The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-01

joyed the distinction of having produced
in "Uncle Toms Cabin" work that Is
read in every printed language and is
probably familiar to more people than
any other one work except the billie.
Harriet Beecher was born at Litchfield,
Conn.,, June IA, 1911. Her mother having
died when she was hut four years old,
Harriet lived with an aunt, until her
fathers second marriage, an event
which, as both she and her brother Hen
ry testified, secured them a delightful
home and "second mother OF most low
ahle disposition" a." There was something
stangely morbid in the mental processes
of Harriet asa young woman--a fact she
always attributed TO the chilling infiu-
ences of minister who impressed upon
her mind that she "had no assurance OF
acceptance with God. "
She WAS for some years an assistant
teacher in a school at Hartford and her
IN ind matured in an era OF furious con-
troversy upon ecclesiastical subjects.
The great event OF her early life was re-
moval OF the family In 1882 10 Cincinnati,
where DIR. LYMAN Beecher was made
president OF Lane Seminary, a position
he held for 20 years. kere, the contest
od questions OF right and wrong which
had excited her attention at Hartford
were even more rife than at her previous
place of abode and il was not long be-
fore the young woman began TO write
in defense Of her views, with vigor
indicative OF deep feeling and OF great
literary ability.
I'm 1886 Miss Beecher and Professor CAL
vim Ellis Stowe, afterward eminent as
writer on church history and similar top
les, were married. Then the great quss-
tion of slavery began TO agitste the ma
ton. On June D, 1851, the National
Era, an snti-slavery journal, published
in Washington City by DIR. Gamaliel Ball
ey, contained the first number of Sc
rial story which YVES announced as "by
author OF 'Meyhower,' ETC." So far as
can be known, no one was specially
interested in 1t till the third and fourth
numbers had appeared-the readers null
tiplied ana critics found II
"fun OF racy character sketches" "
A little later politicians began to
notice IL. April /, 1852, the last number
appeared in the Era, OF the 20th OF the
preceding month the book wac Issued,
and on the day that Pierce gained such a
wonderful victory and the Whig party
was annihilated, IL was announced that
nearly 200, 600 copies had deem sold, that
/. OOO 600 Americans had read end z 600. 600
more were reading "Uncle Toms Cabin"
On account OF this work Mrs. Stowe re-
ceived the plaudits OF ell the literary
world, and the personal friendship OF
many eminent men and women was won
1884. she published her notes on "Sunny
Memories of Foreign Lands" In 1856
she published "Dred, a fale OF the Great
Dismal swamp" treating on
different aspect OF slavery.
Subseuuent works are ''The
Minister'S Wooing, 1859; The Pearl Of
Orr's Island, 1862; Agnes OF Sorrento,
1863; Old Town Folks, 1869; My Wife and
LIST; Pink and White Tyranny. with
several others. The True Story OF Lady
Byron, which appeared in magazine In
1863, in answer TO a euology OF Byron by
the Countess OF 5uiccioli, exciting
much comment and the author was un-
der n cloud for long time. The noted
Brooklyn scandal, following soon after
added greatly TO her EN- EMBARRASSMENT.
Thereafter her literary ability seemed 20
decline rapidly and for many years, Mrs.
Stowe had lived a quiet secluded life.
passing her winters in Florida and her
summers In Hartford.