Subscribe..
TO THE EDITOR
A Tribute to Dr. Douglas
1921 East 97th street
Cleveland, Ohio
February 17th, 1922
[The Welland Tribune and Telegraph, 23 February 1922]
Tribune & Telegraph,
Dear Sir:
Along in May, the year of 1870, a barefooted small boy who lived on the McConnell farm, near the village of old Fort Erie was despatched in great haste to summon the doctor for Mrs.McConnell-an aged old lady who had fallen in a faint.
The youngster, having been duly impressed by Mr. McConnell with the necessity of haste, did his best along the (at that time) muddy thoroughfare-The River Road; and , in more or less breathless condition, after a time, reached the little white, rough-cast house on the south corner of (I think) Bertie Street, and upon knocking the door was soon opened by a sweet-faced, white-capped lady of perhaps 55 or 60 years of age, who, upon learning the boy’s mission, called for “William,” and in a moment or two the young man came to the door and said he was the Doctor, and upon learning my mission, said he would come right down.
A few moments later-before the messenger had retraced his steps homeward more than a block or two- a flying horseman with a cape of the English mackintosh which he wore on such occasions, flying out straight behind, passed by and was soon at the homestead. He had done the needful and before the boy had reached home he met the Doctor on his way back to the village.
The Doctor in this case was no other than that grand little man who has kept up that alertness to this day and who has done more to alleviate suffering and bestow mercy upon the distressed and suffering than any other man who ever lived in Welland County-Dr. William Douglas. Nor has his mission of mercy ceased, my sister having informed me just recently that he is still “riding the circuit” and never fails to respond to the call of the afflicted.
I do not know the Doctor’s age but you people of Welland County and especially Fort Erie must know that a man who has devoted more than 52 years of his life to mercy must be well along and in the natural course of events cannot serve many years more.
Great books have been written of the lives of others whom we know have been less deserving, and while it has been many years since I have shaken the hand of the subject of this letter, I shall never forget him as of the type which get their pleasure out of life by doing good to others, and my fond hope is that the people of old Fort Erie and Welland County will endeavor to demonstrate their love for “Billy” while he is yet with them.
In my opinion nothing could be more fitting than a fine demonstration on the part of the citizens of Fort Erie and Welland County towards Billy while he is yet with them.
This is just a suggestion and I would appreciate an acknowledgement.
Sincerely yours
D. Robertson
Add A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.