Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-22


this country is strikingly shown in the case
Of the foremost black citizen. Owing to the
fact that he was refused seat in the public
dining room of a Potomac river steamer some
years ago, though be was then returning
from an important diplomatic mission, on
which he had been sent by President Grant,
the government thought it advisable to order
the steamer Dispatch hither to convey him
to the Norfolk navy yard, where he boarded
the Ossipee for Port au Prince
Years ago no one was surprised when race
prejudice deprived Douglass of some of the
privileges freely enjoyed by other citizens,
but it is odd that that prejudice should sur
vive quarter of a century after the negro
was made citizen and call forth such an or
der from the government to protect one Of
its chosen servants and one of the famous
men Of the times from petty insult
Mr.. Douglass told me one day that he
never started on journey without taking
along a well filed luncheon basket, to be
brought into service in case of trouble in ho-
tel or dining car. He says there is not much
difference between north and south in this
respect. he has been occasionally, but not
often, badly treated in both sections A
hotel proprietor in a northern city had no
vacant rooms when he applied for lodging,
and at some of the eating stations in the
south they are unwilling to admit him
Washington society ostracizes colored men
and women as completely as New Orleans or
Mobile. In this there is no difference between
parties or administrations. The Douglasses
have beautiful home across the eastern
branch Of the Potomac, whence may be had
a magnificent view Of the capital 1t is called
1.-THE Cedars," 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 $500, 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-
plshed white woman but Washington society
has never forgiven her for marrying a black,
and never forgiven her husband for having
a 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 galaxy of accomplishments.
Besides being decidedly pretty she is 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 a 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 a charm
ing wife, butthe 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 did not always have to do
thisn who were once independent of daily
labor Many of them have expectations too.
A clerk in the treasury has pending a patent
suit out of which, if successful, he will realize
a half million dollars. Charley Thorne, once
a well 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 family estate in Eng
land In the government printing Office
works a man who has pending against
certain state q claim of which there is now
some hopes of payment Twenty years ago
he was state printer. He had bill against
the commonwealth for S12 500 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 appro. ration was needed before
the printing bill could be paid.
''You have evidently made a mistake in
your bill, said the leader Of the legislature,
when the state printer laid the case before
that statesman.
No" replied the printer, cit is all right.
Every item is correct, and you see it is all
certified to in the sworn vouchers"
But there is mistake, nevertheless. Your
bill is.for Sl2, 800. 1t should be $50, co."
''WhatE'
''Twenty-five thousand dollars is the proper
figure. Make your bill read that sum and
Wen pass the appropriation. That is the only
y
The statesman was memorable. Twelve
thousand five hundred for the claimant and
the same sum for the members was the best
be could do. And you may consider your
self mighty lucky we don't ask for more than
half 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
81, ~i,ttA lint this
was scorned by the corruptonists, 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 1t 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 a 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
five acre tract on the edge of a farm lying
northwest of the city, when 1t occurred TO
him TO call on his friend Simon Cameron for
advice.
Don't you put dollar In Washington
real estate said the old man. You will
throw your money away if you do. Let me
tell you something. This is a 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
fed till they have punished Washington for