Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-22
TALKING ABOUT Dough ASS
Recollections of Men Who Knew the Negr~
Il
Leader.
Some Stories He Used. to Love to Tell
Ex-Auditor Lynch's Tribute
to His Memory.

Mr.. D. R. Goodloe, who was connected
with the National Era and was also a
member of the commission to determine
the compensation of slaves set free In
this District, in talking with a Star re-
porter today in regard to Frederick Doug
lass recalled some stories which he had
heard Mr.. Douglass relate. In the early
days Mr. Douglass was wont to say, when
the presence of colored men on a railroad
train was rather resented, representatives
of the race when they were on journey
were commonly placed in as out-of-the-way
part of the car possible. Mr.. Douglass
said that as no white person would occupy
the SAM scat with colored man, ne
usually had an entire seat to himself, ana
rather enjoyed the increased accommoda-
tiCn. He got into the habit of spreading
himself over the entire seat and some
years later, when the sentiment in regard
to colored people had changed somewhat,
he on one occasion entered car and &C.
cupied seat in his usual way, supposing
that he would not be disturbed. Presently
a man came along and said to him, 'Y GU
are occupying the entire seat Il know
that" replied MIR. Douglass. well, what
right have you to it?' said the man, get
ting excited Because L am a Niger
replied Nh Douglass. That don't give
you right to two Seats said the man.,
and he made Mr.. Douglass move along and
he sat down beside him.
Mr.. GoodlOe also recalls another account
of Mr. Douglass experiences which the lat
ter was fond of relating. 1t seemed that
when Mr.. Douglass went among the dboiI-
tioniSts of the north he was apt to be
the target OF a good many questions. ON
one occasion he was asked if he had ever
stolen, and Mr. Douglass very frankly ad-
mitted that he had on several occasions.
What did you steal?' he was asked.
Turkeys" calmly replied Mr.. Douglass.
How did you come to do that?' asked
the horrltied listener. Well" responded
MIR. Douglass, the turkeys belonged to
my master. l asked Uncle Jim, a colored
preacher, if it was wrong to steal turkeys.
Uncle jim said, Fred, to whom do you be-
long, 'Marster.' replied Mr.. Douglass.
To whom do the turkeys belong? Mr..
Douglass gave the same reply. Well.
then. said Uncle Jim, If you belong TO the
master and the turkeys belong to him, if
you eat the turkeys then he'll have you
BOTH"
AT one time Mr.. Douglass was the editor
Of paper in Rochester, New York, and
Mr.. Lewis Clephane of this city, who was
the manager OF the National Era and
happened TO be in Rochester on one occa-
sion, called on Mr. Douglass in the news
paper office He found him amidst rather
meager surroundings, and it is said that he
found him to be a man of rather modest
address and having about the same APP
pearance as he had UP to the time of his
death. Mr. Clephane said that Mr.. Doug
lass impressed him being a man who
was intensely in earnest.
Mr.. DouElnss' Faith.
1.-The news of Mr.. Douglass death was
simply appalling. Its spddeness came like
lightning from clear sky" said Rev.
Francis J. Grimke, when spoken to about
his friends career. Il knew him intimate
l.; i,>{o
ly. He a thorough man in every re-
spect and while not an orthodox church.
man, he was filled with ,devout faith in
the higher life which we all hope for.
have never known person, scarcely, who
was so fond of the singing of hymns as
Mr.. Douglass. Not long ago l was invited
to dine at his residence. and in the evening
he suggested that we should sing. He Sc
lected In Thy Cleft, Oh, Rock of Ages.
and his voice rose as If in triumph above
the others. He sang every line of every
verse, and his face was hight with en-
thusiasm when he concluded. That was
the way he entered into the spirit of every
thing he undertook. He put forth his whole
heart and soul, and with strong self-reli-
ance he overcame the obstacles that might
arise in his way. and did not let them de-
ter hin, on mis- path or dissuade him from
its pursuit..
MIR. Lynch's Tribute.
Mr. Douglass was so well and widely
known his life and character were open
to the public, and his aims and purposes
were so familiar to observing people that
it would be like carrying Goals to New
castle for any one to attempt to tell about
his characteristics, said Mr.. John r.
Lynch, late fifth auditor of the treasury.
His loss is inestimable and irreparable to
his people. but it is grateful to realize that
his life rounded with the frultion of
his dearest hopes, and that he went to
rest like a successful champion after con-
tinued victories. One of Mr.. Douglass
strong points was his loyal devotion to his
friends, and his gratitude to those who
had ever helped him or his cause in any
way. He was an ardent adm1rer OF Roscoe
Conkling, and l remember we'll an episode
that occurred soon after the death of that
iilustrious man. memorial service in
Mr. Conkling's honor was being held here
under the auspices of the Bethel Literary
and Mr.. Douglass was the chief eulog1St.
1 remember well his magnificent tribute to
his departed friend. He was never inspired
10 more glowing or fervent eloquence. He
dwelt upon Mr.. Conkling's career. and said
that no man deserved to a greater extent
the veneration and alteration of the color
ed race, because he had ever been found
battling the side of everything that
might ameliorate its condition and elevate
his standing. The only difference Mr..
Douglass and l have ever known grew out
of that meeting. He had praised Mr.. Conk
lng's course in resigning his seat in the
Senate, because of his misunderstanding
called upon to say a few words to the
meeting 1 took an opposite view. and claim
ed that Senator was too important an
individual to those who elected him to i'm
pair his usefulness by getting into a con-
troversy over such a thing as the patron
age of his state, and 1 asserted that Mr..
Conkling made the mistake of his life when
he resigned. Mr.. Douglass never would ad
nit that Mr.. Conkling did anything but
right, for his own independence was so
exalted that he could only see in the New
York Senator's action an exemplification
of what he cherished so dearly in his own
composition
MIR. LansstOn's Estimate.
Prof john NJ. Langston said There is
not any question but that Frederick Doug
lass was one of the greatest men that our
&C untry or the continent has ever produced.
Whatever may have been his personal
peculiarities, his habits of thought or tenn
per- his likes or dislikes, personal or other
wise, no sane person can ever DOUBT or
even discuss the question of his genuine
permanent greatness. OF course, in his
death there is created great void in his
race, and among the colored people of the
continent. And his memory will be cherish
ed by such people with sentiments of pro-
found admiration and gratitude, for from
the very beginning of his public life he has