The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-09-17
WASHINGTON LITTER.

Hon. X. L. Greener at the Harvard Annual
Dinner-school Iroubles-ProfessorG Greg
ory-Weak-kneed CoIored Trusfees-Con-
Kress 20 Be Appealed To.
1 had the pleasure of reading the
other day in the March number of
the Harvard College Register, an ac-
count of the annual dinner of the
New York Alumni of Harvard, at
which Prof. k. Il. Greener was pres
ent and made very happy speech.
The distinguished literateur, Edwarl
Everett Hale. followed Mr.. Greener,
and paid him and Harvard College
the following beautiful compliment:
~ have been talking ABOUT things
which / did not mean to advert to
when | got up, and will now say
what / did mean to say. 1 wanted
to say that my friend Greener, on
the other side of the table. did not do
himself Justice when he spoke of the
hospitality which the College has al
ways accorded to all races of men
1 can tell story which illustrates
at once that hospitality and Mr..
Greener's use of it. For this story
was called to my memory only few
days ago by the recent parvenu out
burst of animosity to that great
Hebrew race, from which, even If it
do not yet understand the full pur-
pose of God In history, none the less
have Gods greatest messages to this
world been spoken. 1t so happened
that it was my official duty, when
Mr. Greener was yet connected with
the College, to announce to large
audience one of those signal successes
of his, which he has modestly for
gotten in what little he has said of
himself 1t was the day of the
Boylston Competition, when selected
speakers from all classes competed
for what are the largest premiums, l
believe, offered by the University.
In announcing that result at the din
ner table, / had to say that it was a
sad day for Anglo Saxon pride, for
the first prize had been given to an
African and the second to Jew.
To Anglo Saxon pride this might be
q blow; but there is no Harvard man
who hears me who is not proud that
our mother distributes her honors
where they belong, without favor, to
children of every race"
Quite sensation has been created
in school circles here by the demand
of Prof. j. NJ. Gregory that his six
year old boy be admitted the school
nearest his home which happens to
be so-called white school. The
Trustee refused to order the teacher
to receive the child and Mr.. Gregory
appealed the matter to the Board OF
Education. After brief discussion
the matter was referred to a committee
for future consideration. The school
ia IN the suburbs of Washington near
Howard University, but is just out
side of the city limits, properly
The case is peculiar indeed. Mr.
Wormley, the Trustee who has re.
fused to permit Mr. Gregory's child
to attend the so-called white school
ia himself colored man, and when
the case came up before the Genera
Board, several OF whose members are
oolored, not one of them had the
manhood to denounce the Indignity
offered to their race, and one was
cowardly enough to allude to the ad
mission of colored children to Other
so-called white schools as violation
of the law. Prof. Gregory, l under
stand, is determined to push the
matter even to the halls OF Congress
where doubtless justice will be OBJ
tanned. 1t is to be hoped that thi
case will call attention to the matter
to the end that at the Capital of th'
Nation, at least, all distinctions OIL
account of color shall be abolished.
Professor Gregory closes his appea