davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
Mr. Proctor of Svry
FromEhz eth Read B. Funeral

ton Of our national crime. Of tina Wild
and guilty fantasy that men could hold
in man, poured like a torrent
that fairly made his hearers tremble.
Thus I first saw him and wondered
as I listened that any mortal man
should hare ever tried TO snhiugate
being with such marvellous powers. such
self-respect. such intense love Of hhr
sAround him sat the great anti-slav-
cry orators Of the day watching hts eff
feet on that immense audience. COM
pletely mAgnetized by his eloQuence.
laughing and crying hy turns with his
rapid flight from pathos to humor. An
other speakers seemed tame after Doug
lass. Sitting near heard Phillip say
to Lydie Marie Child. Verify. this boy,
who has only Just graduated from the
Southern institution (as slavery was
called, throws us all in the shade
his soul and he knows the wrongs Of
slavery suhjectively. The rest Of you
speak only from an objective point Of
view
HE used 10 preach sermon h irni-
tation Of the Methodist clergy, from
the text. Servants. Obey, Your Mas
ters.' which the people were never tired
Of hearing. Often. after he had spoken
an hour shouts would 90 M from al
parts Of the house. Now, Douglass. give
US the sermon Some of our literary
critics pronounced that the best piece
Of satire In the English language,
The last time visited his home Ia
Anacostia ! asked him II he ever had
the sermon printed. He said. No.
Gould you reproduce it2s said !. He
said: no I could not bring back the
old feeling II tried. and would not
Il could. The blessings Of liberty ]
have so long enjoyed. and the many
tender friendships I have with the
Saxon race ON both sides of the ocean.
have taught me such sweet lessons Of
forgiveness that the painful memories
Of my early days are almost ohliterated
and I would not recall them
AS an orator. writer and editor,
Douglass holds an honored place among
the gifted men Of his day. As a man
Of business and a public ofieer he has
been re-eminently successful; honest
and upright In all his dealings. be
bears an enviable reputation.
las a husband. father. neighhor and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

He was q man who would attract
most any ones attention. OF more than
the average stzG and of O digntf1ed and
commanding presence, with long bushy
hair and beard, which. toward the end
of his life, became almost snow-white.
In complexion he was rather of a cop
per color. having unmistakahly the
traces Of Caucasian ancestry. OF his
father he knew practically nothing and
his mothers name and pedigree were
also beyond his knowledge. although
q reasonably clear outline Of her per-
sonality has been preserved. indeed
the life Of this wonderful man reads
more LIKE fiction than real story.
y y =
LIE was born In the little town of
H Tuckahoe, In Talbot County, Md.
supposedly" 1t IS said. I'm the month
of February, 1alT" At birth he was
given the elaborate name of Frederick
Augustus Washington Bailey. He was
always fond Of telling what little he
knew Of his mother. from whom he was
early separated; she being employed
upon plantation IL miles away. There
fore to see her child IL was necessary
for her walk this entire distance ut the
close Of her days work and 10 return
by dawn On the following morning. OF
these visits, Frederick Douglas has said:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

Orchids valuable as small diamonds
and worth as much as 81, 100 apiece
have passed through Washington's port.
More than $4,000 is paid annually in
duty charges on plant material from
foreign countries which spends some
time at the ELLIS Island" Of our Ma
tional Capital.
More personal effects from foreign
countries pass through the port Of
Washington than any other American
seaport except New York because Of the
many embassies, legations and diplo-
matte headquarters in the District. All
importations for foreign embassies and
legations, with the single exception Of
alcoholic liquors, are cleared at the
Georgetown Customs House. Liquors are
entered at Baltimore and usually are
delivered by motor truck to their diplo-
matte destinations In washington. Fur
niture, fixtures, Office equipment. wear
ing apparel, uniforms, jewelry and
toilet articles constitute the majority Of
the imports made by the representa-
tives of foreign governments who now
reside in Washington.
Uncle Sam and Aunt Sarah have TO
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

