, 1884-01-17
Washington S Colored People.

There are $4,000 co ored eople in
Wash ngton. In no city in the
United States, not even New Orleans,
Is there larger population. Many
of them have settled here since TIE
civil war ended. \ better oppOrtun-
Ity can nowhere be found for study
ing the effects of freedom, and the
legislation subsequent TO it than here.
The co.ored people here enjoy ali
the social and political rights that
law can give them, without protest
and without annoyance. The public
conveyances are open to them, and
the theuters, the jury box, the spoils
of party power, are theirs. Many Oh
these men are wealthy, and the ag-
gregated wealth of the colored prop
erty owners III the District amounts
to millions of dollars. Hundreds
own comfortable 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 thrift and saw
ing.
But the color line is rigidly drawn
in what is known as society. LIE rn-
ing, wealth, official place, give no
colored family the right of entering
the best or the commonest white So
ciety OH terms of equality or endur-
ance. In this res spect the coiored
race lives as separate and as eXciu
oive life do in the days of slavery,
and, as drop of African blood was
once held TO make man a negro, so
now 1t taints him and makes ali in
surmountaUle barrier against social
recognition. The most striking IL
lusration of the tendency of the rdce
to initiate the Viii people is seen
III their own social rules, classes and
customs. First OF all, we find that in
this large colored community social |
lines are as rigldly drawn as they are
between tnemseNes and the white |
society Of he " est End. There me
three recognized social classes among
the coioreI people Neither ac-
knowledges the Others, and 1t Is the
Of the lower to be received |
III the higher circles, just as an ong
the whites.
Tie upper crust, so to speak, con-
5iats OF men of wealth, leaning and |
high poii ical place. These people |
exchange Calls with all the ceremony |
OF the whites, some of them driving |
III tnelr own carriages, leaving cards |
with scrupulous attention 10 etiquette |
L hey dine with each other, and are |
waited upon by colored servants,
With whom they will permit no o.her
relations than those of master and |
Probably the leading fam
lily IN the highest colored society here !
is that of ex-senator Bruce, who is |
how the Register of the Treasury. |
Bruce Is Il light compiexioned, in
Ieli!Sent looking man. lie Is said to |
De worth abou, Il hundred thousand |
dollars. he lives III handsome |
house that lie owns on Nj street Ii |
IS richly tuInisLed. A superb piano
stands III the reception room. and u
:hOlce cUllt ciIUn OF books lines the |
walls of tie library. Mrs. Bruce is Il
woman, with not sug-
gcstlon CT her race III her face, and
" hose manners are regarded rs the
OF ease. grace and
-oartesy. She dresses as richly and
as any woman i'll the city.
La official cuclcs sir. bruce Is always |
'ecelVed with courtesy and us pont-
cal equal, bat there the line Is drawn.
sLr- Bruce cniert;.Ins his friends
handsomely aud his vile pays and
'eceIves calls from her select set
Elth unyaryIng regard for prevail
ng etiquette. Another me nbur OF
his social circle Is John [. Cook, the
Collector Of IaXeS Ior the District
He lives III excellent style and enter
ANS handsomely. PrUf. j. III Greg
Try, professor of Latin al the
Howard University, and Join 81
Iangston, the Minister to HHyti, with
heir families, are recognized mem
'ers of the best colored society, while
u, Paul B. Puryis' society anG that
+ his wife are eagerly sought.
Dr. Puryls Is IL very busy man, be-
ng the surgeon II charge U1 the
'ieedman's Hospital and the Pro
essor of Materia Mediea at the hos-
ital school Nearly al his scholars
re white.
DR.. A. L. Augusta and his wife are
$50 received in the his hest circles OF
,lored society, while DIR. Augusta as