Schlesinger Library

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the probable causes of Lucy's seeming fault _ It seemed to me that she could not ascribe pure motives to any of our Reformers, & while to her it seemed, that I was blindly bound to see no fault, however glaring - At length in the anguish of any soul, I said Mrs. Rose, "there is not one in the Reform ranks, whom you think true, not one but whom panders to the popular feeling - She answered I can't help it, I take them by the words of their own mouths. I trust all until their own words or acts declare them false to truth & right. & continued she, no one can tell the hours of anguish I have suffered, as one after another I have seen those whom I had trusted, betray falsity of motive, as I have been compelled to place one after another on the list of panderers to public favor - said I, do you know Mrs. Rose, that I can but feel that you place me too on that list. said she, I will

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tell you, when I see you untrue.

A silence ensued, while I copied the verse from the hymn sung at Church this A.M., & subscribed it Susan B. Anthony, for her dear friend Ernestine L. Rose, as I handed it to her, I observed tears in her eyes, said I Mrs. Rose, have I been wicked, & hurt your feelings, She answered, no, but I expect never to be understood while I live" __ her anguish was extreme I too wept, for it filled my soul anguish to see one so noble, so true (even though I felt I could not comprehend her) so bowed down, so overcome with deep swelling emotions -- At length she said, no one knows how I have suffered from not being understood" __ I know you must suffer & heaven forbid that I should add a feather weight to your burdens __

Mrs. Rose is not appreciated, nor cannot be by this age -- she is too much in advance of the extreme altruists even, to be understood by them --

Almost every reformer, feels that

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the odium of his own Altruisms is as much as he is able to bear & therefore shrinks from being identified with one in whose view their altruism is their Conservatism. __ this fact has been most plainly brought home to me -

Every says I am ultra enough the mercy knows; I don't want to seem to be any more so by identifying myself with one whose every sentiment is so shocking to the public mind.

Dr. Snodgrass called to bid us Good Bye, said his wife had been called into the country to attend the funeral of a friend & he should be obliged to stay at home with his boy. The Dr. is a well-meaning man, & would be very active in helping in the work of reform -- he however seems wanting in tact & judgement. cannot seem to strike at the right time - & consequently makes himself very unpopular.

I am sorry for him, he has stood up bravely for human freedom in this slave city & yet he is not welcomed to platforms - has too high an

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estimate of his abilities. I regret not being able to meet his wife again. I am deeply interested in her.

Mrs. Rose spoke this evening in Committee Room of the Maryland Institute. Seats about 500, the room was crowded & it is said hundreds went away, who could not get in __ so much for a free meeting -- she spoke most glorious upon Charity as deduced from the formation of Human Character -- & concluded by briefly reviewing the Morning Sermon - many of Mr. Flanders people were present.

April 10 - Philadelphia

Left Baltimore at 8 1/2 Oclock this A.M., met Mr. Needles on way to Depot - he got in the Carriage & rode to Depot - The driver charged more than I thought he ought to - said he, it is lower than is the price - said the rates are 3/ for each person & 1/ shilling per trunk - I paid the 10/ & then Mr. Needles offered me 2/ to ballance his ride

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the man showed his love for the driver most plainly -

A very severe Thunder Storm this P.M. Was not able to call on any of the friends.

Found Dr. Wrights people very much afflicted, in the death of an only grandson of an only daughter -

April 11

Cool, but pleasant - Mr. R. called on her friend Reuben Webb, his wife Sally was in, she seemed to think it would not be best to have a meeting in Philadelphia, that it was too late in the season.

We then went to Mr. Crowells whose wife is a sister of Mr. Mendom Editor of the Boston Investigator, neither of them were at home, but a bright little girl, whom they have adopted knew Mrs. R. & enter tained us with a beautiful little song -

I wish I was a little bird Up in the bright blue sky Who sings, & flies just where he will And no one asks him why."

