The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-05
WENDELL PHILLIPS STUDY.

RecolIectfons Of q Visit to the Work
shop of Humanity's Great Friend.
A good many years ago James Camp
bell was bookseller in Boston On the arst
door. but as the Hub" acquired . few
more sposes and up-to-date men came in
with more recent publications. Mr.. Camp
bell was relegated to the basement. and
here In a small way. In the vicinity Of
Cornhlil. he sold to the MAc<tuffs. the
Maedonaads and the Maclsregors Waiver
iy Novels. a'Ramb,es Through the Land
Of Burns" THE Gaberiunzie Man." and
the bonnie songs OF Scotland and some
rare books he had.
Mr. Campbell was q Scotchman by birth
and education, a man of sterling quail
ties. who stood In with the aboiitionists
during the dffies. and as all those people
were bound 20 each other by the ties Of
moral consanguinity. and therefore
friends: so he was on terms OF intimacy
with Wendell Phillips.
The old Scotch bookseller became inter-
ested In me, for the reason that l was
sort OF moaser among his dusty shelves
and q lover OF ..Bob5ie'' Burns and his
Highland Mary: and one day because OF
some schoolgirl nonsense In which l had
dabbied he honored me with a letter of
Introduction to his friend Mr.. Phillips.
Now, ii was one OF my cherished ambi-
tons to speak with this great man. and
here was the opportunity of a life. When
I rang the doorbeil-Mr Phillips lived IN
the old red brick house, afterward torn
down, where so many years he had labor
cd along the line OF his reforms, and low
ingly attended the bedside of his invalid
wife. who though disabled was neverthe-
less In many ways "a spur In the sides OF
his intent" ever urging him on 10 noble
endeayor-the housekeeper answered my
ring and / was ushered into the study of
the eloquent Philips. The room was GER
tainfy a study. one would scarcely imagine
that such master mind could have era
died his thoughts In such dfsorderly place.
IL seemed so Inconsistent; but Emerson
says that greatness has nothing 10 do
with consistency. Perhaps he had been
In the study OF Wendell Phillips and thus
came TO this startling conclusion A few
pictures adorned the walls. which were
otherwise covered with shelves or dusty,
dlsordered books. The study table and
writing desk were Ia a state OF literary
confusion, long. oId-fashioned home
made lounge sisirted one side Of the room,
a study chair. a few other chairs OF
Quaker simplicity and a Boston rocker
completed the furniture.
Aside from the rare books and the fact
that this was the place where a remark
able man had spent the best years OF his
life in grand and effective work for the
uplifting OF humanity. there was but little
OF interest. save marble bust OF Charles
Sumner life size, resting upon q pedestal
10 the left as you entered
What noble men and women had con-
gregated IN this unpretentious room In
days gone by: what representative minds.
determined faces, earnest voices had min
gled here: what righteous schemes had
here been laid: what heated discussions,
what indignant protests could these walls
repeat IL they had tongues as well as
ears: Those forceful and resource<ui peo-
pie, those moral giants OF that critical Pc
Rod In the history of our Union. when
each and every one was put upon his met
tie ard weighed In the balance to see n
he was equal 20 the crying needs Of the
hour are nearly all gone. The last RAYS
Of their sefting sun rest but lightly upon
the olynlpics OF time as they gradually
disappear one by one. Generations shall
come and go and be forgotten. but the
names OF Philips and Garrison and sum-
ner ard that magnificent galaxy OF kin
dred spirits which united with them In
sold phaianx against cruelty and op-
preston are immortal
The door opened and Nr. PHILLIPS enter
Ell and seated himself upon the lounge
Gear me Inco1iprehensihle as I. NAV
seam. In nay confusion az the thought II
being actually Ia the presence OF the sill
ver-to1gued orator. / had forgotten about
the letter OF Introduction from good Mr..
Cam2be,l. However. Mr. Phillips re-
eeivei mo pleasantly and listened with
patience 20 my eFraua. which made very
brief. "a Mrs. Phillips was unusually sick
that day. when | left he cordially In
vited me TO call again. which I never oia,
for I bad seen WenseA Phillips I'm his
study and was satisfied LOTS WIFE.