Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-04-21
,,,rmbis Correspondence Of the New York Sun.
soCIAL BARRIERS SWEPT AWAY In
SOUTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA
,vntte Mayors Senators and Represents
lives Dancing with the EIite-White La.
dies Dancing with COIorsd Gentlemen.
"Would you like to attend this ?" said
Governor Scott the other day as he hand
ed me an deliberately gotten mp envelope
bearing huge monogram. took 1t and
read as follows:
HEADQUARTERS COMPANY B.,
SECOND REGIMENT 8. @. N. G.,
March %, 1871.
The pleasure Of your company is re-
spectfulIy solicited at TIE second annual
hall to be given by Company B, of the
Guard, at Janneys Hall, Columbia, on
Saturday evening, April l, 1871. BY COM
mand Of JACOB THOMPSON,
Captain Company b.
''Wil this be recherche affair ?" I en-
onired as I folded the envelope.
sob yes" said the Governor, 1.-THE
creme de la creme of our colored society
will be there, and you'll have pleasant
time"
"Shall you and Mrs. Scott attend ?"
s.Weu hardly You see," said the Gov
ernor, and bere his eye twinkled, II
haven't been very we'll here lately, and
ANYTHING like violent exercise, such as
dancing, for instance, throws me off my
feet Mrs. Scott and have sent regrets. ="
'WiIl there be any white people there?"
ooh yes, [ have heard several signify
their intention to attend"
[ pocketed the invitation and resolved to
attend.
SCENE AROUND THE HALL.
Saturday came, and with it the martial
display 80 summarily checked by the Gov
ernors order, and which was designed to
preserve the peace of the city. NotVith-
standing the fact that the Second Regi-
ment's drill and parade were thus suspend
ed, the preparations for the ball of Com
pany 3 went actively forward. At an
early hour Janney's Hall, which, by the
way, was deliberately decorated for the oc-
casIoD, presented lively scene. Members
of the company and officers of the regi-
nent in full uniform assembled IN large
numbers in and around the hall, and hun
dreds of less favored colored persons
thronged the street below, and gazed with
envious eyes upon the gorgeous trappings
of their brethren. A band of colored mu-
sicians discoursed sweet music on q bal
cony above, to the strains of which the
guests marched into the ball room.
Capt. Jacob Thompson, the gentlemanly
commander Of Company B, is a coal black
negro of huge proportions. His manly
form was clad in a dark blue military suit,
somewhat resembling in cut the dress of
an Alpine hunter. The coat was trimmed
with red slashing, and on the Captains
shoulders cleaned pair of the shiniest
epaulettes. He was ubiquitous. He gal
lantly allied ebony bellies to surmount the
steep staircase, and also fitted about the
refreshment table, and superintendent the
The Captain is very fine looking officer.
He is not so graceful in his movements as
your Col. Fisk, but he is quite
AS GALLANT AMONG THE LADIES.
He is very popular, and many a coal
black eye frightened in intensity, and
many dusky countenance blushed as the
ponderOus Captain smiled and escorted
the ladies up the steep staircase. He was
assisted in this delicate duty by the lieu
tenants of his command.
The lieutenants are not SO handsome as
their captain. They have not been SO long
in society, neither have they travelled SO
extensively as he. They did well. how
ever. Like the captain. they were attired
in the height of military fashion, and were
great favorites with the colored ladies on
the floor.
= BY 10 o'clock the ballroom was crowd
ell with the youth and beauty of Colum-
bias colored society. There was also d
fair sprinkling Of whites, but not enough
Several unpleasant little incidents occur
red, resulting from the persistent efforts
OF certain of the whites to monopolize the
society of the young colored ladies; but [
am pleased to say everything passed off as
quietly as at any Seventh Regiment ball
L ever attended.
SEVERAL WHITE LADIES WE'RE PRESENT,
and evinced by their actions full determi-
nation to break down the social barriers
which have so long existed between the
two races. The colored ladies present did
not in every instance respond as cheerful
ly and cordially to these welI-meant efforts
as they might have done. but this might
perhaps be attributed to the fact that the
white ladies were comparatively strangers,
and they may have had some hesitancy
about associating with them until proofs
of their high social standing at home were
furnished. The music was fine, the danc-
ing was kept up continuously, and oil en-
i0yed themselves hugely.
WHO WERE THERE.
OF course where so many were present
it was impossible to get the names of all
The more prominent of the guests, howev
er, I knew, and hence was not loss for
information. The highest civil function
airy present was his Honor the Mayor of
Columbia Next to him were the Board of
Aldermen of the city and the Hon. VIM. j.
EIter, the City Clerk. Mayor Smythe is
a white gentleman, and danced very fire.
quently. He was not accompanied by
ladies, but found no scarcity of partners
on the floor, as the young colored ladies
esteemed it an especial honor to dance
with his Honor the Mayor. The Mayor
seemed partial to the waltz, and the doll
cacy with which he clasped his partner in
that enchanting dance was the admiration
of all present. The Mayor is q very grace
full dancer. Having long legs. he is pecu-
larly fitted by nature for votary OF Terp-
sichore.
Senator J. Y. P. Owens, of Laurens
county, was also present. The Senator is
not enjoying very good health, and be-
lieves that the atmosphere of Columbia is
much more wholesome at this season of
the year than that of Laurens. So he is
at present sojourning here. The Senator
did not dance great deal. He is suffer
ing from consumption, and violent exer-
ton is more than he can stand. He is a
white man, but is received in colored So
clety upon terms of perfect equality. When