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I wish I was a wild wild Deer I saw the other day Who like an arrow swiftly flew Through woods, far, far away.

I wish I was a cunning Fox I'd hide me in a Cave I'd rather be a savage wolf Than what I am a slave.

My mother calls me a good boy My Father calls me brave What wicked actions have I done That I should be a slave.

I saw my little sister sold So they will do by me My Heavenly Father let me die So I shall be free --

Mr. Webb called at Mr. Crowells, he is a liberal Friend, Twenty years ago, he & his wife sat on a public platform with Frances Wright, which act damned them in the eyes of the Society. After dinner Mrs. Wright took us in her carriage to call on Lucretia Mott.

Contary to Mrs. R. expectation

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Mrs. Mott expressed herself in favor of having a meeting, & Mr. Mott sallied out forthwith to secure a Hall - Spring Garden Institute for Thursday & Samson St. Hall for Friday evening. It seems quite good to me to have some one take the burden off my shoulders -

April 12

Very fine, sallied forth to call at Mr. Motts, felt that I had left all to him very coolly, found both Mr. & Mrs. Mott gone to call on us at Dr. M.

Had a short talk with one of the daughters & then returned in time to learn that Mrs. Mott & Sarah Grimpke had made a pleasant call, Mrs. Rose engage to dine at Mrs. Motts on Friday, & at Mr. Webbs on Thursday.

On the P.M. Mr. Mrs. Wright took us out to ride, left Sarah & me at Fairmont, while they crossed the Schuylkill - We took a survey of the Water wheels & forcing pumps & then seated ourselves on a little

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Steamer & were landed at Laurel Hill, where we spent two hours, there are but 24 acres in the Cemetery - there are many very beautiful monuments, again took the boat at 6 1/4 Oclock - arrived home about 6 1/2 Oclock - had a very pleasant time. fell in company with a Middle aged man, who showed us the Monument of Commodore Hull. The rest of the family had returned some hour before us. - Mrs. Crowell & a Mrs. Randall, spiritualist, attending medical lectures, spent the evening at Dr. Wrights, also a Mr. & Mrs. Justice,

Mrs. Crowell went into a sleep, Mrs. Rose, took her by the hands & said Charlotte: Look at me! very sternly - Mrs. C. seemed not to be able to open her eyes or control her motions, but Mrs. R. will have it, that she practiced deception.

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April 13

Fine weather, Sarah & I sallied forth to visit the monument that marks the spot where stood the Elm tree, known as the one under which William Penn formed the treaty with the Indians. We had a long walk, & when arrived there & the spot was pointed out by an old man, it was with difficulty that we could discern the monument, it is surrounded by no fence, is near the bank of the Deleware, & was almost hidden by ship timbers carelessy thrown around it --

Penn was born in 1644 & died in 1718 -- Thus is the spot sacred to the memory of a most amicable adjustment with Indians, left in neglect -- Mrs. Rose does not agree with me as regards the worth of Penn, indeed she does not regard the memory of any whom we are accustomed to think of with

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reverence, She sees good in none save such as the world has traduced - it is well that there are some to bring to light the virtues of the neglected & despised.

We dined at Mr. Webbs, two daughters Harriet & Elizabeth, & a daughter in law - Mrs. R. returned to the Dr's, & I went to the Female Anti Slavery Society.

In Attendance was a young lady, Virginia of Mary land. She & her sister had left them by their father, three slaves worth $1000. each - whom they set at liberty, besides these three, their father left 13 slaves, all of whom save one they have been instrumental in freeing, this one is a cooper & belongs to their only brother, who is ill & not expected to live long - he has an offer of $800. for the slave but tells the girls, of they can give him $400. he will take it & thus set the last of the 16 at liberty - Virginia has raised over $200 & I hope she may succeed in

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in getting the remains of $200, In consequence of freeing their slaves, she & her sister have been compelled to resort to day labor - She has a fine expressive face. It is indeed noble to see two such young girls make such a sacrifice of their all.

