Reminiscences of Levi Coffin. (Sampson Low and Co.)—Levi Coffin was
the principal manager of the "Underground Railway," which name the Southerners gave to the organisation by means of which fugitives from the Slave-States were assisted in their passage to Canada. He was a native of North Carolina, to which State his family had removed from the island of Nantucket, where it had long been settled, having originally emigrated to New England in 1642. His family were members of the Society of Friends, and in accordance with the principles of that Society did not own slaves. From his earliest years, Levi Coffin was possessed with an abhorrence of slavery, and even when very young assisted many slaves to escape from bondage. When he settled in Newport, Indiana, his efforts developed into a regular system, and his house became the goal for fugitive slaves, as a sure refuge, and as a starting-point for a safe jcurney to Canada. The stories of these poor fugitives, as told in this book, are, many of them, of thrilling interest. The character of the writer himself is a very in- structive study. His almost uniform success in his difficult enterprises, his own immunity from violence, and generally from minor annoyances of any kind, while he was engaged in thwarting violent men, are well worth trying to account for. One marked characteristic is his imper- turbable calmness and freedom from all fussiness in circumstances of great difficulty and peril. Ho knew also how to get the best out of other men, believing always in the existence of something better than appeared. There are many indications of humour. For example, he tells how at the beginning of the civil war prayer-meetings were held in Cincinnati, at which confessions of national sins, Sabbath-breaking especially, were made to God, but the sin of slavery was forbidden to be mentioned. The book might with advantage have been made shorter, but few who take it up will fail to read to the end, and bid then a hearty farewell to the brave and kindly Levi Coffin.
Previous page
