The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-25
IN LIFE'S HANDICAP
NO MAJ EVER RAN A BETTER RACE
THAN FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
Glowing Tribute to the Ex-Slave by
Rev. Dr. Banks and William Lloyd
Garrison-His Old Letters.

NEW YORK, Feb. 24-Rev. DR.. Louis
Albert Banks delivered discourse in Han
son Place NJ. l.. Church, tonight, on
Frederick Douglass the eloquent, the
most picturesque historical figure in modern
times" He said, in part: IF i were asked
what person in the present century had
fought against the greatest odds and won
the struggle of life at most points should
answer Frederick Douglass. There is a
great deal of talk about self-Eaade men in
our time, and we have an abund-
ance of eloquence concerning Abra-
ham Lincolns rise from the place of the
rail-splitter to the presidency: of General
Grants career from the tannery to the
position of first American citizen and Gar
field from tow-path to the White House,
but none of these men, all of them put to-
gether had to make the life race with such
handicap or facing such odds as Fred
.'Frederick Douglass had many elements
Of greatness and one of the greatest was
his power of grim perseverance. Douglass's
oratory gained much of its power from the
superb manhood that was behind it. once
Brown in Music Hail. in Boston. His dis
cusslon OF the law OF retribution was the
strongest have a ever heard AS th he stood
ton of John Brown, he filled ones ideal of
the old Hebrew prophets. A career like that
and an inspiration to humanity. In such
a man the kinship of all races is demon
strated."
Leftef to His Old Master.
BALTIMORE, Feb. A.-Police Captain
Aud has several letters written by the late
Frederick Douglass to Mr.. Hugh Aud. Capt.
Auld's father. When boy Douglass lived
in the family Of Mr.. Hugh Auld. The Cap
tain says: MY mother taught him to read
and write, and my father put him with the
1at Co Ioor
He joined a debating society connected with
the old Dallas-street Colored Church. and
there he gained a reputation debater.
Captain Aud has the original bill of sale
for Douglass given by Mr. Thomas Aud to
Mr.. Hugh Aud. 1t is dated Oct Is, 1886,
seven years after Douglass ran away. is
signed by Wrightson Jones, justice of the
peace, and the consideration was $780, Capt.
Aud says this bill Of sale was executed
with the idea that Douglass could be recov-
time. A letter written to Captain Auld's
rather Oct. 4, 1857. and dated Rochester, N.
MY heart tells me you are too noble to
treat with Indifference the request am
about to make. 1t is twenty years since
you but from slavery, and since then have
OFTEN felt strong desire to hold little
correspondence with you and to learn some
thing Of the position and prospects of your
dear children. They were dear to me, and
are still SO; indeed 1 feel nothing but kind
ness for you ALL. love you, but hate sla-
by dropping me line, telling me in what
year 1 came to live with you on Aliceanna
street. the year the frigate was built by
Mr.. Beacham. The information is not for
publication and shall not be published. We
are all Fastening where all distinctions are
ended Kindness to the humblest will not
be unrewarded. Perhaps you heard that /
have seen Miss Amanda that was. Mrs.
Sears that is, and was treated kindly. Such
would il
Mrs. Aud, or Miss Sophia, as 1 used to
call her. could have lived with you dur
ing life in freedom, though / ran away
know how soon l might be sold. But
hate to talk about that. line from YOU
will find me-