St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-07-10
Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe.


Hartford, Connecticut, on Wednesda.
July /. She was born in Ltchfeld
Conn, June IA, 1871 and was the sew
enth child of Rev. Lyman and RoXan;
Beecher. Her education, after the dealt
OF her mother, was completed in semi
nary established in Hartford, Conn, b,
her sister Catharine, where she alsc
taught She went with her father tc
Cincinnati, in 1882, when he became
president of Lane Theological Seminary
and four years later, at the age Of rs
was married to Rev. Calvin Z. Stowe
professor OF Biblical and oriental litera
ture in that seminary. Prof. Stowe was
a man of ability and of marked charac
teristics. In 1850 he with his family
went to Maine, having been chosen pro-
lessor in Bowdoin College.
1t was while residing here, when there
was so much excitement over the fugi
tive slave law, that Mrs. Stowe com.
menced writing "Unce Toms Cabin"
which was finished after her removal to
Andover, where Prof Stowe was chosen,
in 1852, professor of sacred literature in
the theological seminary. In it she made
use OF many incidents respecting slavery,
the treatment and escape of slaves,
which had come to her knowledge while
living in Cincinnati. The story was first
published as serial in the National Era,
at Washington, D. {. 1t awakened such
an interest that in 1852 it was given to
the public III book form and within a
year, 300, 700 copies were in circulation.
1t was read by high and low, rich and
poor. 1t intensified all through the
north feeling of opposition to Ameri-
can slavery. 1t sounded the doom ofthat
institution and made it forever impossible
for the northern conscience again to
sanction laws extending or perpetuating
slavery. 1t was a potent factor in
arousng that determined opposition
through the free states to being held re-
sponsible for slavery, which eliminated
in the war of the rebellion and the eman-
cipation proclamation. Mrs. Stowe,
with her views of slavery as inhuman
and unrighteous, embodied in her book
and given to the public, became power
ful instrument in the hands of God in the
overthrow Of that institution. The
whole nation, the South as well as the
North, owe to her a debt of gratitude for
writing Uncle Toms Cabin" Few indi-
viduals have done a greater service to
this country and for humanity than has
Mrs. Stowe. Her presentation of the
evils OF slavery were so clear and strong
that they awakened feeling of con-
1emnaton of the system in the hearts of
all unprejudiced readers. The book was
cad not only in this country, but it was
into all the languages in Europe
and passed through many editions. A
year after it was given to the public Mrs.
Stowe visited England and was greeted
with high honors by the Duchess of
Lord Palmerston, the Duke
Of Argyle, Macauley and Gladstone
She had struck chord in the heart of
he race that vibrated against human
bondage around the whole world.
After Prof. and Mrs. Stowe returned
rom Europe she wrote several other
works; another on slavery entitled
bred, a Tale Of the Great Dismal
swamp" also "The Minister'S Wooing,"
Agnes of Sorrento" "The Pearl of Orr's
Island" besides a series of story books
or children and other books. While
-hese found many interested readers none
Of them excited as much interest or pro-
1uced the same effect as did Uncle Toms
Cabin.
In 1864 Mrs. Stowe went to Hartford,
Conn, to live, for few years spending
her winters in Florida. Her later life
has been very quiet and peaceful There
has been manifest for several years past
some mental decay or weakness, which
in no way effected her general health,
her gentle manners or cheerful spirit
Her death came with little pain. Her re-
mains were carried to Andover, Mass,
and laid by the side of her husband and
her son Charles, who was drowned, his
death causing her much grief. 1t was
after his death that she wrote that beau
tilul little piece Earthly Care a Heav-
emily Discipline" in which she showed an
intelligent understanding Of life's ills,
and simple faith in the loving purpose
of the Heavenly Father in ordering or
permitting them From The Vermont
Chronicle.