New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-23
HER HOME is SALON WHERE LITERARY PEG

HER HOME IS A SALON WHERE LITERARY PEG
PILE DELIGHT TO GATHER-HOw SHE WROTE
1.-THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC"
Mrs Julia Ward Howe. who will celebrate her
eightleth birthday on Saturday. May a. is still
strong and hearty woman. and a hostess at whose
Boston house Of literary people delight to
gather Mrs. Howe was born in New-York Her
parents well-to-do. and her brother was Sam
Ward still remembered by the older Newly Workers
as an interchangeable traveller. Ntterateur a bon
vvant and a wit. Julia Ward a precocious
student and was especially fond of her music.
During a visit Boston Miss Ward met DR.. Sam
uel G. Howe. who fell in love with her. They were
married in 1s49. and Immediately went abroad,
spending two years in England and on the Cont
nent. Their first child born In Rome
DR.. Howe had begun his active life as a chval-
rous soldier in the service OF the Greeks revolving
against Turkey the same cause that had enlisted
the enthusiasm Of Lord Byron. After spending
several months Of hardship with the patriot forces
in the mountains OF Greece, he had returned to
Boston 10 take up what became his life work. the
education OF the deaf the dumb the blind and
idiots Of both sexes. At the time when he married
Miss Ward ne had already a worldwide repu-
tation by his success in the famous case OF Laura
Bridgman. then fourteen years old. whom he had
taught to read write and play the piano. though
she had been born blind and deaf
Coming back to America. the Howes found a
Boston home in the Institution for the Blind. of
which the doctor was director In 1853 the wife
made her first important contribution TO literature
in a volume Of called Passion Flowers"
Her next volume. Words for the Hour" pub
lished in 1857. Then came a play in blank verse.
The Worlds H1on' which brought out at
Wallack's, in New York; and 'Lenone" and Hip
polytus'" both tragedies. Neither has been put on
the stage In more recent years she has written
life of Margaret Fuller and has collected two more
volumes OF verse. Later Lyrics and From
Sunset Ridge"
Mrs Howe early became Identified with the anti
slavery movement. and edited. with her husband.
THE Boston Commonwealth" In 1861 while visit
ing Washington she woke up morning. and at
a single sitting put paper The Battle Hymn OF
the Republic:
He is trampiing the vintage where the grapes
He hath ioosed the fatefu lghtnings of His terri
His truth is marching on
have seen Him in the watchtuiness of a hundred
They have SniIscd Him an altar ~ -. ,.,.
dews and damps;
read His righteous sentence by the dim and
His day is marching on
have read fiery gospel. writ in FURNISHED rows
LAS we deal with my contemners so with you my
Let the Hero. born Of woman. crush the serpen,
Since God is marching on.'
He hath sounded forth His trumpet that shall
never call retreat:
He is sitting out the hearts OF men before His t,dg
ment-Seat.
Oh be swift my soul. to answer Him be jpubilant
my feet
our God is marching on.
In the beauty OF the lilies Christ was born across
the
With a glory in His bosom that transhsures you
and
As He died to make men holy let die 10 make
free.
While God is marching on.
Mrs Howe told a friend few months ago how
the hymn was written. She said:
I'm the closing days OF 1851 made a Journey TO
Washington In company with my husband and