s
suffrage, and both by lecturing and writing has supported every effort
put forth for the educational and general advancement of her sex.

Although in her eightieth year when the writer conversed with her a few
years ago, Mrs. Howe was then full of youthful enthusiasm, and her
interest in the great movements of the world was as keen as ever. Age
had in no way lessened her intellectual vigor. Surrounded by her
children and grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, she recently
celebrated her eighty-fourth birthday.

The story of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" has been left to the
last, not because it is the least important, but, on the contrary,
because it is one of the most important works of her life. Certain it
is that the "Battle Hymn" will live and thrill the hearts of Americans
centuries after its author has passed on to the other life.

The hymn was written in Washington, in November, 1861, the first year
of our Civil War. Dr. and Mrs. Howe were visiting friends in that city.
During their stay, they went one day with a party to see a review of
Union troops. The review, however, was interrupted by a movement of the
Confederate forces which were besieging the city. On their return, the
carriage in which Mrs. Howe and her friends were seated was surrounded
by soldiers. Stirred by the scene and the occasion, she began to sing
"John Brown," to the delight of the soldiers, who heartily joined in
the refrain.

At the close of the song Mrs. Howe expressed to her friends the strong
desire she felt to write some words which might be sung to this
stirring tune. But she added that she feared she would never be able to
do so.

"That night," says her daughter, Maude Howe Eliot, "she went to sleep
full of thoughts of battle, and awoke before dawn the next morning to
find the desired verses immediately present to her mind. She sprang
from her bed, and in the dim gray light found a pen and paper, whereon
she wrote, scarcely seeing them, the lines of the poem. Returning to
her couch, she was soon asleep, but not until she had said to herself,
'I like this better than anything I have ever written before.'"

THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of