exporters is to varnish or stain wooden
furniture so that it will appear aged.
It is easy for those who know funda-
mental patterns and designs In home
furnishing equipment to detect such
practices. Usually it is the private i'm
porters who fall victims to such subter-
fuges. They buy the faxed" antiques
in Europe in good faith and first learn
that the articles are bogus when the
customs inspectors at the American
port Of clearance discover them to be
such.
Considerable silverware which Is i'm
ported In the antique class is classified
In the fake" class by the Washington
examiners. Valid period silverware is
readily recognized by the experts by the
"hallmarks" which it bears. For ex-
ample, the hallmark of the silver Of a
certain Kings reign or period is inscrih-
ed with the figure of leopard or lion
or with the identifying letters, symbols
or other figures. Many chance buyers
who are seeking for bargains purchase
antiques from foreign dealers of Ill re-
pute. More often than not they ex-
change gold and greenbacks for illicit
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

pay duty on imported goods for gov
ernmental use as does Mister Ordinary
Citizen. The only concession which
United States customs makes to the
government Is that Uncle Sam does not
have to pay spot cash duty as does the
average private importer. The Govern
ment. so to say. can charge 1t" and
pay in gold or greenbacks at Its con-
venience. Books. maps, charts, printed
matter and photographs from overseas
are allowed free entry If intended for
the exclusive use of the Government or
the Library of Congress.
During the last calendar year the
customs officers out Georgetown way
collected $545,302 in duty charges on
merchandise, clothing. antiques, art
treasure, diamonds and other imports
delivered to some 235 private importers
In Washington. The duty charge on
most of these imports amounted to so
per cent of their real value, while In
some instances 1t ran as high as 80 to
80 per cent The usual value Of the
goods cleared annually through the Port
Of Washington amounts to $1.250.000 to
$500, 900. This vast quantity Of goods
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
lick Douglass Memorial One of Landmarks of District

His Grand character will long be an
object lesson IN our national history;
his lofty sentiments % liberty, .hlStiee
and equality echoed on every platform
over our bread land. naaSA m1nence
ana inspire many coming generationsP
"(SignedD
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON.
20 West Sixty-nrst street. New York.
February al. ls9A"
The remains, accompanied by o DE-
tail of letter carriers, we're borne TO the
Baltimore q Potomac depot, then at
the southwest corner of Sixth and B
streets northwest. and were later In
TERED In Rochester, N. 4.
7 AM not surprised to know that The
= star IL read 50 many miles away
from home. but 7 was surprised . few
days ago 10 receive letter from Miami,
Fla, from an cid sehoolMate whom !
had not heard from since We both wore
short trousers IS years and more ago.
It was written In connection with my
story on Cow Town and GARFIELD Hos
pital, the latter having been the prop
erty Of my eorrespondents father.
suppose you would like to read what he
has 10 say. and as have every reason
10 believe that be has no objection !
shah let you do 30. Here II 70,
Ferdinand T. Sehneider.
''S769 Pine Tree Drive,
Miami Beach.
"Fiortda.
February l, laas.
'Aar. John ClAgett Proctor,
Care washington star.
Eleventh and Pa. Ave. NV,
WASHINGTON. D, o,
MY Dear John: Probably You win pc
surprised TO hear frem me. but could
not resist the inclination 10 write yeu
after reading the article IN last sun
days Star about my old home. Wen 90
] remember you and the Browns, VINO
lived next door TO you. OF course, they
moved there long after your family, OUT
am sure you were sttl there wheh they
arrived.
Dick and Joe. I believe, are both
printers and working on The Evening
Star. At least. they were q couple OF
years aQo when I last saw them.
The old Negro. Hardy White@phele
Harry-taaght me 10 hunt squirrels cut
along Rock Greek.
wen. I certainly did enjoy reading
your article and hope TO drop IN ana
see you some time when return Norfh.
"PERD T. SCHNEIDER"
Ferd has made slight error a. to
the Brown boys. Charles. the oldest OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

