Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-27
NEW-CENTURY CLUB.

A large number of club members and
their guests braved the storm yester-
day afternoon in order to havo the
of meeting again Mrs. Julia
Ward Howe and Of listening to her
memories of events and of noted people
who have passed away. Her 'sBattle
Hymn of the Republic'' was sung by
Miss Blanche Weldin, the audience
Joining in the chorus. The president.
Mrs. Rowland, said: 1.-THE keynote of
Mrs Howes spirit is in the lines, BE
swift my soul to answer Him, be iubi-
lnnt my feet. "
Seated in her chair Mrs. Howe
chatted informally about the past. She
told of the circumstances under which
the hymn was written. In company
with my husband, my beloved pastor,
James Freeman Clarke, Edwin p. Whip
pie, the brilliant essayist, and Gov.
Andrew, the war governor Of Massa-
chusetts, / had gone out from Wash
ington to witness all army review near
the Relay House. The army was
camped all around Washington 1t wns
just after the first defeat at Bull Run.
BY the roadside were little fires with
men reclining around them-the pick
cts, my husband said. He knew about
an army for he had fought in the Greek
war for Independence.
'.The review was interrupted by word
that the enemy had taken advantage of
it to make an attack on the outposts,
and reinforcements galloped off to the
front They seemed like river of
men filling the road. Our carriage
could 20 but slowly and to beguile the
time we sang John Browns Body
Mr.. Clarke said, why do you not
write some fit words for that stirring
tuner / slept that night, but in the
gray twilight of dawn suddenly awoke
and began to think Of the tune and the
scenes of the day till thought out the
verses, and knowing l would forget
them by morning got up and scrawled
them down in the dark. 1t was pub
lished in the Atlantic Monthly and
Mr.. James 7. Field suggested the
name. The soldiers began to sing it.
Once in Southern prison where the
men were lying SO crowded that when
they wanted to turn they had to give
| the word of command and all turn over
at once, an officer entered and said, The
Union army has had great defeat.
When he had gone out negro said
That's not so, it was our folks that had
| the bad time yours are all right Then
| they made the walls ring with the
Battle Hymn.
| 81 was in Wilmington many years age
with Lucy Stone and we were very
Hospitality entertained by Thomas Gar
rett. He was an interesting, delight
full old gentleman. He helped run.
| away slaves, under great difficulties
and at great risk. One slave woman
came to his house; the owners were
keen to get her and his house was
watched night and day to prevent hel
escape. But when dark came he hao
her dress in his wife's clothes, plaiI
Quaker bonnet and gown. As he helped
her down the front steps he said with
his quaint lisp, Don't ship, dear |!
and giving her his arm, walked of
with her under the eyes of the watch
ers. / said, How do you manage t.
get SO many away?' why, by not tell
ing anybody what intend to do
laid his, maxim to heart. had beer
in the habit of telling my family whei
was going to meetings and they OBJ
jected to my going, so | adopted Mr.
CARROTS plan and now do what
please.
.sThe first time met Mr.. Whittier
| Charles Sumner brought him to visi
us. He was a remarkable lookinI
young man; his brilliant black eye
had an intense expression. Mr. How
once invited him to dine with us ant
he arrived before my husband cam
home. He was very shy and seate'
himself constrainedly before the fire
Every time spoke to him he hitche'
his chair nearer the fireplace. / tol,
4 Mr.. Howe il he had staid away hal
an, hour longer Mr.. Whittier woul
have gone up the chimney. Some on
asked him, teasingly, why he was
, bachelor. He replied, 'Why the world
people have married so many of GU
Quaker girls there are none left fo
me- He and William Lloyd Garriso
and Emerson used to come to our Ne'
England Woman's Club. White
once sent us two of his poems, one c
which he said was real; the other ina
chine made.
..Longfellow was friend of m
youth. He was good looking, with
fair complexion, good deal of colo
and light curly hair. The college boy
! made q song about him; they said h
wore blue coat, green waistcoat an
yellow shoes. He did like things brigf
in the way OF dress. He visited us {
Newport, and my mother advised hi
to return by Fall River and see tt
curious old skeleton in armor in tn
museum. He did SO and his poem G
, it.was the result. The museum W;
/, burned soon after. He was an accom-
! plished scholar and spoke fluently &c
. man, French, italian and Spanish.
9'Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, what
. good and brilliant man he was 4
! was small in stature, but with q gre'
: mind, very witty and much beloved
The Century Club of New York had
Bryant celebration and George Bal
croft asked me to write something Fl
it and to go and read it. On the ira
DIR. Holmes came up and said, 1
l. like to sit with you, but won't To
for have to read a poem at the Brya
n celebration and must save my voice
}, Il don't want to talk either; / want
!, save my voice for have something
n read there, too, / said. So we S
J. down, but we talked so steadily tn
10 we forgot to eat our luncheon.
n "Thirty-fve years ago was
IS Cuba. People are divided in mind
al to whether it was best to interfe
IS there. The only wonder is that heav'
4 itself did not interfere. Spain W
a. like vampire sucking blood out
" Cuba. Her officials robbed it al
N spent the money that should have go
" into roads and schools. During o
70 visit some young students stole t
30 flowers that decorated the grave of
s, official For this they were ordered
Up be shot, their young lives sacrificed
y a silly freak.
Last winter my daughter, Ma
Howe Elliott carried me off to Ron
. Arrived there she said to her frienc