The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-04-25
THE LIFE OF FRIEDRICH, DoUG.
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with pleasure rarely telt In read
Ing biography. WeihaVe inst finished
the remarkable life Of Frederick Doug:
last, by an equally remarkable man
Or. Booker T. Washington. The book
Is one OF q series NOW >heink issued by
George W., Jacobs q Company, Phiai,
deiphia. and Is one OF the american
Crisis Biographies" * IA -,
DR.. Washington announces in the
preface, the key to- hia treatment OF
tine subject He says: 1.-The book will
have failed of Its, purpose just go& far
as anything here said shall serve I'd
revive or keep alive the bitterness OF
those controversies of (which, it gives
the history: it will have attained Its
purpose 80 far as 1t aids It's readers to
comprehend the motives Of, and the
men who entered with such passionate
earnestness into. the struggle ot,Which
It giv*,s In part picture--particulafly
the one mar, the story ofEwhose life
Is here narrated."~,f =: -,
/ The literary Quality Of the book
could not be Improved upon. DIR. Wash
tngton has not tdeviated from the STYLE
Tor which all OF his published works
a:e notable. While he has swept a
broader horizon, he has kept to the ad.
mirable. simple, but expressive Saxon.
which has rendered Addison. Gold.
smith, and Irving the delight Of Gull
tured English readers throughout. the
world. - .-:. :. : = - - =,
IN the first chapters Of Mr.. Wash.
ington's book, he has naturally drawn
large y upon The Life and Times, ):
written by Mr.: Douglass. This OF
course was to have been expected. as
Mr., Douglass alone could have supplied
the information necessary to FIJI up
the annals OF dispised and misused
slave, but even in these chapters, he
mas touched the story here and thera
win the wand OF his genius, putting
the high lights In the proper places to
make the picture live and breathe. :
AS he promised in his preface, the
passion and heat OF the life OF Fred,
erick Douglass is delineated with: ree
markab.e moderation, but at the same
time every fibero of the great man'g life
is, brought out clearly and uhn1istak.
ably. The battles he fought for free
dom, the part he took in the most
strenuous period OF American history
Is neither modified nor apologized for.
1t Is evident that the subject grew up.
on the writer as he proceeded to unfold
the worth and true greatness of the
most remarkable American Negro thar
+ the country even produced. - ~.
The historic: value or Mr.. fEVa@afff1k.
toms life Of. Douglass Is beyond esti.
mate. Here DR.. Washington mas show
care and research which surprises one
who knows Of his lack of leisure; His
discussion of Slavery and Ante-SlaV.
try" Colon ization,' - =, THE Under.
ground Raj way" and other. subjects OF
rare historic value. dis, a long felt
need tor which the present generation
VIII owe him q debt Of gratitude. =,
| : The biography follows the life OF Mr.
Washington to the close, thus finishine
the work the autobiography could not
do. Ne have read all of the published
works OF Mr.: Washington and while
| fascinated by each of them, we do not
hesitate to say that the gifted author
and constructive statesman has writ,
ten nothing comparable In historic val
he with the Life of Frederick Doug,
| lass. Z.
He has treated a great life in q mas
| terly way, he has risen to a full appre
| cation and conception Of the worth
OF that life to the world and thus
| added new crown to his own great
! reputation. 49,. = -.
Not only every Negro" but every
American would be wiser and better
X he. would read with care and re-
fiection the book which lies before me