she was forced to do to the extent 0f
$4,000. a further devise Of q $1,000
bond elected the painful fact that the
bond had been sold by him before his
death.
Mrs. Douglass had her heart set upon
leaving the property as q monument to
his memory. but, in order to do this
found It necessary to place upon IL a
mortgage of $500. She had. however.
the dying satisfaction of knowing that
the property would be kept intact for
all time as q conSecrated place to the
cOlorad race.
The win of MRS. Douglass reads as
follows:
II give. devise and hequeath to the
Frederick Douglass Memorial and His
torical Association its successors and
assigns. forever. all that portion of my
tract of land known as Cedar Hill, In
the District Of Columbia. bounded as
follows. viz: Beginning at the corner
of jefferson and Pierce streets in Ana
costa, d. c., and running with the
eaSterly line of said street along the
western boundary Of any said tract Of
land to the present terminus Of said
street. then with . prolongation of said
easterly line Of said Pierce street to q
point therein from which line, run at
right angles to said prolonged line, will
fall about fifty (50l feet south Of the
circular roadway south of the present
brick carriage house and stable. thence
eaSterly from said point, to the line be-
tween woodland now owned by Mrs.
Fanny Pitts. and Cedar Hin.' thence
with said line to Jefferson street; thence
with the south line Of said Jefferson
street to the place of beginning: to-
gether with the house standing In the
midst Of said tract, being the former
home Of the late Frederick Douglass,
and all other buildings and improve
ments thereon: also sll the household
furniture, books. statuary, paintings,
pictures of every kind. silverware and
all other articles of personal property
now contained in said house or premises.
with the exception of such articles as
shall mention In q list of gifts to be
prepared under my direction. The
said land and appurtenances to be held
by said association. its successors and
assigns. as q perpetual memorial of
my said late husband. Frederick Doug
lass 80
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

IT further desire and direct that the
trees within the bounds Of the land
aforesaid be preserved as far as possible
and the house thereon. the late resi-
dence of the said Frederick Douglass.
be kept In perfect and constant re-
pair
Il also desire that the sta
tionary bookcase and desk and the pic
lures now In said library shall remain
as now arranged, that the room may
appear as it did In the lifetime of Fred
erick Douglass"
THE funeral Of Frederick Douglass.
which took place ON February as.
1895. was attended by many distin-
guished persons. including Associate
Justice John M. Harlan of the United
States Supreme Court. Senator John
Sherman. Senator Hoar Of MasSachu-
sets and others. Delegations were also
In attendance from New York. Balti-
more. Norfolk and Annapolis.
To me one of the most interesting
parts Of the ceremony wes letter writ
ten for the occasion by Elizabeth Cady
Stanton and read by Susan q. Anthony.
to whose memory. only last Friday. q
memorial meeting was held here In the
First Congregational Church.
NfrS. Stanton's tribute 10 Frederick
Douglass Is beautifully expressed and
as copied from The Star reads:
Taking up the Morning Tribune, the
first words that caught my eye thrilled
my very soul. Frederick Douglass is
deadi' what vivid memories thick and
fast flashed through my mind and held
me spellhoalnd In contemplation Of the
long years since first we met.
Trained IN the severe school Of slav-
cry, I saw him first before o Boston
audience. fresh from the land OF bond
age. He stood there like an African
prince. conscious of his dignity and
power, grand In his physical proper
tons. n1ajectic in his wrath. as with
keen wit. satire and indignation he
portrayed the bitterness Of slavery, the
humiliation of subsection to those who,
In all human virtues and capacities.
were inferior to himself. His denancia-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

