The bee., 1883-12-29
E PLURIBUS UNUM.

When we headed this article
we had reference to the number
of lies in one article written a.
bout the eolored people of this
city by the Washington cores
pondent of the n. Y. Sun. The
article is marvellous for the mum.
Der of lies crowded i'll SO small a
space, indeed there is more er-
rors to the square inch in it than
any article it has been our fortune
to see.
There are 5000 colored people In Wasolng-
ton. In no city in the United States, not even
New Orleans, is there larger colored popula-
ton. Many Of them have settled here since
the civil war ended. A better opportunity can
be nowhere found for studying the effect OF
| freedom and the legislation subsequent to IL
than here. The colored people here enjoy all
the social and political rights that law can give
them, without protest and without annoyance
The public conveyances are open TO them, and
the theatres, the jury box. the spois of party
power, are theirs. Many of these men are
wealthy, and the aggregate wealth of the col
ored property-owners in the District amounts
to millions of dollars. Hundreds own comfort
able homes, and some handsome residences ;
their churches are many, including three or
four buildings that are ornaments to the city,
AS class they are industrious, find plenty to
do. and are beginning to show capacity for
is known as society. Wealth. learning, official
for thrift and saving.
But the color line is rigidly drawn in what
place, give no colored family the right or priv
ilege of entering the best or the commonest
white society on terms of equality or endur-
ance. In this respect the colored race lives as
separate and as exclusive a life as in the days
of slavery. and, as drop of African blood was
once held to make a man a negro, so now it
taints him and makes an insurmoun table bar
rier against social recognition. The most
striking illustration of the tendency of the
race TO initiate the white people is seen in
their own social rules, classes and customs
First OF all we find that in this large colored
community social lines are as rigidly drawn
as they are between themselves and the white
society of the West End. There are three re-
cognized social classes among the colored peo
pie. Neither acknowledges the others, and il
is the ambition Of those in the lower to be re-
ceived in the higher circles, just as among the
whites.
The upper crust, so to speak, consists of men
of wealth, learning. and high political place.
These people exchange calls, with all the eere-
mony of the whites, some Of them driving in
their own carriages. leaving cards with scru-
pulous attention to etiquette. They dine with
each other, and are waited upon by colored
servants with whom they will permit no other
relations than those of master and servant.
Probably the leading family in the highest
colored society here is that of Ex-senator
Bruce, who is now the register of the Treasu-
ry. Bruce is a light-complexioned, intelligent
looking man. He is said to be worth abovt a
hundred thousand dollars. He lives in a
handsome house that he owns on M street. II
is richly furnished. A superb piano stands in
the reception-room, and choice collection of
books lines the wall of the library. Mrs.
Bruce is handsome woman, with not a sug-
gestion Of her race in her face, and whose man.
ners are regarded as the econsummation of ease
grace and courtesy. She dresses as richly and
handsomely as any woman in the city. In
official circles Mr.. Bruce is always received
with courtesy, and as a political equal, but
there the line is drawn. Mr.. Bruce entertain
tains his friends handsomely. and his wife
pays and receives calls from those of her select
set with unvarying regard for etiquette.
Another member Of this social is John F. Cook,
the collector of taxes sor the District He lives
in excellent style and entertains handsomely.
Prof. ]. NJ, Gregory, professor of Latin at the
Howard University. and John NJ. Lanston, the
minister TO Hayti, with their families are rec
ognized members of the best oolored society,
while DR.. Charles B. Purvis' society and that
Of his wife are eagerly sought.
DR.. Purvis is q very busy man, being the
surgeon in charge of the Freedman's Hospital,
and the professor of materia medica at the
hospital school Nearly all OF his scholars are
white. DIR. A. T. Augusta and his wife also
are received in the highest circle of colored
society, while DR.. Augusta, as physician,
the respect Of his white brethren
IN the profession. Mr.. Henry Smith, for many |
years the librarian OF the House of Represen- |
tatives, entertains a great deal, and his wife |
,alls in her own carriage. r. T. Greener, a |
member of the District bar and graduate Of |