The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-13
SKETCH OF MRS DOUGLASS.


SKETCH OF MRS DOUGLASS.
Mrs. Helen Pitts Douglass is of colonial
and revolutionary ancestry. She was edu-
Gated and graduated at South HadIey
Mass. She is a woman of cultivation and
extensive reading, her fad being arch
aeology. She is a graceful and fluent speak
er, and is deeply interested at present in
the horrors of the convict lease system.
Her home. before she came to Washing
ton was in Richmond, Ontario county, New
York, formerly Pittstown and first settled
by and named for her family.
Frederick Douglass and Miss Pitts were
married without asking any one but them
selves II II were best or suitable that they
should become man and wife A wise plan
under the circumstances, Tor IKE a thuH-
der-clap out of clear sky came the news
of their wedding to the immediate relatives
of both.
Miss. Pitts's uncle was Western New
York Abolitionist and warm friend OF Doug
lass but when the news of this marriage
came to him he turned his face from his
niece forevermore. He still resides on the
next place to Cedar HILL and is now
ninety-four years old.
Mrs Douglass's mother and sister Hyed
with herself and Mr.. Douglass, and her
mother. woman of strong character, died
under the roof of her colored son-ln-laW'
Mrs DouglaSS'S father never visited her,
but many of her relatives and friends nave
accepted her generous hospitality, and
loved and respected Frederick Douglass
when they became acquainted with MIN:
The family of Mr.. Douglass treat MRS
Douglass with the courtesy they consider
due to the widow of their father. 49,.
We should not have wished our tather
to leave his widow without the means OF
a proper support" said one OF Mr. Doug
lass's sons to me. 'She is a good woman
and was devoted to my father. she an
ticipated his slightest wants. She had been
his amanuensis, typewriter, ana clerk LOT
years before he married her, and had gone
in and nf
my mothers lifetime.
THEIR TRAVELS ABROAD.
After her marriage Mr.. and Mrs. Doug
lass travelled nine months in Europe, visit
ing, among other countries, Greece, Egypt,
Italy and France Mrs. Douglass was
called home by the illness and subsequent
death of her mother, to whom she could
not refer without the tenderest emotion
After looking over pamphlet of her family
history / remarked:
You are entitled to join the Colonial
Danes and Daughters of the Revolution
Yes" she smiled, and replied, Il believe
1 am. Yet when l was married many peo--
pie considered that | must belong 10 what
they call poor white trash
We went upstairs to get a better view
of the beautiful country from an upper win
dow on our way | saw an unique ana
interesting picture taken in Haiti.
1t represented piazza surrounded with
palms and exotics on which stood a lady
in riding habit, and on the steps was the
figure of Frederick Douglass with broad
brimmed straw hat, whip in hand. A serV-
ant held two horses and several house
servants and children filled in the scene.
The lady was the wife of the president OF
Haiti going for a horseback ride with Mr..
Douglass. The second time Mr.. Douglass
visited Haiti President Hyppolite sent his
own carriage and mounted guard to es
cort Mr.. Douglass and wife to their villa.
The Haitians loved him" remarked Mrs.
Douglass.
In the upper hall was large desk, which
was formerly owned by Charles sumner;
also the book shelves above it. filled with
choice volumes of poetry, map of Haiti
hung on the opposite wall. Mrs. Douglass,
in answer to my glance of interest, eX-
planned. There is where civilization first
entered" pointing to the southeastern
coast, land here, up on the northwestern
coast, inlet Astounding in rocks, was
where the Santa Maria went to pieces. we
sailed around the Island of Haiti in the
Dolphin"
AS 1 was about to leave standing on the
porch. Mrs Douglass became enthused and
communicative.
II will give a square of ground on which
to erect a monument TO the memory or
Mr. Douglass. 1t will not be to represent
slave or broken chains, but monument
to represent achievement and to be an
inspiration for the colored people who come
here to pay their loving tribute to his
memory.
Il hope in time that every black man
will be recognized as a man. and every
black woman as a woman in this land; that
colored people will be treated as people with
souls. would have the monuments OF the
best in art to stand for all time, as the
memorial of hero. l would like it to be
paid for by penny from every coIored
person in the United States.
THE house to be kept as it is. for
memorial hall of the earliest efforts in
the cause of freedom. The portraits of the
earliest workers and martyrs in the great
cause are here" she continued
1T certainly is the fitting spot for such
a memorial" | agreed.
1T is too soon, however for these ideas
of mine to be known. 1t might hurt the OBJ
ject?' she questioned mo, l think not
/ replied. You may be the one by which
this mission to his people is to be carried
out. TT may be So she replied.