The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-17
UNCLE TOMS CABIN
How Mrs. Harriet Beecher
Stowe Came to Write 1t.
URGED BY HER BROTHER.
The Fugitive Slave Law. That the
Slave Owners Thought . Vic
tory, Proved Their Ruin.
URGED BY HER BROTHER.


Harriet Beecher stowe. the first dis
tinzuished woman writer OF America, was
born at Litchfsel6. Conn in those old New
England days when children were taught
that good little girls must always speak
gently, never tear their clothes. learn 70
knit and sew. and make all We responses
properly In church Such Is her OWE story
Of her early education. 10 which is also
added the item that on Sunday afternoons
she was expected TO repeat the catsehisui.
and On the occasion Of a visit TO her
grandmother, her aunt made her learn two
c4techisms. that OF her own faith. the
Episcopal. and that of Harriet's father.
who was Presbyterian minister. This
discipline, however, had no depressing ef-
feet upon the child. whose family con-
sisted or half dozen healthy, clever bro
theirs and sisters. a father who was loved
more than reyered even in those days
when a minister was regarded with awe.
and stepmother whose devotion made
the home a thing OF beauty TO be held
in all after years in loving memory.
The old Presbyterian parsonage where
Harriet was born had in II one room that
was the child's delight. This was her ia
Tiers study. In a corner OF which she
loved 10 esconce herself with her favorite
books gathered around her. and read or
day dream. while her father sat opposite
in his great writing chair composing the
sermons for the next Sunday. Chiidrens
books were not plentiful in those days,
and Miss Edgworth's tales. and Cotton
Aather's .Magnalia" were her principal
resource until one joyful day. rummagins
in a barrel of old sermons. she came upon
a copy OF the Arabian Nights" These
flowers OF the fairy lore took a healthy
root in the imagination or the little Puri-
III
sembied the prim flower beds of the New
England gardens where grew only native
plants. The old stories opened a new
world of thought and into this unknown
realm she entered. rambling amid such
wonderful scenes that never again could
their mysterious charm cease.
This power TO lift and lose herself into
q region OF thought so different from her
own became thereafter the peculiar gift
by which she was enabled to undertake
the work which made her name distin-
guished.
The library corner. however, did not
hold all the good things OF life. only part
OF them Outside was tho happy world
OF healthy country child, who grew as
joyously as one Of her own New England
flowers. In the spring there were excur-
sions IN the woods and fields after the
wild blossoms that once year turned the
countryside into fairy land; in the sum-
mer was the JOY OF picnics in the old for
ests. and of fishing excursions along the
banks OF the streams: in the autumn came
nutting parties, when the children ran
races with the squirrels to see who could
gather the most nuts: and in the winter,
when the snow and ice covered the earth,
life went on "a gayly as ever. with coast
Ing and snowballing. and the many ways
In which the child's heart tunes itself to
the spirit of nature.
By the time she was years old Harriet
was a regular pupil at small school
near by, whittier she also conducted day
after day her younger brother Henry,
afterward The celebrated Henry Ward
Beecber. She was a very conscientious
little pupil. and besides her school lessons
was commended for having learned TWEEN
y-seven hymns and two long chapters of
the Bible during one summer.
Harriets first flight from the home nest
came in her thirteenth year. when she
left Litehtield TO attend her sister Cahe-
rine's school in Hartford; as her fathers
salary did not permit any extra expense.
Harriet went 20 live in the family OF a
friend, who in turn sent his daughter 10
the parsonage at Litehfeid that she might
attend the seminary there.
This exchange or daughters was a very
happy arrangement as far as Harriet was
concerned. as she enjoyed the responsible
lily OF being so much her own guardian
and taking care OF herself and her little
room with what she herself calls lawful
satisfaction" Here she began the study
OF Latin, which fascinated her the Latin
poetry making such an impression on her
mind that II became her dream 10 be a
poet.
RACES and pages OF manuscript were
now written In the preparation of a great
drama called "Cleon." the scene Of which
was laid In the time OF the Emperor Nero
Every moment that could be spared from
actual duties was given this play. which
might have grown to volumes had not
me young author been suddenly brought
up Sharply by the sister who advised her
To stop writing poetry and discipline her
mind Whereupon Harriet plunged into A
course OF Buffers Analogy" and other
heavy reading forget all about the drama.
ana was so wrought upon by Bakers
saints Resi-" that she longed for moth
ing but to die and be in heaven.
me next years OF Harriet's life were
spent almost entirely at the Hartford
school, where she was spccessivals. n,,nii
ana teacher, until her father removes, 10
cincinnati, whittier she accompanied him
Win the intention OF helping her sister
10 found college for women. And al
though al un~Teamed OF Il was ~ this
place that she was first TO feel the in
nous During a short visit across The
ohio river into kentucky she saw for Tho
hrst time large plantation and the lisn
OF the negro slaves: and three wears taso-
after her marriage 10 Prof. Stowe. Of Lane
seminary, OF which her father was meet
dent, she described In q letter the nob-
hing OF a newspaper office operated in the
Interest Of the abolition OF slavery. These
two incidents seeming SO unimportant AZ
the time were IN reality the bexfnnlnr ~
those lifelong and devoted efforts "a tha
cause OF freedom for which the who's
family became famous. and which raarb-
ed It's highest point IN the publication OF
Il ncle Toms Cabin"
After seventeen years Of exusrianre an
the Western college Prof. Stowe had ac
cepted Ia is5e prnfessorship In Bowaogn
college. aad the family removed 10 pr,1ns-
wick Ne. Tho whole country was A. that
time in agitation over the fugitive slave
act. lately passed by congress. and which
enabled the master OF escaped slaves 10
follow them 10 the free states and eIa5u,
them IS their property. The most dread
fal and heartrendlng scenes followed the
passage OF this law. Many OF the e<eaned
slaves had settled ln the free states ami
were living peaceful and happv lives.
while their children we're growing VI sur
rounded hy the blessings OF freedom In
a day ali this was changed: the naxro Vas
once more the masters slave wherever