Norwich bulletin., 1922-07-25
Famous Literary Mysteries
wHITT1ER,s BARBARA FR1ErcH1E

WHITT1ER'S BARBARA FRIETCHIE
 No American poem of incident has caused more discussion than Whittisr's Barbara Frietchie." After years of investigation it has come now to be gen. orally believed that while there is no foundation for the story as related and embellished by the poet, yet Whittier was, no doubt. sincere in his belief in the incident when he penned the verses. Some years ago, shortly before the poets death, a writer in The Century Magazine. discussing the poem, made the remark that 'the story will, perhaps, live as MT. Whittier has boasted, until 1t gets beyond the reach of correction. !" To this MT. Whittier replied in note to the editor of the magazine:
 Those who know me will bear wit ness that am not in the habit of boast ing of anything whatever, least of all congratulating myself upon the doubtful statement \outliving the possibility of correction. I made no boast of the kind imputed to me. The poem of Barbara Frietchie was written in good faith. The story was no invention of mine. It came to me from sources which reNarded as entirely reliable.
 "The incident of Barbara Frietchie and the flag was published in newspa- pers and had gained public credence in Washington and MaryleH before my poem was written. had no reason to doubt it's accuracy then. and I am still constrained to believe that it had foun- dation Iii fact. If I thought otherwise should not hesitate to express it.''
 Where did Whittier get his facts? It has been proven beyond doubt that Stonewall Jackson and his men never passed Barbara's home consequently he could not have ordered his regiment to Hiatt! Firer' etc.
 The story that suggested the ballad to Whittier came to him from Mrs. Emma D. E. N Southworth, of Georgetown, D. C., the well-known novelist, whose ac- quaintance he made while he was cor responding editor of The National Era On the Fist of July. 1883, she wrote to him the following note:
 When Lees army occupied Freder- ick the only Union flag displayed in the city was held from an attic window by Mrs. Barbara Frietchie, widow lady aged ninety-seven years. Such was the story that went the rounds of the Wash ington papers last September"
 The southern army is supposed f have passed Barbara's house, according to the story, on the 9th of September
 
 town on the 11th and the Union troops under General Burnside entered on the 12th Then" to quote the letter again flags of all sizes and from every con. ceivsble place were displayed. But as for the old lady, she died few days af. ter, some thought of joy at the presence Of the Union army. and some that she died of excitement from the 1ionization she received.
 This is the whole story as MT. Whit tier had it when he wrote the ballad. Tc one of the many friends who asked hin if Barbara was myth, he answered il l letter, dated October 19, 1S90: 'T had ! portrait of the good old Barbara iron 1 the saintly hand of Dorothea Dix. whose 1 life is spent in works of love and duty 1 and & cane from Barbara's cottage sen me by Dr. sterner of the Maryland sen ate. Whether she did all that my poem l ascribed to her or not, she was brav' and true woman. and I followed the ac l count given to me in private lettel and in the papers of the time"