Evening journal., 1912-10-09
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A WOman'S Contribution to
the Cause of the Union
By Holland.

In the early spring Of 1861 my
rather, Who was a book seller in
Conecucutt received one day several
calls for book whose title was "The
Uprising Of a Great People" The
following day other customers made
inquiry for this book and so, for a
week or more, the demand increased
and was not satisfied until my father
was able to obtain from the publisher,
the late Charles Scribner, a supply Of
this work
This book created almst as great
interest for time as did the publica-
uon three years earlier of a book
written by Hinton Rowan Helper.
citizen OF North Carolina, which was
entitled "The Impending Crisis" Mr.
Helpers book almost equals in the
interest which It occasioned that
which followed the publication Of
Harriet Beecher Stoves Uncle
Toms Cabin" "The Impending
Crisis" predicted the attempt to or
ganize a new nation made up Of the
Southern states, and then endeavor-
ed TO demonstrate that the resources
and strength of the North would
make that attempt unsuccessful.
The Uprising of a Great People"
was written some months before the
outbreak of the Civil War by noted
French author, de Gasparinus. IL de-
picted in very vivid an glowing lam
guage the meaning of the uprising
of the people of the Northern States
at the time of the war, which this
French author, with the eye of
prophet, fOresaw. With the fervor
and enthusiasm of his race, the au-
thor went on to show what the happy
effect upon civilization the uprising OF
the great body of American people
would be. since he was certain that
in the end 1t would result i'm the elm
ination of slavery in the republic.
Not many days after the outbreak
of the war there came one day to
the publication Office of Charles
Scribner young woman whose name
was Mary Louise Booth. Mr.. Scrib-
ner knew her slightly and had heard
of her remarkable intellectual at
tainments. She spoke and wrote
French fiuently and was also able to
converse in the Latin tongue. Her
knowledge of the great authors, both
of England, and of the Continent
was profound.
Mr.. Scribner," she said. II have
here a great book, which has been
written by a distinguished French
author Il Is called The Uprising OF
Great People II is of especial in
terest and value at this time. II viii
convey a great moral lesson and will
prove to be an inspiration to the
American people. Il may greatly
strengthen President Lincoln and his
administration in their task of pre-
serving the Union
WELL" said Mr.. Scribner, what
do you want to do with it?'
Il want to translate it and have
you publish it, ! do not want a
penny for my services. It is the one
way in which l can be of value, per-
haps, to my country, for my health
does not permit me to enter any ol
the army hospitals as a nurse"
"Well.p said Scribner. II have
heard of the book, but it would be
useless to attempt publication Of it..
'Why so?' Miss Booth asked.
why, I have heard from Governor
Seward, secretary of state, confden
TALLY, that the war will only last
few weeks. II will all be ended with
i'm sixty, OF at most ninety days. We
couldn't get the book out. therefore
before the end Of the war"
Gould you get the book ont in tim'
II | translated II Immediately Mis-
Booth asked.
IF you can translate 1t in on
weeks time and correct the proc
sheets while you are translating,
will get 1t out" said Mr. Scribner
"Ill do It," Miss Booth replied.
For two days Miss Booth worke'
with only about two hours sleep. Tn
rest OF the week she worked twent
hours a day. and at the end she ha'
not only the complete translation Il
Mr.. Scribner's hands, but also IN
corrected proof sheets.
The book was published within TEL
days after that and It speedily be
cana one OF the great sensations o
the first six months Of the war. Mis-
Booth afterwards had the satisfaction
of knowing that, although she coul
not serve as a war nurse, neyerthe
less she had contributed most yalu
able service to the cause of the Unioi
although the excessive and exhaust
ing labor which she did in translatin
and proof reading the book for tim
seriously affected her health.
Copyright, 1912, by e. j. Edwards
(All rights reserved.)