Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-10-11

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Washington society ostracizes colored men
and women as completely as New Orleans or
Mobile. In this there isno difference between
parties or administrations The Douglasses
have q beautiful home across the eastern
branch of the Potomac, whence may be had
q magnificent view Of the capital. It lis called
"The Cedars,' y and, though an old house, is
handsomely decorated and furnished. Oddly
enough, it was owned by Maryland man
who owned many slaves and who was ruined
by the war. Douglass bought it at low
figure, and it has helped make him rich. The
Haytian minister is worth at least 5000, 600.
His home is filed with books, pictures, bronzes
and marbles. Conspicuous over all others
are busts of Stephen A. Douglas and Abra-
ham Lincoln. Mrs. Douglass is an accom-
plished white woman, but Washington society
has never forgiven her for marryinga black,
and never forgiven her husband for having
dark skin, and hence this interesting and
intellectual pair are socially isolated The
friends they have are of Mr.. Douglass race.
This is the experience all negroes meet with
in this capital There are few more polished
and agreeable gentlemen than Ex-senator
Bruce. Of Mississippi, and Mrs. Bruce is the
possessor Of a galaxy of accomplishments.
Besides being decidedly pretty she is a gra-
duate Of Oberlin college, fine musician,
speaks French and is an entertaining converse
tionalist. Her handsome boy bears the name
Roscoe Conkling Bruce. Just after the war,
when sentiment concerning the freedmen
was running pretty high in the dominant
party, an effort was made to create social
place for two or three prominent colored
men and their wives. When Mr.. Bruce came
to the senate Mrs. Bruce was recognized by
the senatorial ladies and honored by brief,
formal calls on Thursday afternoons. But
since leaving the senate her husband and
herself have been "cut" by society. Audi
tor Lynch, of the treasury, has charm
ing wife, but the doors of society are practi-
cally closed to her on account of her color.
One of the peculiarities of the department
people," as Uncle Sans employees in this city
are generally termed, is that large number
of them have been wealthy and successful
Wherever one goes stories are told Of men
and women who 'sdid not always have to do
this, }" who were once independent Of daily
labor Many of them have expectations, too.
A clerk in the treasury has pending patent
suit out Of which, if successful, he will realize
half million dollars. Charley Thorne, once
we'll known actor, and member Of the
Thorne family Of actors. is clerk in the
patent Office. In a few years he expects to
be millionaire from a family estate in Eng
land. In the government printing office
works man who has pending against
certain state claim Of which there is now
some hopes of payment. Twenty years ago
he was state printer He had a bill against
the commonwealth for $12,5OO for work done.
This he made out in the usual style, with all
the items and the proper sworn vouchers at,
tached, and went to the capitol for his
money. An nappro: ::-iation was needed before
the printing bill could be paid.
You have evidently made mistake in
your bill" said the leader Of the legislature.
when the state printer laid the case before
that statesman.
''No,' = replied the printer, sit is all right.
Every item is correct, and you see it is al;
certified to in the sworn vouchers. !"
''But there is mistake, nevertheless Your
bill is for S12, 500 It should be s25,0OO."
.sWhat7"
Twenty-Five thousand dollarsis the proper
figure Make your bill read that sum aud
well pass the appropriation. That is the only
way in which you can get your S12, ,5OO."
The statesman was inexorable. Twelve
thousand five hundred for the claimant and
the same sum for the members was the best
he could do. '.And yoa may consider your
self mighty lucky we don't ask for more than
half,n he added The printer was honest, as
printers are likely to be, and he refused to go
into any such scheme to rob the state. He
did offer to give half his legitimate bill if the
ring would pass the appropriation, but this
was scorned by tho corruptionists, who
thought they could in the end pluck the sum
they had set their hearts upon. In disgust
the honest printer left the city and the state
His bill was never paid, and if he gets it now,
with interest added, he will be able to live
without setting type for Uncle Sam.
Appointment Clerk Tonner, of the interior
department. was once knocked out of for
tune by the late Simon Cameron. During
the war Tonner was clerk in the patent Of
flee, and being then as now as bright as dol
lar, he concluded money ought be made in
Washington real estate. He had little
money saved up and had decided to buy q
five acre tract on the edge Of farm lying
northwest Of the city, when it occurred to
him to call on his friend Simon Cameron for
advice 4Ss.
Don't you put dollar in Washington
real estate" |" said the old man. You will
throw your money away Il you do. Let me
tell you something. This is q southern
city. All its sympathies are with the
Confederacy. As soon as the war is over,
as It will be shortly, the people Of the north
will begin to talk, about taking the capital
away from here. They will never be salts
fled till they have punished Washing gton for
sympathizing with the south. After the
capitol has been moved farther west and q
little more to the north. land in, Washington
WON'T ba worth ANYTHING excent for farming