9

LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS 9

and again has he been in a strange place with nowhere to lay his head until
some kind anti-slavery person would come forward and give him shelter;
and as to riding in public conveyances, mean spirited conductors at one time
made it a rule to put all colored people, nolens volens, in the smoking car.
Many times was Douglass subjected to this indignity.

The writer of this remembers well, because he was present and saw the
transaction,—the John Brown meeting in Tremont Temple in 1860, when a
violent mob composed of the rough element from the slums of the city, led
and encouraged by bankers and brokers came into the hall to break up the
meeting. Douglass was presiding; the mob was armed; the police were pow-
erless; the mayor could not or would not do anything. On came the mob
surging through the aisles over benches and upon the platform; the women
in the audience became alarmed and fled. The hirelings were prepared to do
anything, they had the power and could with impunity. Douglass sat upon the
platrorm with a few chosen spirits, cool and undaunted; the mob had got
about and around him; he did not heed their howling nor was he moved by
their threats. It was not until their leader, a rich banker, with his followers,
had mounted the platform and wrenched the chair from under him that he
was dispossessed, by main force and personal violence (Douglass resisting
all the time) they removed him from the platform. Free speech was violated;
Boston was disgraced; but the Chairman of that meeting was not
intimidated.

It affords me great pleasure to introduce to the public this book, "The
Life and Times of Frederick Douglass." I am glad of the opportunity to pres-
ent a work which tells the story of the rise and progress of our most cele-
brated colored man. To the names of Toussaint L'Ouverture and Alexander
Dumas is to be added that of Frederick Douglass. We point with pride to this
trio of illustrious names. I bid my fellow countrymen take new hope and
courage; the near future will bring us other men of worth and genius, and our
list of illustrious names will become lengthened. Until that time the duty is
to work and wait.

Respectfully,

GEORGE L. RUFFIN.
Boston, Sept. 1st, 1881.