Frederick Douglass & a Mallory Opera Hall premiere

Frederick Douglass in 1870

Historian David W. Blight was featured on NPR's "Fresh Air" yesterday, talking about his recently published biography, "Frederick Douglass, Prophet of Freedom." Perhaps I'll get around to reading this next year, but in the meantime wanted to write a little about Chariton's face-to-face encounter  during January of 1873 with this towering figure in American history.

Born into slavery during 1818, Douglass escaped in 1838 and began to channel his intellect and energy into becoming one of the United States' most influential abolitionists, authors and advocates for freedom and equal rights for everyone --- not just black Americans and other minorities, but for women of all colors and cultures, too.

By the 1870s, Douglass had completed two autobiographies, commencing with the landmark 1845 "Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave"; returned to the United States in 1847 after two years of adulation in Ireland and Great Britain to become a leading advocate for abolition; served as a consultant to Lincoln during the Civil War; joined the battle for women's suffrage; and by the time he arrived in Chariton was one of America's most accomplished orators and influential authors.

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There had been a building boom in Chariton during 1872, even though the economy was weak and ordinary Lucas County families had little extra money to spare. When Douglas stepped off the train, he would have stepped into the recently completed C.B.&Q. Depot and Depot Hotel.

The finishing touches had just been made to the new Mallory Opera Block on the northwest corner of the square and although several social, musical and dramatic events already had been held in Opera Hall as the building neared completion, his was to be the premiere lecture.

Although turnout would be disappointing, every effort was made to inform Lucas Countyans of the opportunity they would have to see and hear one of the nation's leading orators.

"He has long stood with the ablest men of the nation, and the fact that he has held important positions of honor and trust under Government and is now urged for a place in the next Presidential Cabinet, will add to the interest that would otherwise be taken in his eloquent and logical address," The Chariton Patriot reported.

"His subject at this place will be, 'Self Made Men.' As there will be nothing either political or sectarian in his lecture it is expected that every body irrespective of race, color or religion will improve this opportunity of hearing him. This will be the first lecture since the completion of our new hall, and it will probably be a long time before our people will have an opportunity for such a literary treat as they may expect on the occasion. Come out everybody and hear the ablest orator as well as the smartest man of color in the world. Admission 50 cents. No reserved seats."

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As it turned out, only about 100 people turned out to hear Douglass in a hall that probably would have seated five times that many, and the editor of The Patriot, while disappointed, persevered and published this report in his edition of Wednesday, Jan. 29:

"On Saturday night last, according to announcement, Mr. Frederick Douglass lectured in Mallory's Hall on 'Self Made Men.' The audience was good, of course, in point of quality, for it is usually the more intelligent of community that attend first-class lectures. But we are ashamed to announce the fact that but a little over a hundred made up the number of hearers.

"Mr. Douglass is universally acknowledged to be one of our best lecturers, and from this fact, together with the prominent position that he has occupied as the leading representative of the colored race in this country, one would have supposed that the mere announcement that he would speak in our town for the first, and probably last time, would have been sufficient to ensure a crowded house. But so far is this from being true, that bills and 'flaming posters' were necessary to draw the meager number named.

"We hope that this is not a fair test of Chariton's disposition in a literary point of view, and comfort ourselves with the thought that the Methodist meeting being in progress, and money very scarce, may account in a great measure for the small attendance.

"The lecture so far as we can learn gave universal satisfaction. The subject was handled in a masterly manner, and showed a breadth of thought and investigation that was not expected by many. His language, his style of delivery and general appearance on the platform, all indicated a high degree of culture, while the entire absence of that affection and egotism which so frequently is found with colored speakers has been a matter of remark by many who heard him.

"We will not attempt to give a synopsis of his discourse, except to say that it was decidedly good pointed, and interspersed with sufficient wit to keep the audience awake, and call forth occasional bursts of laughter and applause. His prominent point was that work and persevering exertion is the great secret of success. Insisted that there 'is no royal road' to success in this country, and that every one is the architect of his own fortune. Did not believe in trying to make prayer take the place of action. Said that he had tried the virtue of both in getting his freedom, that he had prayed for several years to be free, but did not see the slightest approximation toward an answer until he began to pray with his legs until he 'made the dust rise behind him,' and then the answer came.

"He referred to a number of examples of self made men, and gave at the close a short history of his own efforts to obtain knowledge, which was listened to with unusual interest. On the whole we pronounced the lecture a success so far as the speaker was concerned, and only regret that there were not more to hear it."