Julia Ward Howe Part 75

This grieved her, but she did not cease to lift up her voice against the evil thing whenever occasion offered.

"_July 7._ _Oak Glen._ ... My son and his wife came over from Bristol to pa.s.s the day. He looks as young as my grandsons do. At fifty, his hair is blond, without gray, and his forehead unwrinkled."

"_July 16._ ... While in church I had a new thought of the energy and influence of Christ's teaching. 'Ask and ye shall receive,' etc. These little series of commands all incite the hearers to action: Ask, seek, knock. I should love to write a sermon on this, but fear my sermonizing days are over, alas!"

"_August 7._ Determined to do more literary work daily than I have been doing lately. Began a screed about dear Bro' Sam, feeling that he deserved a fuller mention than I have already given him...."

"_September 4._ Discouraged over the confusion of my papers, the failure of printers to get on with my book, and my many bills. Have almost had an attack of the moral sickness which the Italians call _Achidia_. I suppose it to mean indifference and indolence...."

_To Laura_

OAK GLEN, September 6, 1899.

... Here's a question. Houghton and Mifflin desire to print[127] the rough draft of my "Battle Hymn," which they borrowed, with some difficulty, from Charlotte Whipple, who begged it of me, years ago. I hesitate to allow it, because it contains a verse which I discarded, as not up to the rest of the poem. It will undoubtedly be an additional attraction for the volume....

[127] In the _Reminiscences_.

"_September 7._ Have attacked my proofs fiercely...."

_To Laura_

OAK GLEN, September 16, 1899.

Yours received, _tres chere_. Why not consult Hays Gardiner[128] about printing the original draft of the "Hymn"? Win's[129] opinion would be worth having, also. I think I shall consult E. E. Hale, albeit the two just named would be more fastidious.[130]

[128] The late John Hays Gardiner, author of _The Bible as Literature_, _The Forms of Prose Literature_, and _Harvard_.

[129] Edwin Arlington Robinson, author of _Captain Craig_, etc.

[130] The facsimile printed in the _Reminiscences_ contains the discarded stanza.

"_October 21._ My last moments in this dear place. The past season appears to me like a gift of perfect jewels. I pray that the winter may have in store for me some good work and much dear and profitable companionship. I must remember that this may be my last summer here, or anywhere on earth, but must bear in mind that it is best to act with a view to prolonged life, since without this outlook, it is very hard for us to endeavor or to do our best. Peace be with you, beautiful summer and autumn. Amen."

She was never ready to leave Oak Glen; the town house always seemed at first like a prison.

"_October 23_. Boston. A drizzly, dark day. I struggled out twice, saying to myself: 'It is for your life.'..."

"_October 24._ Have had two days of chaos and discouragement...."

"_October 27._ A delightful and encouraging conference of A.A.W. held in my parlors. The prevailing feeling was that we should not disband, but should hold on to our a.s.sociation and lie by, hoping to find new innings for work. Florida was spoken of as good ground for us. I felt much cheered and quickened by the renewal of old friendships...."

A Western lecture trip had been planned for this autumn, but certain untoward symptoms developed and Dr. Wesselhoeft said, "No! no! not even if you had not had vertigo." She gave it up most reluctantly, confiding only to the Journal the hope that she might be able to go later.

"_November 9._ Celebration of dear Chev's birthday at the Inst.i.tution. I spoke of the New Testament word about the mustard seed, so small but producing such a stately tree. I compared this little seed to a benevolent impulse in the mind of S. G. H. and the Inst.i.tution to a tree. 'What is smaller than a human heart? What seems weaker than a good intention? Yet the good intention, followed by the faithful heart, has produced this great refuge in which many generations have already found the way to a life of educated usefulness.'..."

"_November 19...._ Before the sermon I had prayed for some good thought of G.o.d. This came to me in the shape of a sudden perception to this effect: 'I am in the Father's house already.'..."

"_November 30...._ In giving thanks to-day, I made my only personal pet.i.tions, which were first, that some of my dear granddaughters might find suitable husbands, ... and lastly, that I might _serve_ in some way until the last breath leaves my body...."

"_December 16._ I had greatly desired to see the 'Barber.' Kind Mrs.

[Alfred] Batch.e.l.ler made it possible by inviting me to go with her. The performance was almost if not quite _bouffe_. Sembrich's singing marvellous, the acting of the other characters excellent, and singing very good, especially that of De Reszke and Campanari. I heard the opera in New York more than seventy years ago, when Malibran, then Signorina Garcia, took the part of Rosina."

"_December 31...._ 'Advertiser' man came with a query: 'What event in 1899 will have the greatest influence in the world's history?' I replied, 'The Czar's Peace Manifesto, leading to the Conference at The Hague.'"

November, 1899, saw the birth of another inst.i.tution from which she was to derive much pleasure, the Boston Authors' Club. Miss Helen M. Winslow first evolved the idea of such a club. After talking with Mmes. May Alden Ward and Mabel Loomis Todd, who urged her to carry out the project, she went to see the "Queen of Clubs." "Go ahead!" said our mother. "Call some people together here, at my house, and we will form a club, and it will be a good one too."

The Journal of November 23 says:--

"Received word from Helen Winslow of a meeting of literary folks called for to-morrow morning at my house."

This meeting was "very pleasant: Mrs. Ward, Miss Winslow, Jacob Strauss, and Hezekiah b.u.t.terworth attended--later Herbert Ward came in."

It was voted to form the Boston Authors' Club, and at a second meeting in December the club was duly organized.

In January the Authors' Club made its first public appearance in a meeting and dinner at Hotel Vendome, Mrs. Howe presiding, Colonel Higginson (whom she described as her "chief Vice") beside her.

The brilliant and successful course of the Authors' Club need not be dwelt on here. Her connection with it was to continue through life, and its monthly meetings and annual dinners were among her pet pleasures.

She was always ready to "drop into rhyme" in its service, the Muse in cap and bells being oftenest invoked: _e.g._, the verses written for the five hundredth anniversary of Chaucer's death:--

Poet Chaucer had a sister, He, the wondrous melodister.

She didn't write no poems, oh, no!

Brother Geoffrey trained her so.

Honored by the poet's crown, Her posterity came down.

Ages of ancestral birth Went for all that they were worth.

Hence derives the Wentworth name Which heraldic ranks may claim.

That same herald has contrived How the Higginson arrived.

He was gran-ther to the knight In whose honor I indite Burning strophes of the soul 'propriate to the flowing bowl.

Oft the worth I have defended Of the Laureate-descended, But while here he sits and winks I can tell you what he thinks.

"Never, whether old or young, Will that woman hold her tongue!

Fifty years in Boston schooled, Still I find her rhyme-befooled.

Oft in earnest, oft in jest, We have met and tried our best.

Nought I dread an open field, I can conquer, I can yield, Self from foes I can defend, But Heav'n preserve us from our friend!"

She and her "chief Vice" were always making merry together; when their flint and steel struck, the flash was laughter. It may have been at the Authors' Club that the two, with Edward Everett Hale and Dr. Holmes, were receiving compliments and tributes one afternoon.

"At least," she cried, "no one can say that Boston drops its _H's_!"