All rugs irrespective of age are dutiable.
Washington householders show q pref
erence for Chinese rugs by their i'm
portations.
Among the curiosities which are I'm
ported, joss sticks, ivory dice, models Of
machinery and novel inventions as well
as eggs for food predominant. The eggs
are imported from China, where fowls
are so numerous that the prices Of eggs
are low enough to justify their ship
ment TO the United States. All these
export eggs are coated with clay, which
seals out the air and protects the food
products from spoilage In transit. These
imported Chinese eggs are consumed by
the oriental populations Of our large
cities and are also purchased on an
extensive scale by American bakers. Our
pure food laws permit the use Of i'm
ported Chinese eggs for commercial bak-
Ing purposes.
The strangest importation which
passed through the Port Of Washington
during the last year was an anatomical
specimen sent from the East Indies to
q washington research specialist for
scientific uses. 1t ives the body Of q
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

is wrapped In some 10000 different
packages, parcels. bales or boxes and
comes to Washington either by mail or
express.
+ \ y \
THE inventory of the annual receipts
is almost as bulky as the catalogue
Of q mail order house. In includes
almost everything which the average
man or woman would wish and an
overplus Of articles which many OF us
would class as Injuries.
Metal souvenirs, silks and novelties
from Japan, silk apparel. brassware,
jade, jewelry and oriental antiques from
China, antique furniture from Europe,
art treasure from France, Spain and
Italy; large shipments Of superior cigars
from Cuba. firecrackers and toys from
Germany, furs from Alaska, diamonds
from Belgium, wild animal pelts, bones
of prehistoric monsters and scientific
apparatus for research are o few Of the
many materials which pass through the
Washington Customs House.
Olive oil from Italy Is the leading
food product shipped In from abroad.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

N. Y. where he engaged in publishing
the North Star, which later became his
own paper. He soon became acquainted
with Harriet Reecher Stowe and be-
came q power in anti-slavery matters.
just two months before the John Brown
raid at Harpers Ferry he visited old
"OSawatomie" at Chambersburg, Pa.
but was prudent enough not to engage
In the dangerous enterprise which
caused Brown and others to be later
executed at Charleston. Va, now
Charleston, w. Va. However, his con-
nection with John Browns movements
rather indicated his being implicated In
the plot to cause an uprising of the
Virginia slaves. and for this reason he
left the United States by way of Quebec
IN his second visit to England. return
ing to America in 1860. owing to the
death Of his daughter Anna.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS first be-
came q resident of washington in
1859, when he edited here until 1S72
the New National Era. in which enter
prise he is said to have lost about
$4,000. In 1877, President Hayes ap-
pointed him United States marshal for
A4AE A$Acd nv Va @OA0A4AbA0, 0A44 AS14"
dent Garfield made him the recorder
of deeds, which Office he held until
1886. President Harrison appointed him
minister to Hayti in 1889. this being
the last public position he held.
His first wife. to whom he was mar
ried in New York. while he was
fugitive slave, died here in 1881. and two
years later he married Miss Helen Pitts,
a white woman. who had been employed
as a clerk in the ONCE of the recorder
Of deeds. Quite naturally this marriage
created much comment at the time.
both among the white people as well
as among those Of his own race. but
after all, It was due to his second wtfe's
thoughtfulness and determination. that
his home, Cedar Hid, was preserved as
q memorial to his memory. Unfortu-
nately, as things sometimes happen,
Frederick Douglass, in making his win
neglected to have 1t signed by three
witnesses, which was necessary at that
time in order to pass real estate. and it
became necessary in order to hold the
property, for Mrs. Douglass to purchase
the interests Of the other heirs. This
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

