Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-07-07
UNCLE TOMS cAsIr.

Stoves returned to New England and
settled In Brunswick, Me-, where they
continued their active sympathy with
the anti-slavery movement. but were
distressed by the general apathy that
then seemed to prevail on the subject
throughout the north. Mrs. Stowe thus
conceived the idea of writing SEINE
sketches which would give the world a
picture of slsvery as she herself had
seen II. One day, while looking over
the bound volume of an anti-slavery
magazine edited in Washington by
Mrs. DIR. Bailey, she read the account
OF the escape of a slave woman and
her child from Kentucky over the ice
OF the Ohio. as related by an eye wit
ness who helped the woman up the
bank of the free states shore. This
was the first point of the story formed
In her mind, and the model for Uncle
Tom was afforded by the husband of a
former slave woman who had been en-
ployed in her own family. This man
was free to come and go on business
between Kentucky and Ohio, refusing
to break his pledge Tn his master, al
though the latter deferred from year to
year fulfilling his promise of freedom.
The first part of the work written was
the death Of Uncle Tom. The scene
framed itself in her mind while she
was at the communion table in Bruins
wick, and it overcame her so complete
ly that she was convulsed by tears and
sobs. She FASTENED home and quickly
wrote 1t down. In the absence of her
husband she read it to her two boys of
10 and IL years, who wept bitterly,
and cursed slavery as the most wicked
thing in the world. The book then
took form rapidly. After the first two
or three chapters had been written
they were sent to DIR. Bailey. in Wash
ingtoD, for the National Era. The
story was such an ever-present reality
to her that she had no difficulty in Civ
ing it shape, and the weekly install.
ments never failed. Each number was
read to the family before it was sent
away, and in the domestic circle an
intense interest was kept up in its
progress. , he story attracted the wild
est attention which such an unpopular
periodical as an "Abolitionist sheet"
could give it, and a young Boston pub
Usher, Mr.. John p. Jewett, obtained
consent to bring it out. After
while he began to fear that the
story was getting to be too long for one
volume, and he wrote reminding the
author that it was founded upon an
unpopular subject, and two volumes
might be fatal to its success. Mrs.
Stowe replied that she did not make
the story; 1t made itself, and she could
not stop till it was done.
Mrs. Stowe had no idea of the effect
which her book would produce. No.
ticing the attention with which it was
read during its publication as a serial,
Prof. Stowe remarked one day that it
looked as IL it might really bring his
wife in some money when brought out
as a book. Mrs. Stowe replied that she
hoped 1t would bring enough to buy
her a silk gown, for she never had
owned one yet. When it was finished
she felt discouraged as to the result,
the slave power having so wholly en-
thralled the land with its oppressive
laws.
The book was published March 90
1852. Ten thousand copies were sold
within few days, and over 100000, il
Is said, were in circulation within a
year, keeping eight power presses run.
ming night and day. Its effect every.
where was tremendous; not only al
home. but abroad. None but work OF
genius could SO fash its light through
the world, and touch all hearts and
20
slave holders 80 justly, and gave them
credit for such fine traits, that at first
it was predicted by some that it would
act as a pacidcation and unite north
and south. while its real effect in en-
raging the south is well known
"UncIe Toms Cabin" may claim 6
large share of the credit for the tri
umph of the north in the civil war and
the abolition of slavery from this ma
ton of states, while abroad it had al
effect hardly less important. The sen
timent which it aroused in England
undoubtedly restrained that power
from siding with the south during on
war, and it is likely that its influences
was important in inducing the Rus
sian emperor to proclaim freedom II
the serfs.
Although the cause which calleC
"Uncle Toms Cabin" into being ha,
triumphed and passed TO its place
ameng the settled facts of history, tn,
sale of the book is still large an,
steady. 1t promises to be one of tn
worlds classics. and it plays upon tn,
sympathies and emotions with all ii
old-time vital power. Were there al
international copyright, aud had thos'
talisman's words. "All rights reserved,
been inscribed upon the title page
Mrs. Stowe would probably have re
ceived from the work the creates
compensation ever earned through
authorship. In England, within a
year of its first appearance, the bool
was published by eighteen Londol
houses. and forty editions had appear
ed. 1t Is estimated that the aggregat
wanrohar ~ 0Onfaa ofrpuIota6 IN Croo