Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-02-27
WashingtOn's CO,Ored People.

| WashfngtOn's CO,Ored People.
There are G5 900 colored people in
Washington. In no city in the United
States, not even New Orleans, is there y
larger colore population. Many of them
have settled here since the civil wal
ended A hetler opportunity can no
where be found for studying the effect ol
freedom and the Legislation subsequent to
1t than here. The colored people here
enjoy all the social and politic,I rights
that law ctn give Them, without protesl
AMI 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 co'ored properly owners in the districl
amounts to millions of dollars. Hun.
dreds own comfortable homes, and some
handsome residences; their churches ar,
many, including three or four building.
that are ornaments to the city. As II
class they are industrious, find plenty Il
do, and are beginning to show capacity
for thrift and saving
But the color line is rigid y drawn 10
what is known as society. Wealth
learning, official place, give no coored
family the right or privilege of entering
The best Or the commonest white society
on terms of equality or endurnnce. In
this respect the colored raca lives as
separate and as exclusive IL life as in the
days of slavery, and, rs ii drop of Africln
blood was oncs held to make II IN IN IA
negro, so now ii taints him and makes IN
Insurmountable barrier ag g,lnst social
recognition. The most striking illustra
ton of the tendency OF The race to initiate
the white people is seen in their own
social rules classes acd customs. First of
all we lind that in this large colored
community social lines are rs rigidly
drawn as they are between themselves
and the white society Of The West End.
There ale three recognized social classes
among the colored people. Neither
acknowledges the others, and it is the
ambition of those in the lower to be
received in the higher circles, just rs
among the whites.
The upper crust, so to speak, consists OF
men of wealth, learning, and high politi-
cal place. These people exchange calls
with all the ceremony of the whites, some
of them driving in their own carriages,
leaving cards with scrupulous attention
to etiquette. They dine with each olhe,
and are waited upon by colored servants
with whom they will permit no other
relation than those of mas er and servant.
Probably the leading family in the highest
coiored society here is that Of ex-senator
Bruce. who is now the registerer of the
treasury. Bruce is Il light compexioned,
intelligent looking man. He is said to lie
worth about hundred thousand dollars.
Rev. DIR. Alex. Crummel, rector of the
leading colored church of the Episcopalian
denomination, is always welcomed. lie
is regarded as the most learned colored
man in the districts and is highly respected
by the white clergy of his denomination.
Of course Fred Douglass ranks rs the
leading eolored man Of the district, but he
goes but little into society. He lives en-
his fine estate on the eastern branch OF
,he Potomac. Douglass is worth about
s2O0O00. Another member of this social
;ircle is John T. Cook. the collector of
axes for the district. He lives in excel
lent style and entertalns handsomely |
Prof. j. M. Gregory. professor of L.tln at
he Howard university, and John Nj.
Langs on, the minister to Hayti, with |
heir families, are recognized mem bers Of
he best colored society, while DR.. Charles
B. Purvis' society and that of his wife are |
eagerly sought. Mr.. M M. Holland, who
s an officer in the post Office dcpartmt NJ,
8 said to be the best classical scholar in
he district, and his attainments bring him
he highest social recognition of his
people. Wormley of Wormley's hotel is
leader of the best set on occount of his
wealth, reputed to be $l50,000 and his
citations with prominent white men.
The second class OF colored people is
of government clerks and of
people in comfortable circumstances
There are a good many colored men in
he government employ as clerks. These
orm the basis of the society of the second
ank. Many of them own comfortable
title homes, and one of the finest streets
n the city is occupied by them. This is
Sixteenth street. between the Scott statue
md the White House. 1t is IL splendid
venue, broad, well paved, and in the
leart of the most fashionable part of the
,ity. Nearly all of these coored resi-
lents own their houses and refuse to sell.
The property is very valuable, and must
ultimately pass out of their possession.
These people are verv fond of social life,
,ut they do not find it in entertaining, but
ather in sociables, balls, picnics, and
specially in their churches. They are
veil dressed. seem to prosper, and are
lappy. For the great bulk of the coIored
population the servants, laborers, and the
,oor--they have sympathy. but no more
AVE social relations with them than Il
White family. The latter in the main are
hriftless, living from hand to mouth;
lappy if they do nothing, happy if they
,et job. Their social instincts are
,,ratifed by the organization and main
enance of the societies of all sorts, benev-
lence, patriotic, social. and economic.
There are nearly 100 of these organiza.
IONS, supported by the laborng colored
Nea0 York Sun.