The 'Diary of Sidney Qeorge Fisher 1859-1860
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The 'Diary of Sidney Qeorge Fisher 1859-1860 ISHER began the year 1859 by publishing in January a small book of verse, %ustic TQiymes, and he ended it in December Fby issuing a book on the impending crisis, The J^aw of the Territories. A speech he delivered before a local agricultural society was also printed, and several of his political articles appeared in the ^Hprth American. The year was highlighted for the diarist by the rapid increase in the number of horsecar lines, the passenger railways which did so much to stimulate the city's growth, by the sale of his friend Pierce Butler's slaves in Georgia, by duty as foreman of a grand jury, and by John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in October. The diary dwells increasingly on slavery and the rising national tension. "Slavery occupies all conversation now," Fisher wrote on January 2, i860. Though a man of moderate views, he had reached the opinion that civilization, liberty, and religion could not coexist with slavery. 1 January 8y 1859 In the evening read the Rustic Rhymes thro. There are two or three errors of the press, one very provoking. It is difficult for an author to correct proof. The lines are so familiar that the first word suggests all the others, and, unless he resolutely fixes his attention on each one, he is very apt to overlook an error. I thought I had done this, but it seems one escaped me, besides some others of punctuation. January fo, 1859 I remember when coal was first used. Long after, hot-air furnaces were invented, which are now universal. I 1 Rustic Rhymes was the second book of verse written by Sidney George Fisher, and was published in 1859 by Parry & McMillan of Philadelphia. His first book of poetry, Winter Studies in the Country, was published in 1856 by the same firm. On Dec. 19, 1859, Fisher inscribed a copy of each work for presentation to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 189 I9O SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER April recollect, many years ago, 20 I suppose, I one day advised old Genl. Forman2 to get a grate for his parlor, telling him of the trouble saved & that by burning coal the room could be made comfortable in any part of it. His niece, Miss Augusta Forman from one of the lower counties, was present, and supported my opinion, saying that one of her neighbors had got one and that actually the water never froze on the sideboard the whole winter! The old General, however, preferred the wood fires, which are indeed much the pleasanter, if you can warm a house with them. The true way in the country is to have a furnace for the hall & wood fires in the rooms. January 14^ 1859 Rustic Rhymes is out & makes a decent little volume. Directed copies to be sent to Mr. Binney, Clark Hare, Meredith, McMichael, Sally and Hetty, Dr. Neill, Mrs. J. F. Fisher. Took a copy to George Smith, who read some of it and approved it, particularly the piece called "A Welcome."3 2 Gen. Thomas Marsh Forman (1758-1845), owner of Rose Hill, a notable estate adjoining Fisher's Mount Harmon on the Sassafras River. Rose Hill is now the property of Alexander J. Cassatt. 3 The eminent Horace Binney; his son-in-law Judge J. I. Clark Hare; William Meredith, the noted lawyer; Morton McMichael, proprietor of the North American; Sally Smith and her sister Mrs. Mifflin Wistar; Dr. William Neill, formerly president of Dickinson College; Mrs. Fisher, wife of the diarist's first cousin; and George R. Smith, the diarist's best friend, are here alluded to. 1963 DIARY 1859-1860 I9I Henry seemed in better spirits than usual. He said he had read part of my book and liked it. That "A Welcome" had caused him to shed the first tear since Sarah Ann died.4 I thought of him whilst I wrote it. I value his judgment more highly than that of many who have more literary culture, for he has mind and feeling and can appre- ciate just thought and sentiment, tho not a judge of the graces of style. January 20y 1859 Rain & warm all day. Went to town. Cor- rected proof of the article which is to appear on Saturday. It is a criticism on the President's message and an examination of the policy he recommends of taking Cuba & plundering Mexico & Nicaragua. It is severe in its censure, but I think just. As the subject is now up before Congress it may be read, but the Midas ears of our people are deaf to any reasoning that does not appeal directly to their