New-York tribune., 1901-01-17
DEFENDS MRS. STOVES WORK
THE REV DR.. BABBITT REPLIES To F
HOPKINSON SMITHS CRITICISM
OF UNCLE TOMS CABIN"

The Rev. DR. Dean Richmond Bahbtt rector =.
the Church of the Epiphany, McDonough-st ana
Tompkins-ave-. Brooklyn. somewhat humorous
and tncisive in his comments yesterday upon thA
statement of r. Hopkinson Smith. the author
charging Uncle Toms Cabin with being
vicious appalling and criminal mistake" Dr. Bah
btt is writing life of DIR. Gamahel Bailey the
noted Abolitionist. who was his uncle DR.. Babhtt
said:
Among ON. family portraits at my home there
inspiration when had some particularly hard and
of going through four ho7rling vindctive mo6s ~
help free the slaves This uncle, DR.. GamaIel
Of Uncle Toms CABIN which appeared d-iiSf in hs
ton which among all the distinctively antissVaEs
papers NOT excepting Garrison's "Li5erator.' at
out many writers afterward known TO fame in
ess in my unce's family Mrs e p \ ssgsfS- soS,S
worth. Grace Greenwood and others Dr. BaiIsy's
Aboton sad th h soSa sufaT sSaF 9 the
chase Sumner Julian joshua ciddnsa Yqen men 1, as
Freeman Clarke and other Abolition leaders.
He wanted serial story for his National Era
and Mrs. Stowe wrote for it 'FUnce Toms Cabin,
The author first named her story How a Man
Tnee om5 csbn b RaeYs RsaI5sGG rs the @ to
800 for the story. II made a great boom for his
another 800 When he came finally 10 settle with
her he asked her. as her story had done so much
Tor the paper. what she thought in fairness she
ought vet % have. and she said she would be
satisfied with 500 more, which was paid her The
story written in Maine and not in Cincinnati
popularity supposed and / have over Mrs
Stoves name the statement that IL required =
combination of the startling facts and Maine air
ir order to enable her to write Uncle Toms
Cabin"
II is rather a far cry, that of the entertaining
Southern author, f. HOpkinson smith, when forty
fifty years after Uncle Toms Cabin had
thrilled the world of readers into sympathy wits
a cruelty oppressed race. he suggests that il was
"a vicious book and "a criminal mistake. ThOsa
strong and rather too pungent epfthets 10
about epoch making book and discredit the
name of one now dead but to memory dear whose
reputation and work should ever be held in most
grateful esteem. Mrs. Stoves name is one that
should reverently repeat TO children and
have them reverently carry down their ehildrens
children as one of the great benefactorS of man
kind. who, though a mere woman, helped to take
the shackles off three and half millions OF slaves
Wilberforce. Clarkson Garrison. Chase. Whittier
Sumner, Greeley, Giddings, Lovejoy, Henry Ward
Beecher. Harriet Beecher Stowe Juiian-these
have been beacon lights OF liberty. which is the
most conspicuous contribution Of the last century
TO human progress. These will be held in the
amber of memory when all the assailants OF their
fair name shall be forgotten- Mr. Smith. our
Southern author. does little credit. 20 his
literary perspective. may be permitted courteous
ly TO suggest when. calling Mrs. Stoves Uncle
Toms Cabin" "a vicious 5ook.' 'an appalling and
criminal mistake" he hastens 10 say that Mrs.
stowe was the dearest. sweetest old lady in the
world" That is like a pigmy playing with the
bosses Of Achilles's shield