The Indianapolis journal., 1893-06-18
SHE Is SIMPLE AS A CHILD.

Evening of the Life of Mrs. Stowe, Who
Was Eighty -One Years Old Last Week
Hartford COurant
Wednesday Harriet Beecher Stowe at.
tained the great age OF elghty-one years,
having been born on June IA. 1872. She is
thus only three years behind the NestOr of
American letters, DIR. Holmes the Auto
Gratis birthday falling on Aug. 20, 1909.
Hartford has many a claim to honor and
fame In her institutions. or the achieve
ments In various fields OF some of her citi-
Zens. but if 10 probable that her greatest
distinction 10 due to the fact that there has
lived and worked and here will die the
most famous literary woman of America.
who by her writings haa changed the
United States Constitution and one of
whose novels has gone around the world
and had sale second only to the Bible
itself.
1t is pleasant jaunt out on the hill and
to Forest street. TO " doors down which,
on the west side. stands the unpretentious
but pretty grey painted stone cottage. with
peaked gables and dormers. which is owned
and oconpied by Mrs. Stowe. Here. her
days of literary endeavor far behind. she
is passing the blameless and h0nored even
ing of her days. cared for by her daughters
and nourisbed. one may we'll believe, on
great memories. The interior OF Mrs.
ant. well-appointed rooms. which aim
or display. Her own sanotum has
little of literary association. since almost
all her writing was done before she took
up her abode in it. But one associates the
authoress with the premises all about the
home rather than with it's interior. for she
Is outdoors the day long. except when pre-
vented by the weather or the untowardiy
season. Notably active of body for her
years. she is ever on foot. and her bent.
slight figure. with it's white HAIR crowning
the dark, wrinkled face, is a familiar sight
to the Nook farmites-Nook farm being the
h..
community. She wanders in and out the
paths aud gathers consolation from
sun, aud shade. and wind. She
has the freedom of the fields, and
the birds and the flowers know her. The
love she shows for all growing and lone
some things no doubt helps TO keep her out
under the sky. and has preserved her In re-
markable bodily vigor. She is fond of
slipping across the street to the home OF
her sister Mrs. Hooker and one of her de-
lights is to hear music sung or played. IL
is moving sight to notice the subduIng ef-
feet of songs and hymns upon her restless
activity. For twenty years and more such
have been her surroundings. and o sweet
environment it Is for such soul. resting
from it's labOrs.
As she waiks the streets with her faith
full attendant or wanders under the chest
nut 1t is not an infrequent sight TO see
group of lion. hunting strangers. agOg to
DO In the verItable presence of the creator
of Uncle Tom and Topsy, stop and regard
her with tender veneration. The writer
has witnessed from workingmen and even
careless lads o degree of respect and an
evident sense of greatness nigh which
have been touching and indicative of the
widespread efficacy of noble accomplish
ment IN life and literaure. Letters come.
too. of all kinds from the inter-
most parts of the earth. some-
times importunate and ridiculous;
interviews are requested and autographs
galore are besought. Many Hartford
youugster. eager To have her name in his
copy of Uncle TOm." is made glad by the
still firmly written signature. with the often
added sentiment. q tavOrlte one through
life with Mrs. stowe: Trust in the Lord
and do good" In the main. however. it Is.
for obvions reasons, an uDmolested. care
fully guarded existence led by this small
woman. who stands for great ideas great
events. great memories. and who IL, with
DIR. Holmes. the last of the famous pio-
neers in ocr fist national effiorescence in
Ietters. Only few weeks sgo. by- the bye,
the Doctor wrote q long autographic letter
to his old friend. telling of his own state
of body and mind and making most afiec-
donate inquiries as 70 her condition. When