The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-09
rRED poUaLAss.
His widow Effort to Make Cedar Hill a
Fitting Memorial 10 Him.

widow Of Frederick Douglass, Is thoroughly
In earnest In her desire to have the body
removed from Rochester, where IL rests by
the side OF his first wife. and bring 1t to
Washington for burial at Cedar Hill. the Doug
lass homestead.
The children OF the eolored educator oppose
this idea. however, and strenuously Insist that
their fathers body shall remain ut Rochester,
where he spent twenty-five yenrR OF his life and
where they were raised.
A talk with Mrs. Douglass developed the fact
that the removal Of the body Is only one feature
OF q very broad purpose to perpotuate the
memory OF her husband by the establishment
of an association to DO known as the Frederick
Douglass Memorial Historical Association.
Her ideas contemplate not only the creation Of
a memoria out OF Cedar Hill, but also the erec-
ton OF u monument to her dead husband.
Cedar Hill Is a beautiful tract OF land located
in Anacostia. u suburb Of the national capital.
Tho hill rises abruptly from the street and is
studded with cedar and chestnut trees, An old
colonial mansion can be plainly seen from the
street. 1t was hero that Frederick Douglass
established his home soon after coming to
Washington. and here he lived with his first
wife. Old residents Of the town remember her
az q particularly dark-skinned woman. with all
the characteristics Of her race. The day of her
funeral the gossips freely predicted that Doug
lass would not delay In choosing another wife.
but no one was prepared for the announce
ment that his second wife was white.
The old mans action met with no common
dalton from his sons, one OF whom at the time
was already past the prime Of life. Their
mother was buried In Graceland Cemetery in
Washington. and there remained until the
cemetery was condemned.
Adjoining Cedar Hill resided Col. Pitts. his
wife, and two nieces. One OF the latter was q
clerk in the Recorder Of Deeds Office In Wash
ington and the Recorder was Frederick Doug
lass. She often worked for the white-haired.
kind-hearted old man and grew to love him.
She was not O young girl. but q woman Of edu-
cation and unusual intelligence. She did not
fear the comments Of the public whom her
marriage to Frederick Douglass was an
nounced. and she went to live with him at
Cedar Hill. Her uncle. on the adjoining prop
erty. refused to speak to her. so great was his
indignation at her action. Mrs. Helen Doug
lass thought only OF the wishes Of her husband,
and hers was a genuine grief when he died.
The Sun, reporter was present, the morning
after his death and was met by Mrs. Douglass.
sire to perpetuate his memory In some way.
Her desire soon formulated itself into a
done by which the people would have some
thing truly typical of his life" che said re-
GSe roRsyn chains Rsn a9d 2 k mS q slaves so but Gn so %1sn
thing that, would eEemPlIfy eqhieye@ent; I
Mrs. Douglass related the struggle she had to
get possession OF the homestead and, how at
last she triumphed. Mr.. Douglass had made a
empted. and, that went to a daughter. It was
Messed by only two persons. and this invaii.
dated 1t so far as ii, CONCERNED the transfer OF
5 FSl, DF @espi in i d iRG DIstF di t # cG pRopsqt1
among the. heirs and Mrs. Douglass had
only on orG 2 dG tTs riF FiEst ., Il tRe 1T 6tber 81 M tT1sd
while. my one great plan depended entirely on
my life. II l died the entire property went to
memory Of Frederick Douglass would perish
with me, Finally | secured the share Of Mrs.
RT earpo SprS Was w thG d asfGead'e md All una shes si%s
Next l purchased the share Of Charles Doug
lass, and then being possessed OF a half interest
/ appealed to the courts for a partition OF the
nag was hung out; and the auctioneer's bell
sary for my plan wanted every inch Of the
Mrs. Douglass spoke Of a little brick house in
the grounds which had long been used by Mr.;
go G9t there to o study and write. He was IS free from
Interruptions: The building, with its quaint
fireplace and iyy-eovered walls; Is undi s,5tcS 8.
to be provided for by the association"
A bill has already been prepared for the in
corporation OF the Frederick Douglass Me-
mortal and Historical Association, and was
introduced at the last Congress by Senator
on the District OF Columbia. and through the
regular channels the District Commissioners
N Mlsi Mrs. ae eGHf eien Do1glass H. william II. Il. Hart.
Francis !. Grimke. Sarah Blackall. and Ed
Mrs. Douglass explained the details OF her
plan as outlined in the bill. 1t is proposed to
incorporate the association. and then have tho
and patronesses by subscribing SIS each. Cedar
Hin Is to be purchased BY the association, and
President. Then the mansion Is to be con-
verted into a hall OF history and education.
Where yiss Dn6 sy s,ccass e. 81 tb6 ,n setf. sIa Te,9 ysept II ene
will be exhibited. Frederick Douglass's papers.
books and newspapers will form a part OF the
Then. at a suitable time. the body OF Fred;
erick Douglass is to be brought to Cedar Hill
can get" said Mrs, Douglass. II want It to
place where the colored people OF the North
and South. the East and the, West, can come
s an jazz 90 SS SoSyDe eeae a tbe c N ri%e ps saeEs @ SSsld
ings could be held in the grounds, essays read.
o~rations delivered. and, poetry Tecited. Efforts
in this line could BIO stimulated by the Offering
Apparently the heirs Of Frederick Douglass
move their fathers remains, from Rochester.
They do not sympathize with Mrs. Douglass's
other than the one to remove Dougiass's body
from beside their mother and inter 1t at Cedar
Idscd i tbn is q FpeS 5f@fs though B1SRIa as E Eeafbr arisd sRSe e-
side his first wife. He had owned the lot in the
often heard him say that Mount Hope was o
p~rettyiburyIng ground, She. therefore. offered M.
Graceland Cemetery. where his first wife was
Inferred. was condemned. and the first that
Mrs. Douglass knew about her husband and
his first wife being, side by side was when the
superintendent Of the cemetery informed her:
She has offered no objection to the bringing OF
the colored wife's remains to Cedar Hill for In
terment also, but has not expressed a wish
that IL be done,
In a letter TO the Commissioners disapprov-
itng Of the bin n Congress Charles Douglass ass
remains, 4 local eolored paper ALSO speaks
band aud wife, but. with the exception OF q
clause IN tho bill to incorporate the proposed
be inferred at Cedar Hill beside, Frederick
Douglass and his widow without the consent
OF Mrs. Helen Douglass. she does not Indicate
that she will offer any objection othe bringing
OF her predecessors body TO the homestead.
rTTR0 IN THIN nTTV