Went to Spring St. Institute only about 20 or 30 there, Mrs. R decided not to speak -

The fates have indeed been against us - not a meeting have we had that has paid expenses --

14. Friday,

Dined at James Motts, Abbey Gibbons, Sarah Grimpke, Thomas Curtis, Griffith Cooper & Eliah Capron & wife Rebecca, were invited guests. An Uncle of Thomas Motts wife, Mary Anna, from Texas was there - We had a very chat - spiritualism as usual being the principal topic, Mrs. Rose & Mr. Curtis believing the spirit inseparable from the body, of course, were on

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the unbelieving side. While Sarah Grimpke was all enthu siasm in the faith, Eliah Capron doesn't believe, he knows there is a reality in spirits disembodied, communicating with the living, the rest of the compa ny, with myself, seemed not to know whether or not there is any truth in these modern manifestations.

Mrs. R. returned to the Doctor's immediately after dinner to rest for the evening meeting to be held at Samson's Street Hall - I remained & with Lucretia Sarah Grimpke & myself on one side & Thomas Curtis on the other, had an argument as to the probable future existence of the mind or soul or spirit of man - not an argument could one of us bring, other than an intuitive feeling that we were not to cease to exist, when the body dies, while Mr. Curtis reasoned, (as has Mrs. Rose often done with me) that all things in Nature die,

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or rather, that the elements of all things are separated & assume new forms, that if the soul, the vital spark of man lives eternally so must the essence of the tree, the animal, the bird & the flower.

There certainly is no argument to be brought against such reasonings - But if it be true that we die like the flower, leaving behind, only the fragrance or the [contra?] while the elements that compose us, go to form new bodies, what a delusion has the race ever been in - What a dream is the life of man -

James & Lucretia accompanied me to the Hall, the rain fell rapidly - Not a score of persons were present & Mr. Mott stated to them Mrs. Rose would not speak - just as we got to the foot of the stairs, found Mrs. R., in the Carriage, I got in with them & returned to the Dr.

Mrs. R. decided to stay over Sunday & speak at the liberal meeting

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Apr. 17 Monday -

Snowed all day & the night before - left Phil. Saturday A.M. 9 Oclock, by way of Camden for N. York - The N. Jersey farmers had been at work - the various kinds of vegetables were seen in beautiful green lines through the large fields.

The rain fell rapidly, & after getting about 30 miles north the green vegetables were seen peeping through the cold snow & as we advanced the snow grew deeper & deeper, & in N. York - it seemed like winter - took a carriage to Brooklyn - had quite a time in finding Cousin Anson's, though he lived on Hicks St. his residence is 70 Columbia St.

Yesterday, Sunday Cousin Henry accompanied me to New York to Cousin Elisha Rogers, no. 117 Henry St. where I staid until night, & returned to Brooklyn, the rain & snow fell rapidly & the wind blew a gale. This day I have passed very lazily, written a letter to

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Antoinette Brown & one to Father. have been very much disappointed in not finding Cousin Demantha here, Cousin Anson is also from home.

Apr. 18 Tuesday.

Went over to N. Y. called at Fowlers & Wells Office then at Mrs. Fowlers, found her about leaving for Massachusetts, then went down Grand St shopping. Thence to Dr. Trulls & dined - took a look at his school room all very nice, but it seems to one the Dr. has taken too much upon himself, to be able to do all well - but perhaps not - About 3 Oclock went to Reade St. - found Mrs. Rose returned, chatted with her an hour then went to De pot - As I took my seat in cars, several drunken men seated theselves on the front seats, they were exceedingly disgusting both to the eye & the olfactories, presently a respectable looking man from their vicinity came back, & said, Madam if it

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will not inconvenience you too much, I would to take a seat with you, I moved my bandbox, & as he sat himself down, the fumes of tobacco were quite as disagreeable to me, as the rum was to him.

