Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-22
A Visit to Frederick Douglass.


enty-six, received US both with a mixture of
Christian kindness and pleasant dignity, writes
Gath to the Cincinnati Enquirer, which made
me think, as 1 sat near him for some time, that
he looked like the King of Madagascar. or some
land we have dimly heard OF, where the white
mans intercourse has not propagated selfish
ness and greed. He is "A large man, cast in the
mold OF a man OF command and affairs; his
hair is now of grayish white, and is carefully
cOmbed and worn somewhat long. 1t falls
back upon his broad shoulders. His forehead
is not very high nor yet very prominent, but
rather subordinate to the general health in his
face and body. He has long nose, slightly
retrousse, but with nostrils open and taking I'm
things. His chin and jaws are strong an 4 firm,
and as he speaks he rather inhales and smiles,
and thus conveys something of impression
OF nervous earnestness; although he Is one-half
white, the colored portion OF him is probably
the most vigorous element. His eye Is dark and
cleaning, and bespeaks another and a hotter
land. Temperance and method are conveyed
by mis- pure, clear skin. He has some whiskers,
think or moustache, but this made no inn
preston on me, and am not sure about the
matter. The habits of guarded conservatism
in thinking, telling the truth and qualifying
any statement he may make, TO bring ii to the
figure OF truth, may make him. like men OF
command or experience, reliable; the sense of
reliability is never lost sight OF by his visitor.
He has enough selfapprobation to make a visit
to him satisfactory to the sightseer, but not
anywhere or at any time more than enough TO
suggest any comments reflections Alter
visiting him white men who come away lind
nothing to criticse In either taste talk. He
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talks he takes his seat far back in his chair
planks his feet before him, holds the chair with
his hands and listens and responds with
welcoming sense OF one DESTROYS 10 have the
esteem OF all those of the other race. He does
not, in his domestic life, take up nor does he
express any resentment OF anything in the
past
When entered the house with Mr.. Gorham
he introduced us carefully to the different per-
sons tnere-Quite a little party. We had gone
to see him without Invitation, and therefore
broke in upon his ordinary Sunday family cir
Gle. There were three white ladies present, one
OF whom was Mrs. Douglass. The other ladies
heard the conversation, smiled affably, but
made few remarks. Mrs. Douglass is a
lady of tall form, well made, but neither stout
nor thin. Her complexion is little reddish
She gives you the idea somewhat OF woman
who had been the matron superintendent Of
some philanthropic Institution in which char
ity plays the principal part. She dresses her.
self plainly and modestly, and in the inter-
course of the family shows the subordination of
a younger person to her husband. She speaks
of him as "Mr. Douglass" watches and hears
what he says with careful respect, and we had
been talking to him, perhaps fifteen min
in some matter of the reminiscence
of his slave life she called his attention to an
interesting matter he had omitted. Farther on
she said: "Gentlemen, as you are friends of Mr..
Douglass, will you let me have your auto
graphs?" and led the way TO his library. She
has hair of q dark brown tint, and there is a
mixture OF the New England woman and the
western woman about her, which give you the
idea OF the wife OF some man whose purposes
Were above mere comfort, but who had exc
cuted and nearly finished his mission. He did
not say much 10 her in the talk. The other
white ladies present Were near the middle age,
and, suppose, might be relatives OF Mrs. Doug
lass. handsome granddaughter OF the eX-
marshal was there, with SOFT eyes aud soft
warmly timed face, very neatly dressed. After
We had been waiting halt an hour she said that
she had to drive to Mount Pleasant in her little
phaetOn, and came up and kissed her grand
father and her daughter, as 1 suppose II was
also came up and kissed him reverenLly. The
old man has now four living generations about