The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-07-29
How 6 Uncle Toms Cabin +" Came to
be Written.

Mrs. Jane G.. Swisshelm, in her
book entitled ssHalf Century," gives
the following account of the origin of
ssUncle Toms Cabin. Mrs. Swiss
helm. giving an account of her first
journey to Washington, says:
81 had letters to the proprietor Of
the Irving House, where I took board.
Had others to Col. Benton, Henry Clay
and other great men, but he who most
interested me was DR.. Gamaliel Bailey,
editor Of the National Era. The great
want Of an anti-slavery paper at the
capital had been supplied by S. SUBJ
scriptions to publication fund, and
DIR. Bailey called from Cincinnati take
charge Of it, and few men have kept
a charge with more care and skill. He
and the Era had just passed the ordeal
Of frightful mob, in which he was
conciliatory, unyielding and victorious
and he was just then gravely anxious
that the Era should do yeoman service
to the cause which had called it into
life.
"The Era had large circulation,
and high literary standing, but DR..
Bailey was troubled about the difficulty
or impossibility of procuring anti-slavery
tales. Mrs. Southwprth was writing Sc
rails for it, and he had hoped that she,
a Southern woman with Northern prin-
ciples, could weave into her stories pict-
ures of slavery which would call damag-
ing attention to it, but in this she had
failed.
"Anti-slavery tales, anti-slavery tales
was what the good doctor wanted. Tenn
perance had its story writer in Arthur.
If only abolition had a good writer Of
fiction, one who could interest and edu-
cate the young. He knew of but one
pen able to write what he wanted, and
alas the finances of the Era could not
command it. IF only he could engage
Mrs. Stowe. I had not heard of her,
and he explained that she was the
daughter of Lyman Beecher. Twas sur
prised, and exclaimed:
ga daughter of Lyman Beecher
write abolition stories. Saul among the
prophets !!
81 reminded the doctor that Presi-
dent Beecher and Prof. Stowe had
broken up the theological department.
of Lane Seminary by suppressing the
anti-slavery agitation raised by Theo-
dere Weld, Kentucky student, and
threw their influence against disturbing
the Congregational 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 of the Lord against the
mighty" But DR.. Bailey said he knew
them personally, and that, despite their
| public record, they were at heart anti
slavery, and that prudence alone dctat-
ed their course. Mrs. Stowe was a
graphic story-teller, had been in Ken
lucky, taken in the situation and could
describe the peculiar institution as nc
one else could. If he could only enlist
her, the whole family would most likely
follow into the abolition ranks, but
the bounty money, alas, where could
he raise it? .s~.
| "Where there is will there is way
and it was but few months after thai
conversation when DR.. Bailey forwarded
500 to Mrs. Stowe, as retaining fee
for her services in the cause of the slave
and 10, the result, Uncle Toms Cabin.
AS it progressed hesent her another anC
then another $10o Was ever money sc
we'll expended % 'F''