The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-22
CiviI Rights.

EdlioIs q The InieltgenecE
The Ssaday Nan Of March 18th in
formed us that Manager James Hamilton
had set OF q part Of the dress circle in the
Opera House commonly known a the
aamen corner" for the use Of any colored
persons that may insist upon q seat in
some other part Of the House than the
gallery. The colOred people Of this city
have learned to look to the ISIELIIGES'
CIR for information and advice when IN
dorbt Is to their rights and privileges,
and now they appeal TO you TO know II
under the Civil Rights bill Mr.. Hamilton
can exclude 4 colored person from any
part Of the house, provided he reserves
and pays for il, or can he refuse " re-
serve any seat not engaged in case col
ored person should desire TO engage u!
By inserting and answering this you will
o6lige CIVIL RIGHTs,
The proper answer to the above In
quiry is to be found in the first section Of
the Civil Rights bill, and Is "a follows;
That all persons within the jurisdiction
Of the United States shall be entitled to
the full and equal enjoyment Of the .ae-
Communications, advantages, facilities and
privileges Of inns, public eonyeyanees on
land or water, theatres and other places
Of public amusement, subject only to the
conditions anu limitations established by
law, and applicable alike to citizens Of
every race and color, regardless Of any
previous condition Of servitude.D Under
this section We do not sec that any dis
elimination can be made among the pat
rons Of any place Of public amusement,
II however our correspondent desires
reliable opinion as to the proper inter.
probation Of the law We refer him to some
good lawyer. We notice that up at Pitts
burgh the manager Of one Of the theaters
there was recently embarrassed by the
Civil Rights question and met it as follows
I'VE quote from the DsPatek Of satur.
day.)
at came yesterday and last night.
Maggie Mitchell was playing tho exqui-
sitely quaint and beautiful drama Little
Barefoot" II was her benefit, and there
was great rush for seats. In the midst
Of this demand q cOlOFed man called for
two tickets in 4 very desirable row in
tho orchestra, They were given him.
-Four seats in that row had already been
bought, and ten yet remained, four on
either side OF the colOFed purchaser. The
rush for seats still continued, and great
many customers wanted to buy one, two,
three or four, as the case might he Of tho
eight in question, until they learned Of
the sale TO the cOloTcd patron. Immedi-
aicly upon that they took other and leas
advantageous positions, or else were con.
tent with campstoOls. Lest the parties
who had bought the first four might have
any prejudices about sitting in the row,
II was arranged that when they presen ted
their tickets last night they should be
given the alternative Of camp-stOOls, but
the usher forgot this, and they took the
places they had bought without lodging
objection or feeling 1t all uncomfortable.
Meantime the colored gentleman
and his lady, dressed in fine style, he
wearing LOGUet and kids, and she not be-
hind in point Of fashion, occupied the
seats they bought, and seemed to enjoy
the performance thoroughly. As explain.
Cd, there were four seats on either side Of
them-lhe only unOccupied seats in the
house. During the night many opera.
glasses were turnedby the large and bril-
liant audience toward this reservation,
and, Of course, some humorous remarks
Of a senli-polilicai nature might have
been heard through the house, but none
In tone loud enough to reach the sub.
iecls, or calculated to give oHense.
a few Southern audiences have almost
made riots since the passage Of the bill
because COlored folk venturedi into the best
tlaFts Of thenlcts. Our Pittsburgh peo.
pic rather enjoy it-so long as they arc
not themselves In adjacent seats SO thai
tie practical result Of the Act here, 80 fai
a. tlieateFs are concerned, is likely to BE-
while a white patron buys one seat and
-gets but one, the colored patron by buy
Ing one will get at least three, perhap:
more. And even this distinction must
in time, depart