pockets. If one wrote such things in the hope of producing effects, it would be vain labor.5 January 2fy 1859 Saw Henry who showed me a puff of the Rustic cRjiymes in the Evening Journal of Tuesday. It is meant to be laudatory, but is very foolish. Went to McMillan's.6 They say the book sells very well. Called to see old Mrs. Gilpin.7 Was glad to find her so well and cheerful. I have a great respect for her. Henry Gilpin was there. They all said a great many kind things about the %ustic %hymeS) indeed, I got a note from Henry about them some days ago, also one from Mr. Binney and one from Dr. Wood,8 all very compli- mentary and friendly. February /, 1859 These passenger cars, as they are called, but which are street railroads with horse power, and which have suddenly sprung into extensive use, are a great convenience. Tho little more 4 Sarah Ann, wife of Fisher's brother Charles Henry Fisher, died on May 6, 1858. "A Welcome" is a poem about a wife who, having died, waits joyfully in Heaven to receive her husband who lingers on his deathbed. 5 "The President's Message," signed Cecil, took up three and a half columns of the first page of the North American for Jan. 22, 1859. In it, Fisher concludes that the President's message demonstrates to the North "that we are governed by negroes and slaves. Every three of them has a vote, which weighs as heavy and counts for as much as one of our votes. Their labor produces the wealth which winds its net around all our interests; out of their weakness comes a power that governs our strength; on their degradation is built a throne that over- shadows our government, and threatens its existence, and they have cast the chain, that fetters their hands, around our necks." 6 Parry & McMillan, booksellers at the southeast corner of Fourth and Chestnut Sts. 7 Mrs. Joshua Gilpin, mother of Henry D. Gilpin. 8 Dr. George Bacon Wood, president of the American Antiquarian Society. I92 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER April than a year old, they have already almost displaced the heavy, jolt- ing, slow and uncomfortable omnibus and are destined soon to banish it and hacks also entirely. They are roomy, their motion smooth & easy, they are clean, well cushioned & handsome, low to the ground so that it is convenient to get in or out and are driven at a rapid pace. They offer great facilities in traversing the city, now grown so large that the distances are very considerable from place to place. They traverse the city in its length & breadth and save time & expense. Today I took the 6th St. line at the turnpike & went to Shippen St., then walked to Elizabeth Fisher's wharf. Then, took the Pine St. line & went up to Mrs. Hone's in Pine above 19th St.9 Then took the Spruce St. line & came down to 10th St. & went from thence to Fisher's house.10 Coming home in the afternoon, I took the 5th St. line at Walnut St., close to Mr. Ingersoll's door11 & came out to the Germantown turnpike. Their remarkable success proves how much they were needed. They are all crowded, too much so, indeed, often for comfort. Already are built & in use lines on 2nd & 3rd, 5 th & 6th, 9th & 10th, Race & Vine, Market, Spruce & Pine Sts. Tracks are now laying for one in Arch St. and many more are projected. They will also soon stretch out to the neighboring villages, thus merging them in the town. Already one runs to Darby, 7 miles off, and this year we are to have them, it is said, out the Germantown & York Roads. A beneficial effect of this will be to enable everyone to have a subur- ban or villa or country home, to spread the city over a vast space, with all the advantages of compactness and the advantages, more- over, of pure air, gardens and rural pleasures. Before long, town life, life in close streets and alleys, will be confined to a few occupations, and cities will be mere collections of shops, warehouses, factories and places of business. There is only one objection to them, they obstruct the streets for carriages. The rails mal^e driving very inconvenient & unpleasant. But the few keep carriages, the many ride in the cars & they are now so comfortable that the most fastidious may endure them. Private carriages will be driven to the country also. February if, 1859 Called to see Meredith, having heard that he had been unwell ever since I saw him last, 6 weeks ago. He looks 9 Mrs. Isaac Hone, 1820 Pine St. 10 Joshua Francis Fisher, 919 Walnut St. 11 The diarist's father-in-law, Charles J. Ingersoll, lived at 506 Walnut St.