Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-16
Illustrating OberIinisun.

4 EUGENIA, the Empress Of the French,
gives law In the matter of fashion to very
considerable portion of the female world;
and, no doubt, her doings in domestic way
find ready and admiring copyists. Moth
ing, therefore, should be more commenda-
BILE in ladies in our own country, who
occupy places that are looked upon as
commanding, than to set such examples
and so throw their influence as shall
produce good-as shall rebuke unwor-
thy feelings and break down the bar
riers that derive their existence from un-
worthy prejudice. That some Of our ladies'
appreciate the Importance of this is un-
questionable.
Much has been said about the prejudice
that exists between the White and Black
races. By many persons who claim refine
ment education and intelligence, this pref
udiee has been pronounced the evidence OF
vulgarity. Indeed, it is but few days
since the Morning Journal enforced the
idea that it was most contemplate, and was
simply ministered to by demagogues in the
Democratic party. That there are many
persons of the Journals way of thinking
we have no doubt. There is at least one
woman in this city-the wife of leading
State official, and who is indebted to Ober-
lin for her education-who is of this way
of thinking, and who has sought to
initiate a policy in the administra-
ton of her domestic concerns whereby
the prejudices between the Black
and White races would at least be modified.
She has negro woman for cook. This ne
gro cook, for anything we know to thecon-
trary,is good woman. The lady in question
last week found herself in want of cham
bermaid; and it occurred to her that she
would like to have nice, worthy and we'll
behaved white girl to fill that office in her
domestic departm ent. Accordingly, she
made application to lady to know wheth-
er she could. not secure for her, or put her
in the way of securing, such girl. The
lady applied to cheertully undertook the
task of gratifying the wish in this particu-
lar of the State officials wife, and was not
long in obtaining the consent of worthy
young girl, the daughter of most estima-
Bile widow lady in the Fifth ward, to serve
in the required capacity. Without draw
ing on the imagination, 1t is allowable to
say that the girl was delighted with the
idea that she should occupy the RESPONSE
BILE position of chambermaid in the house.
hold of high State official. A part of the
dignity pertaining to the State Office neces-
sarily permeates the whole household
and would throw its grateful odor over
the chambermaid; but this bright Wis
ion, like many other bright visions
in this life, soon was ouer-clouded. The
State dignitary's wife was highly pleased
with the girl. The compensation was satis-
factorily agreed upon; and everything
seemed desirably arranged, when the State
dignitary's lady said: ~ may as we'll tell
you beforehand, you must sleep ,Oith a Negro
tooman-the cook" Instead of this an
nouncement being received in spirit of
humiliation and acquiescence, it was receiv-
ed with scorn and contempt, as being equiv
alent to positive insult, and the girl did
not accept the position she was invited to
accept; and the lady who was instrumental
in gaining her consent to accept it, was
mortified to think that she should be called
upon to sleep with Negro woman.
This information we have derived from
source the credibility of which cannot be
successfully impeached.
1t is not subject for indignation. The
wife of the State official meditated neither
harm nor insult. She has been taught to
believe in, and she daily reads such journals
only as inculcate the idea of, the equality of
the races; and she cannot, therefore, COM
prehend the impropriety of requiring d
Negro woman cook and White girl cham
bermaid to sleep together in the same bed.
Being equal, in her estimation, wherefore,
the necessity of tumbling up two beds and
wearing out the clothes of two beds, when
they can be tucked away under the same
sheets2 Aside from this consideration, it
would serve to wear away the prejudice of
race, and would set an example for the ad-
miration and emulation of the Republican
brethren and sisterhood generally. 1t is
nothing more than the practical illustra-
ton of the teachings Of Republican par
tisanship. Hfa.au