The morning times., 1895-12-08
DOUGLASS. GRANDSON.
Fond ness of the Famous Orator for the
Boy and His Violin.

| Boy and His Violin.
Chicago Times-Herald.
| How strong and loyal were his loves fos
| family. aud those who enjoyed his conf
| dences can only be appreciated by thoss
who were bIest by them.
In nothing was all this more Interestingly
shown than In his rather chivalric COM
| pauionship with his grandson, Joseph Doug
lass. Joe" as Mr.. Douglass fondly called
| him, is the sou OF Charles Douglass, the
| younger OF the two surviving SONS OF Mr..
Douglass. He is scarcely yet of age aud Is
young man OF pleasing disposition and
| gentiemanly habits.
He has phenomenal giftfor music, being
able TO play more than acceptably several
! kinds OF musical Instruments. His mastery.
| however, is with the violin. He has had
| the very best OF instruction and his play.
ing evidences a power akin to genius. Thts
mastery OF the violin appealed with peculiar
force to his illusuious grandsire.
Those who best knew Mr.. Douglass could
| not fail TO be interested IN his intensa
| enthusiasm for tue violin. He personally
knew all the great artists of that instrument
both in America and Europe. Those whom
he could not see and hear in America he
sought out in Europe and reyeled in ths
wonders of their execution. There grew
up q mutual attachment between him and
the great Reinenyi.
This great artist never failed to pay q
visit to Mr.. Douglass whenever he went to
Washington, and his visit TO Mr.. Douglass
during the Worlds Fair In Chicago delight
| ed the old hero more than anything else
during that eyeDtful season. 1t is not to
be wondered at then that Mr.. Douglass
fondness for the violin tempted him to try
and learn the secrets Of its melody.
In some sonnets OF rare poetic beauty
and power written by Theodore Tilton in
Paris as tribute to Mr. Douglass at the
time Of his death he refers TO his love fog
| the violin as follows:
''If love of music be mortal sin
(As certain OF the saints are won't tosayl
He was sinner to his dying day!
For, like the rest OF his melodious kin,
A song Was what his soul delighted in
Especially some soft and plaintive lay,
Which in the old and weird plantation way
He loved to echo on his violin.
he touched the strings with more than
rustic art;
For oft a sudden supernatural power
Would swell within him, till he gave vent
To all the pebt-up passion OF his hearti
So his CremoDa in troubled hour
Beguied for him a care TO a content"
When MIR. Douglass discovered that his
grandson, Joe, began to manifest taste
and aptitude for his favorite instrument,
his interest was aroused to the point OF
enthusiasm. he took personal interest
in Joe's proper instruction and training.
and watched every evidence Of his pro-
| ficiency with unfeigned delight.
During his last visit TO Europe Mr.. Doug
lass made a special visit to every place
in any way noted for the manufacture OF
the best violins. He was determined to
encourage bis grandson by the gift or an
instrument that should bear the stamp Of
the highest superiority. He often expressed
himself as experiencing the utmost pleas
uTe in this service of loving interest in
Joe's musical training.
How well this interest was repaid by
Joe's remarkable proficiency is well known
to all who have listened to his cdptivat-
ing rendition OF nearly everything within
the range of the classics in music. Mr..
Douglass rapt delight In Joe's playing
was in itself sufficient proof OF its excel
lence.
How often have / seen this great,
strong man fairly culver with enthusiasm
and the tears gather n his great. lustrous
eyes a he would listen to the bevitching
strains from Joe's powerful bow. The one
inspired the other, and the underplay OF
mutual synpathies between them was
picture that one could never forget.
Some years after Mr.. Douglass had pur-
chased the violin in Europe he became in
terested in q celebrated violin exhibited in
Washington Joe tested its tone resources
and felt that he had discovered new world
of possibilities in the violin Though the
price was several hundred dollars. the fact
that Joe was pleased with it was sufficient
reason for Its purchase and presentation to
his grandson
During his six months residence in Chi.
cago he and Joe were always on the lookout
for something new and interesting in the
line of violins. In this quest they were In
separable, and to those who knew OF their
delightful companionship the thought of
violin was always suggested by their pres
ence.
One of the most interesting incidents OF
the last few days of Mr.. Douglass life was
witnessed at benefit given by the friends
of Joe IN Washington just prior TO bis In
tended departure for Europe to pursue his
studies under European masters. or course
Mr.. Douglass took a lively interest in the
affair. and made il notable by the joint ap-
pearance Of Joe and himself in a yioliR
duet of Aud Lang Syne."