Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1913-05-16
FRIDAY, MAY I6, 1913.
DOUGLASS OWN STORY COMES
TO LIGHT.
Famous Statesman Began at the
Age Of 25 to Write His Auto
biography.
(From the New York Times. J

biography.
(From the New York Times.)
April 90, 1913, marked the centenary
of Stephen Arnold Douglas, United
States Senator from Illinois in the early
days of the State. Many biographies
of this brilliant versatile genius have
been written, but none has ever pre-
scented graphic or accurate account
of his boyhood and young manhood,
when, weak in body, but undaunted in
spirit, he sought his fortunes in the
great Western wilds. The following
sketch, penned by himself and but
lately known to exist, pictures in vivid
and buoyant fashion the happenings
of those early years. An ardent Dem
ocrat, at IS, a power in local politics
at 20, States Attorney at 81, a men,
Der of the Legislature at %, and, a
short fourteen years later, a United
States Senator and an orator to whom
Webster, Clay, Benton, and Calhoun
listened with respect and admiration,
the occasion of his centenary endows
this sketch with a peculiar and re-
freshing interest and charm:
AUTOBIOGRAPHICALS SKETCH OF STEPHEN
A. DOUGLAS.
Sept. l, 1888.
this day commence this memoran-
dunn or journal of passing events for
the purpose of refreshing my mind
upon subjects that might otherwise be
attention to the past as well as the
future, and record such facts as are
within my recollection, or have come to
my knowledge, and may be interesting
or useful to myself or others hereafter
| learn from my mother that | was
born in the town of Brandon in the
County of Rutland and State of Yer
mont on the 23d day of April, 1873
My father, Stephen A. Douglas, was
graduate of Middlebury College, a
physician by profession, and a man
him. l only speak of my father as l
have always heard others speak of him,
for he died when | was only about two
months old, and, of course, | cannot
recollect him. l have often been told
that he was holding me in his arms
when he departed this world. My
mother, who thank God, yet lives, was
a Miss Sarah Fisk before she was
married.
My parents had but two children, my
sister, Sarah A. Douglas, (who has
married julius E. Granger of Manches-
ter Center, Ontario County, N. " and
myself. Upon the death of my father
my mother moved to small farm left
her by her father, about three miles
north of my native city, and resided
with her brother, Edward Fisk, who
was an industrious, economical, and
clever old bachelor, and wanted some
one to keep house for him. This ar
rangement suited them both, as their
farms joined, and each was so situated
as to need the aid of the other.
Here | lived with my mother and
uncle upon the farm until | was about
10 years of age, and then determined
to select some other mode of living.
/ had no great aversion to working
on a farm, nor was | much dissatisfied
with my good old uncle, but thought
him rather hard master and unwilling
to give me those opportunities of i'm
provement and education which |
thought | was entitled to.
DECIDES TO LEAVE HOME.
had enjoyed the benefits of COM
mon school education three months each
year, and had been kept diligently at
work the rest of the time l thought it
a hardship that my uncle would have
the use of my mothers farm and also
the benefit of my labor without any
other equivalent than my boarding and
clothes.
| therefore determined upon leaving
my home and my true friends, and see
what / could do for myself in the wide
world among strangers. My mother
demonstrated, warned me of the dam
gers and temptations to which young
men are exposed, and insisted upon my
selecting some trade or engaging in
some business that would give me a
steady home and regular emDlovment I