The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-19
Mrs. Stoves Uncle Tom.
Chicago InterLOcean.

Noticing in your issue of the 14th Of
February communication signed "An
Old Abolitionist," relating some incidents
in the life of George Harris, one of Mrs.
Stoves characters, am reminded of my
own personal acquaintance of long ago
with the veritable "Uncle Tom" himself,
and though the mist of half century
partially obscures many circumstances OF
that period, my recollection of Uncle Tom
for 1t was about that time tina. first
knew him--is quite clear, and presuming
that the public would be interested in any
thing pertaining to him, l will state for
their information that the man Is still liv-
ing, or was year ago, In the person of
Josiah Henson, his residence being at or
near Chatham, Ont. Henson came to Cam
ada about the year 1880, and lived very
near me for several years. He has made
two trips to England, and on the last one
was invited by the Queen to Buckingham
Palace, and signed his name in her Maj
csty's album, and received from her her
photograph. Al English Bishop on this
occasion collected and presented him with
a purse of several thousand dollars.
Henson, some years ago, visited Mrs.
Stowe, and satisfied that gifted authoress
Of bis identity with the character which
her pen had 80 graphically portrayed.
I think it is about two years since he
called upon President Hayes, and went to
his old masters plantation, the scene Of
his sufferiugs, and found his old mistress
still living. He was In Detroit theatre
las, year, and witnessed the play In which
himself was the hero, dividing the atten-
ton OF the audience with the representa-
ton, his presence having become known.
Notwithstanding the facts which have
stated have been published, find, in con-
versation with many intelligent people, that
they had never seen nor heard anything Of
them, and were under the impression that
Uncle Tom had met the fate assigned him
In the story.
The latitude taken by the authoress in
making such disposition Of her great
character Is quite allowable, rs the world
knows, i'm works of that style, and 10 i'm
deed generally resorted to. Ia this instance
1t Is the very best imaginable, In order 70
Impress upon the mind of the readers, in
their most revolving aspect, the cruelties
and enormities that were frequently prac-
tioed upon the unhappy slaves; though | am
bound to say, In justice. from my own
knowledge, that cases Of the kind aie ex-
ceptional, and that I have known many
excellent moral men, who treated their
slaves with great kindness.
In the case of Uucle Tom, Mrs. Stowe
states in letter, Of which have printed
copy, that bis treatment was far worse
even than she has described it. In person
Henson Ia above the medium height, well
proportioned, and OF ilne presence, and pos
sesses superior mental endowments. He is
thoroughbred, / should judge, and in
him the charge 80 often made against the
negro Of intellectual infenority is not sus-
tained--no more than is was in sToupang"
and many others Of the race. Henson Is,
moreover, good, Christian man. His
age must be somewhere in the nineties.
suppose I have said rs much as your read
ers win care to read, and will therefore
stop short. G. HARDIsoS.