Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-04-27
From Our Regular Correspondent.

From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. d. c., April 22th 1883,
Monday was the the anniversary of
Lin.oln's emancipation proclamation
and the negroes of Washington had a
celebration procession and big
time generally. Fred Douglass made
a speech in the evening worthy of the
occasion. THIS white naired old patri-
arch. they say, is soon to marry very
accomplished and very woman, all
most white and many, many years his
junior. Mr.. Douglass's wife died
year or two ago, although he IS about
sixty-six years old, he has perfect
right to marry, providing the girl is
willing. There is much that is inter-
estlng in the lite Of Fred Douglass.
Born and reared in slavery he has
made himself one of the first orators OF
the world and secured for himself
position that any educated white man
may be proud Of He stole the time in
which to learn to read and write, and
when her 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
thief as he was, for he stole himself,
but the excitement became SO great
that he had to go to Europe. In Eng
land 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 eight
teen room house near Washington and
is worth hot far from hundred thous-
sand dollars. Mr.. Douglass came to
Washington many years ago, and has
not lost anything. He was the secre-
tary of the SAINT Domingo Commits
sioners in 1871. He is good deal of
the demagogue and hypocrite. but he
is eloquent, persuasive and convinc-
ing-yet no better than other people,
though he will try to make you believe
he is. Mr.. Hayes made him United
States Marshal of the District of Col.
umbia, and never recognized him at
the white house. The judges of the
court did not like him and he was I'm.
popular among the lawyers. Garfield
removed him in order to appoint his
dear friend, Captain Henry. but he !
gave Douglass better Office by a2-
pointing him recorder of deeds.
Douglass now gets big fees and does
no work. He has nearly all his rela-
tlves in office. He plays the color
dodge for all it is worth.
The reports which have reached
Washington concerning the Presitlen-
tial excursion party since their heads
were turned homewards are not so
rosy as some that came earlier. 1t is
evident that there has been some dis
concerning the trip.
The following is an extract from a
private letter, by one of the correspon.
dents accompanying the President,
written just before the party started for
nome. 1t don't tally with some rose.
:olored dispatches published IN the
papers: Thermometer dead average
IS degrees. Mosquitoes the size of
,umble bees. One bite on the ankle
vii make you walk lame. The sands
ire full of fleas. These creatures have
he untamed energy of the far north.
The orange season is over. The com-
~ is fiat, damp, and malarious The
ishing is poor and conducted under
Teat difficulties. The President has !
'een bitten by mosquitoes and fleas
ntil he is beginning to be reconciled {
D going back to the office seekers.
Everybody is cross and out of humor. !
'ou see notes of changes of our plans. l
We are hunting for a comfortable :
lace. Old Sanford has cooked his =
Dose inviting the President down here i
fter lying to him about the paradise !
ondition of this country. You see if c
e every gets his foreign appointment. .
he only sport down here Is alligator i,
footing. That involves as much dan a
er as numbering COWS. but it will =
lake a good subject Ito take about
hen the hunters return s