The Rock Island Argus., 1883-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
TFrom our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, ID q, April 10, 1000.
Monday was the anniversary of Lin
coins emancipation proclamation and the
negroes OF Washington had celebration
"A process ion and big time generally
Fred Douglas made speech in the even
ing worthy of the occasion This white
hired old patriarch, they say is soon to
marry a very accomplished and very
handsome woman, almost white, ana
many, many years his Junior Mr.. Doug
lass wife died year or two ago, and
although he is about sixty six years old,
he has perfect right to marry, providing
the girl is willing. There is much that is
interesting in the life of Fred Douglass
Born and reared in slavery he has made
himself one of the first orators Of the
world and secured for himself a position
that any educated white man may be
proud Of He stole the time in which to
learn to read and write, aud when he ran
away from bondage the event created
almost as much excitement as the rebellion
of John Brown. He fled from Baltimore
to Philadelphia, thence to Massachusetts,
being pursued like a thief as he Wass for
he stole himself, but the excitement be-
came so great that he had to 90 to Eu
rope In England he was the guest of
John Bright, and his lectures were an
event that was commented upon all over
the British kingdom Douglass fortunes
have come and gone. He has been lucky
and unlucky. But in his old age he is
independent. He owns an eighteen room
house near Washington and Is worth not
far from a hundred Thousand dollars.
Mr. Douglass came to Washington many
years ago, and has not lost anything. He
was etfle secretary ofsthe Santo Domingo
commissioners il 1874. 197ff lie Is a good deal
of the demagogue and -hypocrite, but he
is eloquent, persuasive and convincing
yet no better than other people, though
he will try to make you believe he is
AIr Hayes made him United States Mar
shal of the District of Columbia, and
never recognized him at the white house.
The judges of the courts did not like him
and lie was unpopular among the lawyers
Garfield removed him in order to appoint
his dear friend Captain Henry, bnt he
gave Douglass better office by appoint
ing him recorder of deeds. Douglass now
getsabig fees and does no work. He has |
nearly all his relatives in Office. He plays |
the color dodge for all it is worth |
sometimes wish / was smart Colored |
man or . smart old soldier, they get |
along so well.
The reports which have reached Wash |
ington concerning the presidential excur
sion party since their heads were turned /
homewards are not so rosy as some that
came earlier. 1t is evident that there has
been some disappointment concerning /
the trip. Besides Secretary Chambers |
fall from the wagon there have been other
unpleasant experiences. Private adYices
indicate that the cause of Mr. Chandler's |
fall was as follows: 1t is well known in
Washington, although we have striven to
keep the dark secret to ourselves that the
president is frightful snorer. When he
begins snoring in good earnest it sounds
like Jumbo trumpeting amid a herd of
elephants. 1t seems that the presidential
party in Florida were taking night jour
ney, when the secretary of the navy and
the president each dropped off into a cat
nap. When the president began to wake
the echoes of the forest with his snorts,
bIT. Chandler, suddenly awaking, sprang
from the wagon in a spasm of terror and
thereby injured his shoulder. The driver
stopped and picked him up, but the
secretary slept no more during that drive
The reason of the presidents bad humor
was that, against his express orders to
Private Secretary Phillips that he was-not
to touch gun, Fled got hold of one
with the usual ingenuity of the small boy
in the face of such prohibition and went
alligator shooting. When the President
heard of it he went for the hapless youth.
Frederick, he said in his sternest voice,
Didn't tell you when brought you on
this trip that you were not to meddIe with
guns and such? Now, sir, the next time
L hear OF your borrowing gun to shoot
three fingers off | shall send you i'm
mediately back to Washington" The fol
lowing is an extract from private letter
by one of the correspondents accompany
ing the president, written just before the
party started for home. 1t don't tally
with some of the rose-colored dispatches
published in the papers: thermometers
deau average 96 degrees Mosquitoes the
size of humble bees One bite on the
ankle will make you walk lame The
sands are full of fleas. These creatures
have the untamed energy of the far north.
The orange season is over. The country
is flat, damp and malarious. The fishing |
is poor and conducted under great diff |
culties. The president has been bitten |
by mosquitoes and fieas until he is be
ginning TO be reconciled to going back to
the office seekers. Everybody is cross
and out of humor. You sec notes of
changes of our plans. We are hunting
for a comfortable place Old Sanford |
has cooked his goose inviting the presi-
dent down here after lying to him about
the paradise condition of this country.
You see if he gets his foreign appoint
ment. The only sport down here is ALI
gator shooting. That involves as much
danger us numbering cows, but it will
make good subject to talk about when
the hunters return"
house last week with his Princeton col
lege companions They came here on
singing tour, but after the boys got up