Still's Underground Rail Road Records; With a Life of the Author

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886. Excerpt: ... HIS LIFE AND WORK TO THIS TIME. BY JAMES P. BOYD. OBJECT IN VIEW. Feb many years the friends of William Still have desired to see a sketch of his life in print. The propriety of a memoir has been repeatedly urged in connection with his underground railroad records. General Armstrong has warmly pressed him to furnish a biographical account of himself for the columns of the Southern Workman. Other editors and educators, white and colored, have often expressed a kindred wish. He has not been unmindful of the compliment conveyed in these often requests, but business cares have so engrossed his thoughts and occupied his time that he has not, thus far, found it possible to comply with them. And, though contrary to the good old adage, it may be that, in this instance, delay has not proved dangerous. It will be accepted as true that, so far as the colored race is concerned, time has vindicated postponement by multiplying possible readers, and, doubtless, too, by increasing their ability to understand and appreciate. Moreover, the preparation of a new edition of the underground railroad records seems to offer an opportunity never before presented for the publication of such a sketch as has been in request. Those records have already been largely read by the colored people of the South, and it is very probable they will be still more largely read by them, in view of the fact that they present so many quaint, curious, yet authentic, chapters of a history which most intimately concerns them, but which would never have become accessible to them nor the general public had its data not been carefully preserved and published by Mr. Still. It might, therefore, serve to gratify a rational curiosity to see, in connection with them, an account of the author's life. And we do...