The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-13
FRED DOUGLASS'S WIDOW
WHAT THE RELICT OF THE COL
oRED LEADER IS LIKE.
She Does Not Regret What Even Her
Relatives Deemed MesaIIiance,
and Is Devoted to His Memory.
Washington Post.

| the distinction of being unique among the
I widows of the country. In the list of
noted widows that have been written about
| she has not been mentioned, yet she ranks
| in many respects near the head in womanly
qualities, faithful wifehood and widowhood
| with intellectual accomplishments and
graceful hospitality most admirable, while
her romantic marriage surpasses all An
| hour with her explained to me much that
narrow-minded prejudice on my part
had misjudged and filled me with such an
| esteem for this woman that l hope to in
| fiuence many who, like myself, have mis-
| interpreted her motives and life.
A perfect day in May tempted me to
pay visit to the home of the late Fred
erick Douglass. AS we approached the
navy yard bridge that spans the East
ern branch of the Potomac l beheld ris-
ing in the distance a city on a hill that
| dwindled as we reached the opposite
| shore to the town of Anacostia. The river
| here has the appearance of a beautiful lake.
AT the corner of Monroe and Jefferson
! streets / left the little one-hOrse car and
| after a short walk through Jefferson street
| came upon Cedar HILL where for many
| years the great colored leader lived and
where he died.
AS l mounted the three long flights of
| stone steps that led from terrace to ter
race up to the piazza in front of the house
L was impelled to stop several times to
| gaze on the magnificent panorama of the
city of Washington spread before my eyes.
A sharp rap with the old-fashioned brass
! knocker brought a colored butler, who re-
! piled to my question with Mrs. Douglass
is at horne,' as he held the little tray for
my card.
;xo+o
! there was one on either side of the spacious
| nall. While waiting the appearance of the
widow Of the famous colored man. l
! glanced with interest at tne evidences of
| the character of the late occupant as re-
vealed in the household gods
mas the elder in Wy bi a m OF III
! A striking figure He was standing brand
! ishing his sword in one hand, in the other
! pack, and being uncovered, revealed his
/ crisp, frizzled hair, cut close, and the only
but unmistakabe mark of his negro blood.
| nls features were purely French. Mr..
| Douglass was wont to say of the picture
! They made him a regular Frenchman.'
print representing Othello telling his adj
| ventures to Desdemona, while the father
OF the infatuated girl leaned near her. list
artist had made the Moor as dark as posi-
bIe while Desdemona was lair as an angel,
and dressed in white.
| could easily trace the feeling which had
| prompted Douglass TO hang these pictures
in his home. The literary greatness
achieved by the master mind of Dumas
must have been inspiration to him.
A me l1fe-size crayon sketch of Frederick
Douglass was over the mantel bearing out
the comparison made of him to a Castiian
| grandee. 1T was a distinguished head I'm
DER the portrait stood the empty chair
Ilea across the front with a broad ribbon
or WHITE watered silk-sacred to his mem
DRY. Mrs. Douglass entered with an easy
grace, and gave me a cordial welcome
THE WIDOW OF DOUGLASS.
She is prepossessing woman. of fine fig
ure,. and was stylishIy attired in black silk
with buff trimmings. Her jet black wavy
hair was arranged in a simple graceful
fashion. Her countenance was intelligent
and serious. AS she conversed her large
blue eyes lit with pleasure or filled with
emotion. She seemed to me an earnest Gull
tivated woman devoted to the memory of
her husband and to the advancement of the
people of his race.
Mrs. Douglass, I want you to tell me of
yourself. Every one knows about your hus-
band, but think you owe it to the women
OF TINS country and to yourself to state
why you married a colored man? OF course
We heard that Mr.. Douglass was only one
eighth colored, and had Indian as we'll as
white, blood in his veins but it was a re-
markabie marriage on your part VIII you
tell me how it came about? Where did
you first meet Mr. Dauglass?'
In Washington. l was on a visit to nv
uncle who owns the adjoining place. I
visited here with my uncle when his first
wife was living; when Mr.. Douglass first
located here she replied.
You We're afterward in Mr.. Douglass
office as clerk when he was recorder of
him then. Were you in his Office when you
married him.?
No, 1 was not" she answered pleas
Tell me about your marriage?" asked
1T was very quiet. AS strictly private
as possible. We were married at the min
Hill after the ceremony. But the license
! had to be bought the day before" she con-
unued smiling, and the press got the
| fact and the papers had account of it,
! with glaring headlines!'
You hadn't time to announce it,"
commented, laughingly What was your
oh it is so long that I've forgotten"
she replied, with little laugh, Struggling
! her shoulders and reticent as she was at
! every question of herself.
And you won't tell me how. you hap
pened to fancy Mr.. Douglass?" 1 per-
Love came to me as it does to other
| women, and / was not afraid to marry
! the man l loved because of his color He
/ was the one man in the world that /
| cared for or could wish to marry. If he
| were alive to-day he would be the only
| man whose wife L should choose to be-
! she replied.
These sentiments were uttered with
! grave earnestness that carried the convc-
| ton of their sincerity.
You have never regretted the step?' I
|
| Never" she answered, rather surprised
! that could imagine such a thing possible.
! GLIMPSES OF THE HOME.
| narrow shelf ran under the mirror
| filled with books. On a little table was
| a lovely photo of Lady Somerset-a recent
| gift of Frances Willard-and before it, send
| ing up sweet incense, was a large bowl
| of roses There were books and flowers ev-
| erywhere. 1t was a home of refinement.
l must not forget handsomely framed
| photograph of a colored dignitary adorned
| with ribbons across the breast and or
| ders- With gloves in hand, he stood. The
| inscription was in French, and was:
Homage sincere a f. Douglass.
Par HYPPOLITE,
President Hiatt.
In the opposite parlor across the hail.
was a two-thirds portrait in oil of Fred
erick Douglass but it was not good one
Photos of distinguished suffra gists were
on the side tables, all gifts. Some were
inscribed ITO our beloved friends, Mr.. and
Mrs. Frederick Douglass" A medallion of
Mrs. Caroline H. Dali was among the souV-
enirs of friends. Roman lamp the gift
of an Italian admirer, also small oil paint
ing, THE Temple of Vesta," by Miss Sar-
gent, presented to Mr.. Douglass by the
artist when he visited Rome, were here. In
the center of the room a small round
inlaid table formerly owned by Charles
Sumner-a most interesting relic. having