Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-15
MRS. STOWE AT HOME.
The Author OF "Uncle Toms Cabin" at tn
Are Of Eivhty-OBe.

The Author OF "Cnc1e Toms Cabin" at the
Age of Eighty-One.
Harriet Beecher Stowe was eighty-one years
old yesterday. The Hartford Courdnt, speak
ing of her birthday, says:
She is thus only three years behind the Mes
tor of American letters, DR.. Holmes, the auto
Gratis birthday falling on August 29, 1909 Hart
ford has many claim to honor and fame in her
institutions or the achievements in various
fields of some OF her citizens, but it is probable
that her greatest distinction is due to the fact
that here has lived and worked and here will
die the most famous literary woman of America.
who by her writings has changed the United
States Constitution and one Of whose novels
has gone round the world and had sale sec
ond only to the Bible itself.
1t Is pleasant jaunt out on to the
hill and to Forest street. few doors down
which, on the west side, stands the unpre-
tentious but pretty gray painted stone cot
tage with peaked gables and dormers,
which is owned and occupied by Mrs. Stowe.
Here. her days OF literary endeavor far behind,
she is passing the blameless and honorcd even
ing of her days. cared for by her daughters and
nourished. one may well believe, great mem
cries. The interior of Mrs. Stoves home
shows series of pleasant. well-appointed
rooms, which aim at comfort rather than ele-
gance or display. Her own sanctum has little
Of literary association. since almost all her
writing was done before she took up her
abode In it, But one associates the authorizes
with the premises all about the home rather
than with its interior, for she is outdoors
the day long. except when prevented by the
weather or the untowardly season. Notably
active of body for her years she is ever on foot
and her bent, slight figure. with its white
hair browning the dark. wrinkled face. is n
familiar sight to the Nook Fsrmites-Nook
Farm being the name given aforetime to the
Forest street community. She waEders in and
out the paths and gathers consolation from sun
and 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
lonesome things no doubt helps to keep her out
under the sky and has preserved her in remark
able bodily yiSor. She Is fond OF slipping
across the street to the home Of her sister Mrs.
Hooker. and one Of her delights is to hear
music sung or played. 1t is a moving sight to
notice the subduiug effects Of songs and hymns
upon her restless activity. For twenty years
and more such have been her surroundings. and
a sweet environment it is for such a SOUL rest
ing from lts labors. just now. in this peerless
June weather, one is sure to see her pacing
under the big trees that long ago gave the
street its name. In her working DAYS Mrs.
Stowe lived for time in another house, a
Gothic structure which stands some distance
bOutn Oh IdpltOl aNeNu7 near tie Dank OF Inc
river; the place has by inevitable change of
fashion and land value been transformed into a
tenement, but plenty OF people in the city will
recall day when it was beautiful residence.
The Communicating face and figure Of her hus-
band. Prof. Calvin Stowe, is one of the Nook
Farm memories, as be sat on the porch with u
skull cap on his patriarchal head; but the little
lady has lacked his benignant companionship
for long years. As she walks the street with
her faithful attendant wanders under the
chestnuts it is not an infrequent sight to see a
group OF hon-hunting strangers, agog to be
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 a
degree Of respectand an evident sense OF great
ness nigh which have been touching and in
dicative Of the widespread efficacy Of noble ac-
complishment in life and literature. Letters
come, too. of all kinds from the uttermost parts
Of the earth. sometimes inportunate and ridic-
ulous. Interviews are requested and auto
graphs galore are besought. Many Hartford
youngster, 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, a favo-ite one through life with Mrs.
Stowe: "Trust in the Lord and do good" In
the main, however, il is, for obvious reasons.
an unmolested. carefully guarded existence led
by this small woman who stands for great ideas.
great events. great memories. and who is, with
DIR. Holmes. the last of the famous pioneers in
our first national efflorescence in letters. Only
| a few weeks ago. by-the-bye. the doctor wrote
long autographs letter to his old friend telling
Of his own state Of body and mind and making
affectionate most inquiries as to her condition.
When she quietly, peacefully drops out of life
some day the ewes Of the civilized world will be
turned toward Hartford, and the city will real
ize, as it hardly can now, how much OF great
and good it held in this worn, wee woman who
has lapsed through stress of years to the sim
plicity and forgetfulness of childhood.