G[eorge] W. C[lark] to Frederick Douglass, March 31, 1853
NEW YORK, March 31, 1853.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS: DEAR SIR:—The
liquor houses, from the mammoth Astor
House down to the vilest sinks of pollution,
are completely flooding this great Gotham
with their hell-fired waters; and drunkenness
and crime, wretchedness and ruin, profanity,
vulgarity, licentiousness, gambling, thieving,
and murder, are the universal results, and
rottenness, political, social, moral and physi-
cal rottenness abound! As Shakspeare said
of wine:
O! thou invisible spirit of rum!
If thou had'st no name by which to
Know thee, we would call thee DEVIL!!
It is truly awful to contemplate the as-
tounding number of grog-holes in New York,
and their depraving influence upon the com-
munity. Such a deluge of rum must drown
and overwhelm all morality and religion; all
love of liberty, of justice, or righteousness
and reform. You might as reasonably ex-
pect the peach tree to bring forth its fruits
upon the icebergs of the arctic regions, as
for virtue to be maintained in a community
whelmed in liquor. Reason and conscience
are benumbed or obliterated; and the vilest
and fiercest passions are set on fire of hell,
and who or what is safe? What interest of
society is not damaged? what cause of hu-
manity is not damned?
But in the midst of this state of things it
is comforting to know there are many choice
and mighty spirits at work, doing strong and
unwearied battle for the right.
It was truly refreshing to turn in and hear
the bold and heroic Ward Beecher, as I had
the privilege of doing so Sunday morning
and evening, while he poured out upon his
vast auditory the great practical truths of
Christianity. O, if we could have such a
ministry and such a gospel throughout this
land, the giant iniquities of this
country—the rum power, and the slave power, would
soon totter and crumble to their base.
By-the-by, Mr. Beecher told me he would
come to Rochester and give us a speech in
Corinthian Hall, now, soon, on some Tuesday
evening. Next week, Tuesday evening, I
think, was the time he set, as most conveni-
ent to himself. I hope the arrangements will
be made and his presence secured.
On Sunday afternoon I had the privilege
of talking and singing to the meeting of the
boys, girls, and women of the "Five Points."
What a renovation of this infamous place is
being accomplished by these meetings and
schools and work-shops that are being estab-
lished here by the friends of
humanity!—May heaven's blessings attend them, and may
similar meetings, and schools, and work-
shops, for the reformation and salvation of
the profligates, young and old, male and fe-
male, be established throughout our land.
I heard the "Black Swan" on Wednesday
evening in the great Metropolitan. The
Hall was well filled with an intelligent, and
for the most part, a very respectable and gen-
teel audience, varying, however, from the
stiff upper tendom to the middling and com-
onality. All seemed alike pleased in some
way. The applause on her first appearance
was loud and long continued, and every
piece she sang was enthusiastically cheered
and several enchored, while rich bou-
quets were thrown from the galleries about
her feet. She was unassuming and mod-
est in her appearance, even to seem-
ing diffidence. She evidently labored
under great embarrassment, which, some-
what unfavorably affected her performance.
She sang with less ease and effectiveness than
when I heard her before. Her execution was
rather hurried-her articulation, though bet-
ter than more singers, was, nevertheless, de-
fective. In this she can greatly improve.—It is a universal and glaring fault, even of
the most gifted in power and quality of voice.
They sacrifice the sentiment of the song to
the music, which is a perversion. The sentiment of the song should inspire the soul of
the performers—should govern and controle
and give character to his music-and every
idea and every word should be distinctly and
sweetly carried home to the heart.
Miss Greenfield has great power, compass,
and variety of voice—a basso—barytone and
soprano, and each distinct from the other-
a remarkable combination. Her modulations
and inflections are easy and natural, and al-
most always perfect.
With her extraordinary powers of voice-
with more experience and skill in execu-
tion-with more nerve, energy, passion,
she would take the highest rank as a vocal-
ist. But I am aside from my intention. I
thought only of making a remark or two in
relation to the cruel injustice to which she
was consenting in excluding from her con-
cert the injured and oppressed people of her
own color! I did not know the fact until I
had taken my seat in the Hall, when, on look-
ing over the programme, I saw at the mar-
gin the offensive interdiction. I was horror-
struck at the unexpectent and inhuman an-
nouncement; and had it not been for my
company, I would have left the Hall in dis-
gust. She had been represented to me as a
Christian woman, and I had hoped that, with
her powers and position, controlled by Chris-
tian principle, she would do much to elevate
her down-trodden race. But alas! on the
very threshold of her career, she abandons
principle—panders to the base and wicked
prejudices of the negro-hating
New Yorkers—abjures the cause of her oppressed people,
and adds another cup of bitterness to their
lips!
A riot was predicted by such as wanted to
see one; but as the hated race were excluded,
Rynders and his crew were appeased, and
Herod and Pilot were on terms.
The Crystal Palace moves steadily on; the
skeleton is up; octagon in form; the floors
are being laid and the roofs are being put on.
It is 4 or 5 miles from the Park or City Hall;
and though in most respects, poorly located,
in an unsightly, dusty place, it has one great
advantage, it stands by the side of the great
Croton Reservoir; so the parched pilgrims
may slake abundantly of the
"Drink that God has given,
Distilling in the showers of Heaven."
In haste, yours truly,
G. W. C.