The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-07-20
NEW SERIES-NO. 339

brother. In the course of the conversation
she remarked that the family had of late
received many letters inquiriDg whether this
or that fact stated of Mr.. Douglas history
was true; if, indeed his mother was so gerry
poor and if young D. had been obliged to
work at cabinet making for his board, etc.;
and she said many anecdotes were related OF
her brothers youthful days, which she knew
not to be true. The cabinet maker story
had this for its foundation, and no more.
Mrs. Douglas, the mother, had both the
means and inclination to give Stephen a
thorough education, and to that end kept
him at school. The boy. tired of this, i'm
portuned her to allow him to learn trade,
pleading partiality for cabinet making.
To "work in wood" was at that time the
only ambition that he knew or felt. Mrs.
D. refused repeatedly, and consented at last,
with the thought that the way to cure the
boys liking for trade--for which he was
physically unfit, being weak and puny-was
to put him at it. And the woman's for
sight was not at fault Three months
apprenticeship in the shop suf6ced. At the
end of that time he returned to his mother,
saying the work was too hard for him, and
that, with her consent, be would resume the
school and remain there as long as she de-
sired. This he did and when the widow
Douglas became Mrs. Granger and removed
to Ontario county, Stephen was sent to the
Canandaigua Academy-an excellent insti-
tuition as boarding student. and remained
there until fit to enter law Office.
He remained "reading law" at Canandai-
qua as long as be could restrain his impa,
tience to strike out and "set up for himself"
Ambition, far more than necessary, led him
to push on to Illinois. Ill health, brought
on as be thought by too much study, and
constitution which at that time appeared
feeble, also had much to do with bis venture.
That Mr.. Douglas when young was self
reliant and quite disposed to do for himself
rather than have others do for him, would
seem to be true. That bis self-reliance was
from choice rather than from necessity, is
all the more creditable to him. But the
stories of his having been an extremely poor
boy, deprived of all early advantages in
youth, ETC., are simply exaggerations-the
coinage of electioneering biographers and
other humbugs.
Mrs. Granger, the mother of Mr.. Doug.
las, is a very active, sprightly and intelligent
lady. She told me she was over seventy;
had I guessed her age from appearance and
conversation, should have said at least
fifteen years younger. In hight she is not
over five feet, and probably weighs less
than one hundred pounds. She said she ex-
pected Stephen almost every train, but that
it was altogether uncertain when he would
come. 1.-TWO years ago." said she, "when
we did not look for him, he dropped in on
US and made long visit. He never writes
when we may expect him." 1t was quite
evident the old lady fully understood the
circumstances under which her son was
running for the Presidency, and she seemed
to assent to remark of her husband, that
with the Democratic party divided he stood
no chance. "He has always told me-" said
she, that be did not want to run for the
Presidency, but that his friends were press
ing him to do co." (The "did not want"
fear, was boys tale to bis motherD eff
be could be elected" she continued, zone
good would come Of it.: be would stop
making speeches., and save his health" She
expressed considerable fear of the Senator's
throat disease, and, mother-li like, appeared
far more concerned about that than his
political prospects. Of one thing she felt
entirely sure-that to be beaten would not
hurt her son at all and speaking of attacks
upon him, she good d-naturedly remarked she
thought the newspapers had already said
all the harsh things they could say of him
so his running for the Presidency now could
make no difference about that.
Mr.. Granger, the step father of Mr..
Douglas, is TALL erect old gentleman of
eighty years. With the exception of being
a little deaf, he is in the enjoyment of every
faculty. He came here from Suf6eld, Con-
nectieut, in 1900, and purchased the noble
farm (then wilderness, on which he now
lives. He boasts that in all the changes
and revolutions of politics he has always
voted the Democratic ticket. Himself and
family enjoy the esteem and love of all their
neighbors.
The pleasant hour spent at the residence
of Mr.. Granger will long be remembered.
If the aged couple feel pride in the success
Of their son, he has abundant reason to feel
proud of them. If be should never reach
the presidency, and circumstances should
force him to take up his abode under the
roof of the Manchester farmhouse, which
he left twenty-five years ago for the prairies
of the West, the fate will not be bad one.
Better far than Napoleon at St. Helena or
Louis Philippe at Gaeta. Whatever else
happens, it is not probable the people will
bansh Mr.. d. from the country, or that
now, at least, with bis head full of what
Honest Old Abe " calls his great prin-
ciple, (Squatter Sovereignty be will ban
ish himself to Clifton Springs, and stay
with bis mother" 1.-The great ;" of these
days, of which Douglas is one, are much as
the great /" were in the days of Pope:
"Not one looks baekward-onward still he
goes,
Yet ne'er looks forward further than bis nose.