The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-16

ago that this fair and refined little woman
felt the color line drawn upon her. At that
time she was married to Dr.. Shadd. and
came to Washington to find herself shut
out of the sort of society in which she had
been reared. But in her devotion to her
husband and their two beautiful. fair
haired children, she rises above the cruel
prejudices to which the few drops of negro
blood IN her veins and her husband'sgive
rise.
II have no complaints of injustice to
Make" she says proudly, "but it is with
humiliation that We are made to realize
that the white race refuses to consider this
mixture Of blood. or our education and
as my husband with the lowest Of the race.
"Nor is there any immediate prospect
that this condition of things will be changed.
I recently overheard conversation some
what similar to the one listened to by Mrs.
Langston at the New York hotel. only in
this case it was q conversation among
children.
''She's just as white as any Of u.s." said
II don't care; she goes to a niger
school," objected another. and that settled
it. The sweet little girl, with complexion
with hands and face and clothing scrupu-
lousy clean, was peremptorily dismissed.
She could not even play with these white
children, because she went to "nigger"
school; and she had to 60 to q 'nigger''
school because somewhere back in the past
one of her ancestors had been born in un-
Mrs. John F. Cook, wife of the wealthy
proprietor of the Langham hotel, is strik-
ing woman. Her complexion is that of
Spaniard. She was q Miss Apo. Of Phila-
delphia. a woman of fine education and re-
daughter, Bessie. is one Of the handsomest
young ladies in Washington and is q recog-
nized leader in the younger circles Of
colored society. She but recently re-
turned from Europe where she has been
oultivatinR her rarely beautiful voice
under the very best Of masters. She has
beauty and accomplishments which would
make her an attraction in any society if she
could but get over the barrier erected
against her race.
The wife of Dr.. John 4. Francis is an
and in church work. Her elegant home on
Pennsylvania avenue is now closed. She
and her four sons are spending the summer
at their country place near Uniontown,
where their handsome cottage stands oppo-
site that of Frederick Douglass.
Washington than DR.. Chas. B. Pu,vis and
his wife. DR.. Purvis is in charge of the
Freedman's hospital, and 10 reckoned
among the substantial men of the city. he
has acquired wealth from long and hon
orable practice of his profession. and lives
in elegance. Mrs. Purvis, whose negro
blood would not be suspected, il an accom-
plished hostess. Her dinner parties are
widely celebrated.
Dr. A. F. Augusta is one of the oldest and
most successful OF the colored physicians
in Warrington. He served throughout the
war with the Seventh Maryland regiment.
leaving the service with the rank Of lieu
tenant-colonel. After the war he served 40 q
pension examiner, and for q time delivered
lectures in tho medical college. He was
subsequently, placed in charge Of the Freed
mans hospital, but afterward settled into
private practice. Mrs.. Augusta il darker
than many of her social circle. but her fea-
lures arc {fne and of that regularity which
marks the intelligent members Of all races.
But ono might 20 on naming and describ-
ING these people until he had gone through
\ fhousand homes, for there arc surely %
MANY g that in which high degree of re-
6nernent 10 to Be found. When the preju-
dies against the colored people u consid-
cred. and the lack Of advantages Tor their
HIGHER education u taken into account, it
must be said that they have made wonder
ful progress in that development which
must some day break down the barriers
that now ohut them out Of Caucasian 90
oiety. WuLm =. dAWxu&