FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO ROSETTA DOUGLASS SPRAGUE

Washington[,] D.C. 2 August 1875.

MY DEAR DAUGHTER:

I still hope to reach Rochester on the 10th.¹On 23 August, Douglass sent a letter to his daughter Rosetta informing her of his safe arrival back in Washington, D.C., following his visit to Rochester, New York. Douglass to Rosetta Douglass Sprague, 23 August 1875, General Correspondence File, reel 32, frames 32–33, FD Papers, DLC. As this time is now near at
hand—and as Louisa²Helen Louise “Louisa” Sprague. doubtless keeps you well informed as to all that is
worth knowing about affairs here I will not trouble you with a long letter.
Lewis,³Lewis H. Douglass. left us last night for the meeting of Editors, in Cincinnati, which is
advertised to meet there to day⁴Lewis H. Douglass attended the first Convention of Colored Newspapermen, which was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, 4–5 August 1875. The convention met in Union Chapel and was presided over by the former Louisiana governor P. B. S. Pinchback on the first day, and by Peter H. Clark on the second. The younger Douglass served as vice president of the committee on organizations and chaired one of the sessions on the second day of the convention. Savannah (Ga.) Colored Tribune, 8 April 1875; Convention of Colored Newspapermen, 2. I am glad he was able to go, since I could
not myself be there—Some one of the family ought to be on hand at such
meetings while there are any of us left. Estella⁵Estelle “Stella” Irene Sprague. is standing at the window
of the new study quite near me while I am writing. She still seems quite
contented and happy. In this respect she is a puzzle to me for thus far she
insists that she wants to stay here. She finds it pleasant to be the only child
about the house. I received a note from our friend E. P.⁶Elizabeth Peirson. a few days ago.
She seems hurt because she has written three letters to you of late and has
received no answer. All grievances find their way to me. Mother⁷Anna Murray Douglass. says tell
Rosa that Stella is fat and plump, I think she has much improved every
way—Louisa don’t seem to me quite as well and cheerful as usual but she

does not complain. Miss Assing⁸Ottilie Assing. is fighting her way here as usual—Every
body seems to hit the blue ball on the Croquet ground.⁹In the game of croquet, play begins with the blue ball followed by the red, black, and yellow ones. croquetamerica.com. As usual I fight on
the side of my old friend—and words fierce and loud pass between Lewis
[illegible] and myself—He thinks I presume on being daddy—and I think
he presumes on being son—, but we manage to live under the same roof,
for all—and very comfortably—I often wish I could have Nathan¹⁰Nathan Sprague. on my
side. Love from Mother and all.

Your father

FREDK DOUGLASS

ALS: General Correspondence File, reel 32, frames 31R–32, FD Papers, DLC.