The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-03-01
The COlOred Metropolis.

ton. Many of them have settled here
since the civil war ended. A better OPP
portunity can be nowhere found for
studying the effect of freedom and the
legislation subsequent to it than here,
says Washington letter. The colored
people here enjoy all the social and po-
litical righs that law can give them,
without protest and without annoyance.
The public conveyanees are open to
them, and the theaters, the jury box,
the spells of party power, are theirs.
Many OF these men are wealthy, and the
aggregate wealth of the colored property
owners in the district amounts to mil
lions of dollars. Hundreds own COM
Portable homes, and some handsome
residences; their churches are many,
including three or four buildings that
are ornaments to the city. As a class
tley are industrious, find plenty to do
and are beginning to show capacity for
thrift and saving.
But the color line is rigidly drawn in
what is known as society. Wealth,
learning, official place, gives no colored
family the right or privilege of entering
the best or commonest white society on
terms of equality or endurance. In this
respect the colored race lives as sepa-
rate and exclusive 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 insurmountable barrier against social
recognition. The most str king Illus
tration of the tendency of the race to
initiate the white people is seen in their
own rules, classes and customs. First
of a. i, 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 recognized social
classes among the colored people.
Neither acknowledges the other, and it
is the ambition of those in the lower to
be received in the higher circles, just as
among the whites.
The upper crust, so to speak, consists
of men of wealth, learning and high po-
litical place. The people exchange calls
with all the ceremony of the whites,
some of them driving in their own car
riages, leaving cards with scrupulous
attention to etiquette. They dine with
each other, and are waited upon by col
ored servants with whom they will per-
NIT no other relations than those Of
master and servant. Probably the
leading family in the highest eolored
society here is that of ex-senator Bruce.
who is now the Register of the Treasury.
Bruce is a lght-complexioned, intel
ligeht-looking man. He is said to be
worth about 100000. He lives
in hansome house that he owns
on M. street. 1t 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 suggestion of her race in her face, and
whose manners are regarded as the con-
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 political equal,
but there the line is drawn. Mr.. Bruce
entertains his friends handsomely, and
his wife pays and receives calls from
those of her select set with unvarying
regard for prevailing etiquette. An
other member of the. social circle is
John L. Cook, the Collector of Taxes
for the District. He lives in excellent
style and entertains handsomely. Prof.
J. M. Gregory, Professor of Latin at the
Howard Univers ty, and John M. Lang
ston, the Minister to Hayti, with their
are recognized members of the
best colored society, while DIR. Charles
B. Purvis' society and that of his wife
are eagerly sought.
DIR. Purvis is verv busy man, being
the surgeon in charge of the Freedman's
Hospital, and the Professor of materia
Inedica at the Hospital School Nearly
all of his scholars are white, DR.. A. L.
and his wife also are received
in the highest circle of colored society.
while DR.. Augusta as a physician COM
mands the respect of his white brethren
N the profession. Mr. Henry Smith,
Ior many years the librarian of the
House of Representatives, entertains
great deal, and his wife calls in her
own carriage. r. L. Greener, men,
Der OF the District bar and graduate of
Howard, and his wife, who is an ac-
musician, are much in So
;iety. The Rev. DR.. Alex. Crummel.
rector OF the leading colored church of
,he Episcopal denomination, is ALWAYS
welcomed. He is regarded as the most
earned colored man in the District, and
S highly respected by the white clergy
of his denomination. OF course Fred
Douglass ranks as the leading colored
man of the District, but he goes but little
INTO society He lives on his fine estate
IN the eastern branch of the Potomac.
Douglass is worth about $500, 600.
While his wealth and ability make him
EASILY the foremost man of his race, he
S not popular. He is regarded as
guilty of the same sins toward the col
,red men of which he accuses the
whites, namely, refusal to recognize
hem or have personal relations with
hem.
Mr.. M. M. Holland, who is an officer
n the Post-office department., is said to
De the best classical scholar in the dis
riot, and his attainments bring him the
highest social recognition of his people.
v ormley, of Wormley's Hotel, Is
eader of the best set on account of his
wealth, reputed to be $50, 600, and his
with prominent white men.
smith Wormley, one of his sons, is
arge owner of real state here, and an
other son has an excellent practice as a
physician.
N