Year: 1860

The MOTHER AND SISTER OF Mr. DOUGLAS
reside near Clifton Springs in Ontario county
New York. Mr.. Douglass mother is now Mrs
Granger. Her husband s son, Julius n. Gran.
ger, married Miss Douglas, sister to the Sen.
ator letter to the Troy Whig contains some
interesting statements in relation to the family
and to Mr.. Douglas. We make few extracts


The hrst OF the household to meet us was the
younger Mrs. Granger, She is a lady of some
forty years of age, accomplished, and of intel
ligent and agreeable discourse. 1t was appa-
rent that she had just pride and interest in
the name and fame of her distinguished brother
In the course OF the conversation she remarked
that the family had of late received many let
tiers inquiring whether this or that fact stated
OF Mr.. Douglass early history was true, if,
indeed, his mother was so very poor and if
young ID. had been obliged to work at cabinet
making for his board, &C., and she said many
anecdotes were related of her brothers youth
ful days, which she knew could not be true.
The cabinet maker story had this for its foun.
dation, and no more; Mrs. Douglas, the mother,
had both the means and the inclination to give
stephen thorough education and to that end
Kept him at school. The boy tired of this and
lmportuned her to allow him TO learn a trade
pleading partiality for cabinet making To
work In wood" was at that time the only
ambition that he knew or felt


MRS d. refused repeatedly, and consented





the boys liking for trade-for which he was
physically unfit, being weak and puny-was to
put him at 1t. And the wOman's foresight was
not at fault. Three months apprenticeship in
the shop suficed. At the end of that time he
returned to his mother, saying that the work
was too hard for him, and that, with her con-
sent, he would resume the school and remain
there as long as she desired. This he did; and
when the widow Douglas became Mrs. Gran
ger, and removed to Ontario county, Stephen
was sent to the Canandaigua Academy-an
excellent institution-as a boarding student.
and remained there until fitted to enter law
office 49,"


He remained "reading law at Canandaigua
as long as he could restrain his impatience to
strike out and " set up for himself" Ambi
ton, Tar more than necessity. led him to push
on to Illinois Ill-health, brought on, as he
thought, by too much study and constitution
winch at that time appeared feeble, also had
much to do with his venture


That Mr.. Douglas when young was self-re-
liant, and quite disposed to do for himself ra-
ther than TO have others do for him. would
seem to be true. That his self reliance was
from choice rather than from necessity is all
the more creditable to him. But the story of
his having been an extremely poor boy de-
priVed of all advantages in youth, &c, are
simple exaggerations-the coinage of election
eering biographers and other humbugs


Mrs. Granger, the mother of Mr Douglas. is
very active, sprightly and intelligent lady
She told me she was over seventy; had guess
ed her age from appearance and conversation,
L should have said at least fifteen years
younger. In height she is not over five feet,
and probably weighs less than one hundred
pounds. She said she expected Stephen almost
every train, but 1t was altogether uncertain
when he would come. 1.-TWO years ago, " said
she, 90 when we did not look for him, he
dropped in on us and made a long visit. He
never writes when we may expect him. 1t
was quite evident the old lady fully understood
the circumstances under which her son was
running for the Presidency, and she seemed to
assent to a remark Of her husband that with
the democratic party divided he stood no
chance. " He has always told me, ;" said she,
'' that he did not want to run for the Presi-
dency, but that bis friends were pressing him
TO do So" This " did not want, fear was
boys tale to his mother. Z" If he could be
elected" she continued, Zone good would
come Of it: he would stop making speeches
and save his health" She expressed consid-
cradle fear Of the Senator's throat disease and
mother-ike, appeared more concerned about
that than his political prospects. Of one thing
she felt entirely sure: that to be beaten would
not hurt her son at all; and, speaking of at
tacks upon him, she gcod-naturedly remarked
she thought the newspapers had already said
all the harsh things they could say of him. so
his running for the Presidency now could
make no difference about that