Report of the Twentieth National Anti-Slavery BazaarWeston, A. W.
History
Report of the Twentieth National Anti-Slavery Bazaar
Weston, A. W.
Antislavery movements -- Massachusetts; Bazaars (Charities) -- Massachusetts -- Boston
We have alluded to the donations of the absent members of our
Committee, simply for the purpose of showing that while we are holding
out our hands to the whole world for help, we are performing a
condition essential to securing the aid of others, helping ourselves,
and also, “remembering those in bonds as bound with them,” as well
abroad as at home.
We now come to the detail of an event, at which we are greatly
grieved, and where we are sure all Abolition hearts will sympathize
with us.
That a heavy pecuniary loss should have been sustained by a Cause so
poor as ours, of course we deeply regret, but that is nothing to our
sorrow that the most unwearied labor and generous devotion of time and
money should be met with entire failure and disappointment.
Madame C. B. Hunt, a most earnest friend of the slave, resident in
Stuttgart, Wurttemberg, not satisfied with her own private
contribution to his cause, but anxious for some public expression of
German sympathy, undertook, almost alone, to procure the presentation
of this subject to the public, in connection with collections for the
Bazaar. Her exertions were very ably seconded by Pralat Kapff, a
clergyman of high standing, who introduced the subject to his
congregation in a very impressive manner. The work was highly
successful. German artisans contributed articles and fabrics unknown
in this country. German ladies of rank sent rare articles from their
family repositories. Authors gave their own volumes, and artists
beautiful views of the Wurttemberg Alps and adjacent scenery. Madame
H. writes as follows:――“It would be gratifying to Mrs. Stowe to know
that ‘Uncle Tom’ had so successfully performed his mission, that
notwithstanding all the disadvantages your agent, as an unknown
foreigner, had for bringing the cause before the public, still, from
many distant places, as soon as the Bazaar was pointed out as a means
of assisting in the emancipation of the oppressed, trifles were
forwarded, some of them evidently from people in very humble life.
Amongst others, I ought perhaps to mention the way in which I received
the portraits of the Prince and Princess of Wurttemberg. They must
have been sent by the donor, Philip Schmabried, of Munclingen, the day
after he saw the advertisement, and I have no doubt they were in his
eyes the greatest ornament of his humble dwelling. ‘Is the sender a
frame-maker, or has he a shop?’ I asked the carrier who brought them.
‘Lord bless you! he is only a peasant, and he took them down from his
walls,’ was the answer. I only hope they may find a purchaser who will
recognise in them the hidden moral worth that they certainly possess,
when one calls to mind the value persons of that class set upon such
ornaments for their dwellings.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account