
TnE OLD SLAVE DAYS.

Some Interesting "Reminiscences Prom
Mrs. Awisshoim's New Book-Thc Ori
gin Of Uncle Toms Cabin.
Mrs. Jane G. swisshslm has In press 9
book Of about 400 pages, which will soon
appear under the above title. Itgives the
following account oil the origin Of Uncle
Toms Cabin. Mrs. swisshelm, after Civ
ing an account Of her first journey to
Washington, says:
l had letters TO the proprietoB Of the
Irving House, where j took board. Had
others to Col. Benton, Henry Clay, and
other great men, but he who most inter.
ested me was Or. GamAliel Bailey, editor
Of the National Era. The great want oil
an anti.slAyery paper at the Capital had
been supplied by s. subscriptions to q
publication fund, and DR.. Bailey was call.
ed from Cincinnati TO take charge Of it,
and few men have kept q charge with
more care and skill. He and the Era had
just passed the ordeal Of irightful mob 10
which he was conCiliatory, unyielding and
victorious; and he was Just then gravely
anxious about the great crisis, but most Of
all anxious that the Era should do yoeman
service 10 the cause which had called II
into life.
The Era had large circulation aud
high literary standing, but DIR. Bailey was
troubled about the difficulty or impossi.
bility oil procuring anu.slayery tales. Mrs.
Southworth was writing serials for 1t, and
he had hoped that she, a Southern woman
with Northern principles, could weave
into her stories pictures OF slavery which
would call damaging attention 70 1t, but
in this she had failed.
Anti.slAvery tales, was what the
good Doctor wanted. Temperance
ance had It's story written in Arthur. II
only Abolition bad good writer OF &c.
ton, one who could interest and educate
the young. He knewof but one pen able
TO write what he wanted, and alas, the
finances OF the Era could not command II.
II only he could engage Mrs. Stowe. !
had not heard Of her, and he explained
that she was the daughter OF Lyman
Beecher. was surprised, and exclaimed:
"a daughter Of Lyman Beecher write
abolition stories! Saul among the proph.
etsl"
reminded the Doctor that President
BeeCher and Prof. Stowe had broken up
the theological department Of Lane Semi.
nary by suppressing the anti.slayery
agitation raised by Theodore Weld, q
Kentucky student, and threw their In.
lluence against disturbing the Congrega'
lional churches with the new fanaticiSm
that Edward BeeCher invented the
organic sin devil, behind which
churches and individuals took refuge when
called upon TO come up to the help OIL the
Lord against the mighty" But DR.. Bailey
said he knew them personally, and thai
despite their public record, they were at
heart anti.slavery, and that prudence
a'one dictated their course. Mrs. Stowe
was q graphic story teller, had been In
Kentucky, taken In the situation, AMI
could describe the peculiar institution ~
no one else could. II he could only enlis,
her the whole family would most likely
follow into the abolition ranks, but The
bounty money, alas, where could he raise
| it,
Where there Is a will there Is q way, and
Il was but few months after that CONVEX
sation when DR.. Bailey forwarded 800 L
Mrs. Stowe, as q retaining fee for heI
services In the cause Of the slaves, and 10
the result, "Uncle Toms Cabin" As il
progressed he sent her another and Their
another 500. Was money ever so vel
expended?