The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-18
WASHINGTON ooLoRED SOCIETY.
humorous Wealthy and Cultured Me-
groes In the Nations Capital.
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humorous Wealthy and Cultured Ne
groes In the Nations Capital.
From the New York Herald
Washington is colored mans paradise.
Here at the nations capitl he enjoys So
cial and educational advantages that no
other city in America affords. Here be
finds his highest intellectual and social
devclopcment So numerous is the class
OF cultivated colored people that they
really form community sufficiently large
10 make themselves Independent Of the
masses OF their race on the one hand, and
OF the white aristocrncy on the other.
Under the civil-service law no il given,
II no posso.-cs the necessary education, an
equal opportunity with his white brother
10 secure place in the government en-
ploy. That many Of his race have done 80
Is shown by the fact that more than fifty
colored men hold good paying positions in
the classified service in the executive de-
partments to-day. These people. il should
be understood, are not mere messengers
aud laborcrs, but bonafido clerks sitting in
the same rooms, doing tho same work and
drawing the same pay that white clerks do
in their respective grades.
The salaries drawn by these fifty clerks
range iron 5000 10 1900 year. In the
third auditors office, for example, one
young colorcd man Is paid 81 900, two are
paid Il 400 each, and two moro 1900
each. Auditor Williams, speaks we'll OF
their efficiency and department. He says
their work Is fully up 10 the average OF tho
other clerks, and that in every way they
are worthy Of the highest commentator
and esteem. Other bureaus who employ
colored clerks speak equally well Of them.
These clerks form no inconsderable
part OF the more exclusive Washington
colored society. Associated with them
are number of colored lawyers, physi-
| clans, college professors, ane retired shop
keepers. Drs. Puryis and Shadd, tho
two scrgcons in charge at the Frcedman's
hospital, and their wives, are among
| the most prominent members OF this So
cial set, which includes also tho family OF
wormley, the celebrated hotel proprietor;
OK. Congressman Lynch, OF Mississippi; OK.
senator aud register Of tho treasury
| Blanche X. Bruce; James i. Cook, for
many years tax-collcctor Of the district;
Fred Douglas, and others.
rrobaly hundred members OF this
| little coterie are financially well to do
| Mr. Cook, for instance Is possessed Of a
fortune estimated at 100000; the Worm
| lcysarc worth rs much more. Fred. Doug
lass pays taxes on $4,000 worth OF
good city property, and others value their
possession at from $4,000 10 $4,000
a piece.
They live in many case in fashionable
neighborhoods. Their houses arc well
furnished. and their children receive ut
! the Ilowari-university and les prcton-
tons institutions OF learning educational
advantages as good rs thosc TO be- obtained
by their white brethren.
! Tn, ladies cntorllin thoir friends with
dignity and good breeding that would
shame many OF their white ncghbors.
Altogether the rich colorrd residents Of
Washington enjoy life quite rs well
perhaps rs any who live Within its
| precincts.
|. The aggregate wealth OF tho colorcd
Washingioninns Is estimated Mt not less
! than S5,0OO,0OO. Many Of these people
bought homes a quarter Of a century ago
in the northwestern part OF the city,
which was then drcary waste Of com
mon. OF late years this has become the
fashionable quarter Of Washington, and
the advance In property has been 80
great a. 90 make hundreds Of colorcd
property owners moderately wealthy.