I have never seen as much drinking on board of any car before, just opposite my seat was a company of young men who also had their bottle & passed it around among their number. I arrived Lydia Mott at 10 pm Evening, found her just in bed - had a long talk.

19 -

In the A.M. I called at Aunt Ann Eliza's, Uncle A. gone to Curtisville - thence went to Aunt Hannahs, found there her nephew Stephen R. Mallory who does indeed look very much as Uncle [Israel?] used to - He invited Cousin Ellen & myself to accompany him to the Idiot Asylum - We arrived there just at dinner hour, but were not allowed to look at them while

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eating, which I very much desired to do - The teacher called a few & exercised them some in reading spelling arithmetic & geography. Many of them show that there is a spark within them, but it is a most painful sight to see them, their idioic stare, & idiotic laugh are terribly revolting - returned to Aunt H's & dined, then Mr. Mallory accompanied me to Lydia Motts, (where I was most happy to meet Judge Hay, he is a dear old man, & says he has enlisted in the service of his country for life - is at work for his grandchildren, says he will prepare a Code of Laws for the next Legislature.) thence to the Stage office & saw me fairly shipped for Troy. At Troy I had a long walk to the dyers for my dress that Mary had left to be colored found Phebe James full of business as usual. Sallie Holly had spoken in Troy, had small meeting.

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Apr. 20 Thursday - left Troy at 7 Oclock A.M. arrived Easton sister Hannahs, at 10 A.M. found Mary there, Eugene gone to N. York - Aaron came at 12 1/2 took dinner & left in the Stage, bound for N.Y. Mary & self worked at my [Delam?} dress.

21 Friday - Mary decided to remain in Easton & teach school this summer -

22 Saturday - After due delays Mary & I started, with Eugene horse & waggon for Battenville sprinkled some when we left but began to rain swiftly before we had gone half way - had a break down going down the hill at Dorns Deliveryes, he came out, & we [all?] went in & dined with Huldah - rained all the rest of the way to the hill - every thing looked the same, no change for the better in the houses or lands as we passed along -

23 - Sunday - Attended Church with Gula to hear Mr. Pegg expect he preached a good

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sermon, but cold not get an inkling of an idea from the whole of it - he seemed very much as four years ago when at Canajoharie.

April 24 Monday. Helped Ann Eliza wash after Dinner A.E. & I accompanied Mary as far as the village thence she went on to Easton alone, I called at Dr. Corliss. Mrs. C. seemed to feel that a good work had been done by Sallie Holly & Frederic Douglas We then called at Dr. Whipples Saw there Polly [D. Tippet?] - all looked old fashioned - Walked up to Mrs. Bailey took tea, thence Sarah Ann accompanied us to Charlotte Burdick, made a short stop at John Whites, thence home, a long walk & yet we were not as tired as I expected.

25 Tuesday. Nice pleasant weather as was yesterday and Sunday.

26 Wednesday. Eliza McLean & Mary called last evening, got up quite a talk on the right of sickly diseased persons to the Parents -

Aaron returned this evening.

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Apr. 27 Wednesday. Aaron returned this evening from N. York - rained very hard -

" 27 Thursday - Gula & self visited at Elijah Hyatts - had a pleasant time - Elijah said when he came in at dusk that he had been thinking about Mother & Father all the afternoon Louis T. & Eliza McLean & Maria Whelden & Husband Mr. Pierce, had not seen her in 10 years, time has made some marks, but yet she looks old fashioned.

Something was said of Mr. Garrison, that he was said of Mr. Garrison, that he was a very bad man, I asked in what respects, said I thought him the most Christ-like man I ever knew - said M. Pierce, does he believe in keeping the Christian Sabbath, does he believe the Bible, & various other like questions - I told Mr. P. he had not asked me for a single scriptural evidence. Nor does the church require any other evidence, than to say you believe