the romance of philanthropy causes the first meeting of dr. samuel gridley howe and julia ward.—letter of congratulation from the poet longfellow.—the “chevalier.”—the wedding-tour in europe.—the eldest daughter, julia romana, is born in rome.—why she was “mary” and i was “martha.”
those stern censors, time and space, forbid my giving an account of the early lives of my parents, dr. samuel gridley howe and mrs. julia ward howe, since these have been already described in their respective biographies and in my mother’s reminiscences. suffice it to say here that at the time of his marriage my father was already known on both sides of the atlantic on account of his services in the greek revolution, as well as for his work for the blind. as “surgeon-in-chief of the fleet,” soldier, and almoner of america’s bounty, had he aided the greeks in their long struggle with the barbarous turks. the king of greece made him a knight of st. george, a title which he himself never used. but his intimate friends, fellow-members of the “five of clubs”—longfellow, charles sumner, prof. cornelius c. felton and george s. hilliard—called him “chevalier,” which my mother abbreviated to “chev.”
it was the ward sisters’ interest in his famous pupil, laura bridgman, the blind deaf-mute, which brought about the first meeting of my parents, charles sumner and the poet driving the young ladies to the institution for the blind. in the following winter, 1842–43, doctor howe and julia ward became engaged, their marriage taking place in april, 1843. longfellow’s beautiful letter of congratulation addressed to the “chevalier” has been published elsewhere. i am glad to be able to give the one he wrote to our mother’s “brother sam.”
cambridge, march 6, 1843.
my dear sam,—i ought to have written you long ago on the great event of our brave chevalier’s conquering the celestial city; but i have been away from home, and have moreover been hoping to see you here, and expecting to hear from you. the event did not surprise me; for the chevalier is a mighty man of love, and i noted that on the walls of the citadel (julia’s cheeks) first the white flag would be displayed, and anon the red, and then again the white. the citadel could not have surrendered to a braver, better or more humane knight.
seriously, my dear sam, and most sincerely do i rejoice in this event. julia could not have chosen more wisely—nor the doctor so wisely; and i think you may safely look forward to a serene and happy life for your sister. and so god speed them upon life’s journey: “to the one be contenting enjoyments of his auspicious desires; to the other, a happy attendance of her chosen muses.”
i write you a very short note this morning, because i am going down to hear sumnerius lecture in the law school, on ambassadors, consuls, peace & war, and other matters of international law.
write me soon—as soon as you can; and say that you are coming to cambridge erelong. life is short. we meet not often; and i am most sincerely,
henry w. longfellow.
my mother has described in her reminiscences the wonderful wedding-tour in europe. in rome, her eldest daughter, julia romana, was born. she fancied she saw, in the baby’s radiant little face, a reflection of the beautiful forms and faces she had so earnestly contemplated before the child’s coming. other people saw it there in after-years. the exaltation of her mother’s spirit deeply influenced the mind and character of sister julia, “the first-born daughter of a hero’s heart.” she was so unworldly that she did not know what worldliness was. her lovely face and rapt upward look have, fortunately, been preserved by the pencil of our uncle, luther terry.
after a year and a half in europe my parents returned to america. the european travel had been by post, in their own carriage. the tour had been expensive and economy was for a time necessary. my mother accordingly did some clerical work, thus earning the money for my baby-clothes.
i soon evinced a practical turn of mind, very different from that of my sister. the tendency to economy with which the family have sometimes reproached me is due, as i believe, to pre-natal influences. perhaps it is also an inheritance from french ancestors!