or imported 0utlA0le antiques
or art relics from Europe or
~ Asia you doubtless are UNI
familiar with the interesting
activities Of the port Of washington, an
important cog In the machinery Of the
United States customs, an exportless
port, which IL as devoid Of commercial
shipping Is the Cobb Desert and which
delivers its imports by ran.
Time was during the youth of
Georgetown, when sailing ships from
the seven seas and elsewhere navigated
the Potomac and transported treasures
from the Old World to the New. Those
eventful days, when the National Capt.
tai was q seat Of international shipping,
are stil recorded In history, but so far
as the knowledge Of the average wash
ingtonian Is concerned they never ex-
listed. In fact, the indications are that
not one local resident in 10 knows today
that the port Of washington etill oper-
ates - an oficial entity IN the extensive
Sam family.
Notwithstanding this situation, the
port Of Washington In the last quarter
Of 1928 did the biggest business of its
history for Q period Of that length,
handing more than 7,2O0 entries. The
imports were Of the finest grade and
quality received at any American port
and ran the gamut from African dia-
monds to embroidered mandarin coats,
and from firecrackers to fur coats and
museum relics.
The South African diamonds, which
are exported to washington by Belgian
dealers. are Of superior quality and
generally are cOnSign to DtStrlct
dealers. Most Of these gems come in as
''cut but not set stone-.
The duty on this classification OF
jewelry 10 only one-fifth Of its appraised
value, while II the gems enter this
country as set stones and finished
products the duty charge Is four-fifths
Of the actual value.
That the "bootlegging in antiques"
still thrives in certain sections OF
Europe Is evidenced by the fact that
the washington inspectors every once
In so often detect fraudulent articles
among the importatons made by WASH
ingtonians. This business OF identity
ing and classifying antiques Is one OF
the spectacular activities at the port OF
Warrington. which clears more costly
articles Of this type annually than any
other port Of entry Of its size In the
United States.
THE customs regulations provide that
i articles which rank as artistic
ANTIQUES and which are known to be
more than 100 years old may be I'm
ported into this country free of all duty
charges. It Is the duty of the Federal
inspectors to separate the "moonshine"
and counterfeit articles from the demon
strated artistic antiques. They have
acquired remarkable skin IN this par
ticiilar branch and 1t is only rarely that
anything Illicit escapes their notice.
Both antique dealers and prlVaCe cru
tries, pictures, silverware and jewelry
which classify in the artistic antique
/ eateeory. The eyes Of the expert In
spector invariably search for signs Of
J taking" when he examines these I'M
/ rorts. which are not dutiable II they
Are real antiques Individual pieces, as
wen Is sets Of furniture, are found occa-
sionaily which have been "doctored"
IA order to make them appear old. One
Of the common tricks Of unscrupulous
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

The, three bSys. IA live next door to
my mothers home ca Florida avenue,
he having married Miss Jennie Du-
tall. Charlie and his family are now
residing Ct Hyattsyille. Md. 10 which
place he moved quite while ago. Dick
and Joe Brown. whom he speaks Of.
have been stereotypers On The Star for
many years. At one time went to
school In the same building with all
three Of these boys. who then lived on
T street between Vermont avenue and
Eleventh street northwest.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

friend, in al socinl relations, he, has
been faithful and steadfast to the end
He was the only man / ever knew
who understood the degradation OF dis
reimbursement for women. Through
all the long years OF our struggle he
has been familiar figure on our plat
form, with always an inspiring word
10 say. In the very first convention
he helped me to carry the resolution
I had penned. demanding woman suf-
frage.
Frederick Douglass Is not deadl
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

washington Monument, are at least six
bedrooms. and there are perahps two
rooms IN the attic The building Is In
excellcnk cuaGitIOn and speaks wen for
those haxiH& finrneaiate supervision Of
the structure and It's 0ufbuildings and
grounds
OF course, We Of the District of Co
lunhia alEnost look upon Frederick
Shore Of Maryland, yet at least the last
quarter Of o century Of his life was
spent here IN washington, much Of the
time IN puhlie service.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

'These little glimpses Of my mother
obtained under such circumstances and
against such odds, meager rs they were.
are indelihly stamped upon my memory.
She was tail and finely pEop0rtioned;
Of dark and glossy complexion, with
regular features; and among slaves she
was remarkably sedate and dignif1ed.
She was the only slave In Tuckahoe
who could read"
The Bailey family also included, be-
sides Frederick, q brother named Perry,
and three sisters, none of whom, how
ever, were ever known 10 have advanced
beyond their environment of eervitude
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
By GEORGE n. DAcY.

n NLEsS you have Travelled abroad
or imported dutiable antiques
or art relics from Europe or
~ Asia you doubtless are UNI
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

NE Of the landmarks IN the Dis
trfct Of Columbia peculiarly In
teresting to the 127, 900 people
Of negro descent residing here.
IS wen aa Ene Iz,000, 600. more