The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-01-06
How " Uncle Toms Cabin" Came to
be Written.

Mrs. Jaoe @. Swisshelm, in her
book entitled % Half Century" gives
tho following account of the origin of
"Uncle Toms Cabin" Mrs. Swiss
helm, giving an account of her first
Journey to Washington, says:
ct had letters To the proprietor of
the Irving House, where l took board.
Had othaTs to Col Benton, Henry Clay
and other great men, but he who most
interested me was DR.. GaInaliel Bailey,
editor Of the National Era. The great
want Of AN Hnti-slavery paper at the
capital had been supplied by S. sub
scriptions to publication fund, and
DIR. Bailey called from Cincinnati take
charge OF it, and few men have kept
Q charge with more care and skill. He
and the Era had just passed tho ordeal
of a frightful mob, in which he was
conciliatory, unyielding and victorious );
and he was just then gravely anxious
that the Era should do yeoman service
10 the cause which had called it into
life
1.-The Era had a large circulation,
and high literary standing, but DIR.
Bailey WIS troubled about the difficulty
/ or impossibihtv Of procuring Rnti-slavery
tales. Mrs. Southworth was writing Sc
rials for il, and he had hoped that she,
"A Southern woman with Northern prin-
ciples, could weave into her stories pct
ures of slavery which would call damag-
ing attention TO it, but IN this she had
falled
Anti-slay5ry tales, anti-slavery tales
/ was what tine good doctor wanted. Tenn
perance had its story-writer IN Arthur.
ii only abolition had good writer of
/ fiction, one y no could interest and edCl-
/ cate the young. He knew of but one
pen able 10 write what lac wanted, and
alas the finances of the Era could not
command it. II only lie could 1 gage
! Mrs. Stowe 1 had not heard 4 her,
and he explained that she was the
daughter of Lyman Beecher. was sur
/ prised, and exclaimed:
ga daughter of Lyman BeecheI
write abolition stories. Saul among the
/ prophets 7
. reminded the doctor that Presi-
/ dent Beecher and Prof Stowe had
/ broken up the theological department;
4 Of Lane Seminary by suppressing the
auti-slavery agitation raised 10y Theo-
/ deere Weld, a Kentucky student, Gnd
threw their influence against disturbing
! the Congregational churches with the
new fauaticism that Edward BeecheI
invented the " organic sin-devil, " behind
which chlrches and individuals took
/ refuge when called upon TO "come VI
! 70 the help Of the Lord against the
mighty" But DR.. Bailey said he knew
I them personally, and that, despite then
/ public record, they were at heart anti
slavery, and that prudence alone dictat-
cd their course. Mrs. Stowe WAS 8
graphic itory-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 mo the abolition ranks, but
/ the bounty money, alas. where could
+ he raise TT
- Where there Is viii there Is a wsy,
and IL was but few months after that
+ conversation when DR.. Bailey forwarded
/ 500 10 Mrs. Stowe, rs q retaining fes
I for her services IN the cause of the slave,
and 10, the result. Uncle Toms Cabin.
As it progressed he sent her another and
/ then another 800. Was ever money SC
well expended ?"