Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-11-22
On Self Made Men.

The Hon. Frederick Douglass, who
is announced to be here to lecture on
Thursday next, is regarded as \ Of
the most notable characters of the
present gen marathon. His admirers call
him a grand old man, and as far as
greatness can exist 10 mankind he is
possibly entitled to rank among them.
BE is certainly great, considering the
fact that be is Of African descent, and
that about forty years ago he was a
common slave, working at his trade as
a ship caulker, while his earnings
went into his masters pocket instead
ofhis own, as it has done since the
time he ran away from bondage.
A six page article written BY Doug
lass in the December number Of Serb
ner, relates for the first time something
Of his escape from slavery. He lived
in Baltimore and belonged to a Nh.
Aud. There he worked asa caulker
among the shipping, and there be be-
came familiar with sailors customs
and manners. It was the rule il those
days for all freemen Of color
to carry free papers. He didn't have
a free colored friend from EhOm to
borrow a set Of free papers to run
away on, bat he had a sailor friend
who looked ike him and who loaned
hin "a protection. You can buy a
protection all covered over With the
outspread wings Of the American
eagle, in almost any seaport town for
half q dollar or such a matter. They
certify to the fact that the bearer is q
free American sailor and ia entitled
to the protection Of the American
flag ell over the world. Many aquatic
disciples of John Bull and other ma.
tons, never n~aturalize1 10 this coun.
try, carry American projections and
sail on American ships SIS American
sailors. After the protection pare,
was secured Douglass took the Phila
delphia train as il was in motion
forty three years ago the 3D. Of las
September, paying his fare to the con
duetor. Knowing a ship from sten
to stern, or from keelson to mai
truck, and wearing sailor toggery
though a little nervous, he did nc
lose his self-pOssession when the cor
ductor passed around. The proteC
ton paper with its eagle did the busi
ness finely, and he lodged the Mary
land slave catebers, though q dark
acquaintance at IIavre de Grace can
nea= betraying him, and ut Whining
ton, when he changed IRON cars I
steamer, he feared trouble, but passe
the ordeal all right and was 500
nlrth Of Mason and Dixon's lin
In less than twenty-fcur hours Doul
lars was in New York city, and sin,
then be has been a free man, but
soon learned it was not as safe q raiuI
as he would like. The city being fu
Of Southerners, with plenty Of persoi
who sympathized with them, for a ie
dollars it was not a difficult thing
catch a runaway darky even ia M
York. One night he slept among L
barrels on the public wharf, butfearu
to seek work, because most likely
master would hunt for him about t
harbor. He struck sympat
with a sailor named Stu'
who took him home and gave hin
bite to eat. Next day he was int
ducee to prominent underground "a
way managers Of those days, all dc
now but ono or two. These leadt
bid him away until bis ihteuded wi
fee woman came on by appointing
and married him, the couple being t
poor to pay the minister a dime.
The underground managers senthi
on to New Bedford BY the steam
New Richmond and he passed 4
night with his wife on open deck.
Newport, where tho couple took
stage for New Bedford, he hadu
money enough to pay his fare, but
couple Of Quakers beiriende1 the in
pecunious couple TO the extent Of tV
dollars. Two weeks elapsed from Il
time be fed from Maryland until
walked safely as a citizen over Il
wharyes Of New Bedford. Here NJ