Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-23
The Home OF Frederick Douglass.

Frederick Douglass lives in handsome
house standing on the top of a hill, and COM
manding fine view of the city and the ad-
jacent country through which winds
branch OF the Potomac river. Stately trees
adorn the slopes of the hill on all sides of
the house. This was built for his own res
idence by the former owner of large tract
of land who sold house-lots only on condi.
tion that no spot should ever be sold TO a
negro or an Irishman. Having become poor,
he now lives in humber quarters, aud United
States Marshal Douglass has become the
owner of the house with fifteen acres of land
around It, We found Mr.. Douglass in the
midst of his family, a patriarch indeed. His
wife is infrm from rheumatism his sister,
who remained slave until released by the
Proclamation, lives in small house on the
premises with her son, who works for his
uncle his daughter, fine, energetic looking
woman, with her daughter, a bright, intelli.
gent girl of sixteen, was spending the day
with her parents; little motherless grand
daughter, pleased and happy, clung to her
grandmother; an adopted daughter was busy
about the house, and an orphan boy of ten
years, full Of intelligence, was there, who, a
few months ago, wrote to Mr.. Douglass from
Maryland, claiming to be his granddaughter,
and proving himself to be so, was sent for
to come and share this hospitable home. The
three sons live about Washington, one being
| employed in his fathers office. In the we'll
| furnished study where he has large library.
| Mr.. Douglass showed us several pieces of
furniture which he purchased at the sale of
the effects of Charles Sumner, among which
were his desk and table. He gave us
very interesting account of his recovery of
a long-lost brother, much older than himself.
who had been sold many years ago into
Texas, where he had been cruelty treated
and had suffered much hardship, until he
was broken down with age and infirmity.
Like many others, it was long after the pro-
clamation that he first learned that he was
free. Mr.. Douglass, becoming acquainted
with the facts, brought him to his home, and
supported and cared for him until death
came to his relief. He also related to us his
visit after the war, to his old master on his
death-bed, his friendly meeting with his
masters daughter, who, when child, had
shown him sympathy and kindness, and
whom, in return, he has befriended, as slave
might, when her step-mother had ill-treated
her; and of his receipt from the daughter
Of his cruel step-mother and mistress, of a
letter from Texas, imploring his pecuniary
aid in her poverty and distress. Thus we
spent two hours with him and his family in
the most delightful manner, as much hon
ored and as happy as we had been in the
presidential mansion. And, when he took
us back to the city in his own carriage, it
was as though king had attended us. For,
as kingly man, as high-bred gentleman,
no man in this broad land stands before
Frederick Douglass. And when we consider
that his youth was spent in slavery, in his
early manhood he was hunted fugitive,
that he had no education save what he
gained by observation, and what, by extra
toll, he ground into and out of his massive
isspised aud hated race-looking at him as
he stands-scholagly, broad in every sense, a
man Of property and~s man OF mind, large.
hearted, philanthropic, with lofty aims and
unseltish ambitions, crowned with the hon
ors he had fairly won in spite of all these
drawbacks, and modestly ignoring all greater
honors, that, but for the one dishonor of
race, might now be his,-what other man in
this or any other land has a right to call
himself his peer.-E. B. Chace, in Prov
Mence Journal.