Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-07
A FAMOUS BLACK MAN
heg's Running Description Of a Call
Upon Mr.. Fred. Douglass.
NO SHAM HOSPITALITY THERE.
Good Words for Pit tsburg and Very
Pleasant Time Generally.
BACK TO HAYTI In THIRTY DAYS

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Hayti, the Hon. Frederick Douglass, there
is a greater pleasure in the future for you
than you can ever be made to believe; that
is if you meet with the same reception ac-
corded gentleman from Pittsburg's neigh
boring crematory town, Little Washington,
and the writer when we presented our
selves few davs ago at the door of Cedar
Hip cottage, where dwells this grand black
man of whomit may truthfully be said he
is both scholar and gentleman. While
we ere parleving who should deliver the
"opening address," Mr.. Douglass himself
answered our ring, wearing his most for
bidding countenance, put on probably to in
timidate reporter, as if such thing could
be done.
This unexpected answering of the bell
himself completely routed our cut and dried
Introductory words, and we might have been
left standing until this time had we failed to
stammer the random announcement that we
were admirers from Pittsburg. Magic
thought Our open sesamei For the
screen door flew back, the broad Atlantic
of his countenance" glowed welcome and
colored with sincerity the invitation to step
in, and the assurance that Plttsburg friends
were particularly welcome.
IA great city that and filled with great
people. Forty-seven years since made my
first speech out there" whereupon we sug-
gested Al years was a long time ago, and
that speech making must have set in early,
to which he replied: "Ah, my dear, was
an old speech maker at that time" and then
added humorously, "and 7 am still an old
speech maker"
A RAMBLING TALK.
After discussing Pittsburg, her CONNER
cial interests, industries, 'iarge hearted,
broad minded people," and expressing de-
sire to again visit out there and "more in
telligently," the conversation turned to
Little Washington with her gas, oil, the in
stitution which has graduated so many nota-
Bile men. and of course the crematory.
Speaking of DR.. LeMoyne, with whom he
had personal acquaintance, he said: "He
was grand mana friend to the living and
friend to the dead"
Then followed the natural query in regard
to our impressions of this capitol city, and
in giving our own we secured his, which
were to the effect that, after having travelled
pretty nearly all over the world, making a
study of its principal cities, be decided
Washington might fitly be called the Queen
City of the universe; that it afforded the
most and best opportunities OF whatever
kind desired; that, while it had by no means
the most magnificent residences, it had the
most home-like houses. Here we interposed
that house did not always make a home.
The hidden meaning was instantly grasped
by his alert mind, and he made answer:
"Oh, the skeletonl Everywhere the skele-
ton; and if not the peace-disturbing rattle
of dry bones, then the, =" here q pause
when the skeletons shadow was suggested
as the probable idea, when he replied: eyes
the shadow, the ghost, the something, that
always exists to prevent perfect happiness"
Here my friend thought it apropos to re-
late fragment of conversation held while
en- route to Cedar Hill, when 1 had re-
marked was rarely ever disspirited, out
of sorts with myself and the world. But
when such paro1ysms Of discomfort occurred
I said always held a mental committee
meeting, called myself to order, reviewed
my list of acquaintances and tried to de-
eide with whom I wanted to exchange
places, after which L was always glad
was myself and no one else and took on q
new lease of contentment
LIVELY AS A YoUNGsrER.
This childishly egotistical idea seemed to
amuse Mr.. Douglass, and wish you could
have seen the almost youthful alacrity with
which he sprang from his chair and crossed
the floor to my side, saying as he came:
"Well, well; have been searching for you
these many years, and now I must have a
better look at you. Turn your face to the
light, So" then doubtfully, "Yes, your face
is happy one;" but to my, don't you be-
lieve in me?" he replied: "Yes, as much as
one Christian can believe in another, but
Mrs. Douglass must see you."
Wy l.
we then.
Stepping to the door just in time to arrest
his wife's flight through the hall "Helen,
just come here, 1 want to introduce you to
a contented woman and she is from Pitts
burg. You remember Pittsburg, Helenp'
Eyes, Mr.. Douglass, 1 remember Pitts
burg and I shall remember this lady. Glad
yoa have found her. You have been look
ing for her long while"
This corroboration of his statement seemed
to delight Mr.. Douglass and he laughed |
heartily-a laugh no more comparable to
the guffah SO natural to the uncultivated of |
his race +. than the strains upon an |
polean harp to the sounds produced By a |
horsefddle. You who have heard him speak |
cannot have forgotten his we'll modulated |
voice, now he seems to talk all over his |
throat, playing upon we'll tuned vocal cords |
with as much skill as does practical |
musician upon the strings of an instrument. |
Nor can you have forgotten his expressive |
face with its halo of white, bushy hair; nor |
the large figure, tall, broad and erect; nor |
the courtly carriage; nor yet the manners |
that would do credit to a Chesterfield.
THE LADY OF THE HOUSE.
But this deferential white woman BY his |
side, fewer of you have seen, and until you |
have been so privileged, you will probably |
hold to your own opinion in regard to her !
she is among the last woman one could ac-
cuse Of seeking notoriety. OF the average
height, a slender youthful figure, very white
skin, clear gray eyes, hair as black as the
ravens wing, in which the silver
threads have only recently began a contest
for supremacy, and arranged in bangless
way as smoothly as natural waves will per-
nit; in appearance not over 40. Seeing
hem together the marriage seemed less in
,ongruous than we had imagined. Color
ines were lost and at least found it hard
% realize this was the same couple HAD
thought should be obliged to spend their
honeymoon at the end of hemp string.
Mr.. Douglass is an excellent story teller
Ind we were regaled with several. The
Wheel of conversation had turned back to
he tourties and to the year it was prophi-
lied the world would come to an end; and
We were told how some one had tried to
tartle Philosopher Emmerson into at least
symptom OF surprise by announcing the
prediction; and how Emmerson with perfect
lnconcern replied: "Well, I don't know.
out 1t is as well that it shall happen at that
ime." Theodore Parker being told the
ame thing made answer: "And what has
ID at to do with me T ann frou Rosfonp |