The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-08
TIE COLOR LINE Is:sosro..
The Tempest ssvauanh Colorec
Girl Created at the Hub.


The executive committees Of the New
England Conservatory Of Music has found
/ itself in predicament. Some OF the pupils
OF the conservatory ara making it unpiea'-
ant for couple Of coiored pupils, who are
room pupils, occupying rooms in the co.,
ssrvatory, one Of whom is Florida L. Des-
verney. daughter Of s. <. Desverney, a
weil-knovn and respected co!ored citizsn Of
Savannah he other a daughter OF Col
lector Of Customs Cluuy OF Galveston, Tex.
The girls entered the institution at the
beginning of the fall term, Sept II, and
their presence resulted in toe drawing of
the color line among the pupils in a very
short time. A Boston di patch 10 the
MORNING NEWS yesterday stated that the
trustees Of the conservatory had voted,
after considerable debate, TO retain the
girls in the institution IL they
desired TO remain in spite of the opposition.
The Boston Globe, in its account Of the
trouble, says:
Before Mis-, Desverney entered, her
father wrote to the directors distinctly stat
ing that she was colored girl. He received
reply saving that there would be no OBJ
lection to her on account OF color, and that
the best of care would be given her. Mrs.
Cluny, the mother of Miss Cluny, was here
during the G.. A. r. encaunpment, and dur
ing her visit went with her daughter to the
institution. and was assured taat her
daughter would be taken into the institu-
| ton, and that the best OF care would be
given her.
1.-The rooms OF the young ladies' are side
by side Both eat at the same table with
Director Tourgee and his wife. Both have
been excellent in department and Studies.
But it Is said that by some Of the pupils
they are snubbed, while with others friendly
relations are entertained. Both are very
| intelligent. Miss Cluny is the better look
ing OF the two her eyes are black, and she
has high and well-shaped nose. Her COM
plexion is nearly that Of a Spaniard. and
at first glance she might easily be taken for
| a seuorita. There is dash about her char
acteristic Of a go-ahead southern girl.
Miss Desverney is darker than Miss
| Cluny, and is of a retiring nature. Her
hair is nearly straight, and her features are
more rounded than those Of her school
mate.
Miss Cluny's studies are music. German
| and English literature. Those or Miss Des-
verney are elocution piano, violin, physi-
cal culture and solfeggio.
| Both girls say that from the faculty,
| teachers and matrons they lave received
the best Of attention. The teachers say that
as pupils their work so far has been excel
I
been some friction between them and other
pupils coming from places outside Of New
| England. The young women have been
| invited to some OF the private recep-
| tions that occur in the institution
| But so far as it can be learned
the trouble existing is based o. social rea>
sons. The executive committee, learning OF
this, and finding that the trouble was on
| this basis alone, after three nlesangs de-
| aid ad 70 "a 10 ha .tc ~ Af tka
| young women stating to them the trne
| position of the case, and while not willing
to take colored pupils in the no ne it seemed
| to them that the colored pupils would be
more content to be among other people. To
| this letter Mr.. De,verney, it is said, re-
piled very pleasantly. Nothing has been
| heard from Mr.. Cluuy."
The president and other officers of the
| conser vatory say that neither the the board
of officers, trustees. board of visitors,
| faculty or teachers are responsible for the
| feeling that has developed against the col
ored pupils. The trouble exists among some
OF the white pupils who do not like the idea
OF associating with colored girls.
A. K. Desyerney said yesterday to a
MORNING NEWS reporter that he sent his
daughter to the conservatory at the request
OF the faculty after a correspondence with
the director. and that there was no cou-
plant on account of her color. He has re-
ceived very complimentary letters from the
faculty In regard TO his daughters conduct
aud progress at the school, and he
was much surprised when he re-
ceived letter from Acting Director Carl
Faelten of the conservatory, stating
that her presence as boarder was causing
| great dissatisfaction and suggesting that he
find her home with friends outside OF the
| conservatory
To this letter Desverney replied that he
had taken the precaution before entering
his daughter at the conservatory to make
inquiries as to the ''color lus,'' and he re-
celved satisfactory replies from Mr.. Tour
gee. and 1t was strange that the dissatisfac-
ton had not manifested it,elf until now.
He much regretted the affair and would
prefer. he said, to have his daughter
remain at the home, but if it was
necessary for her to change be
requested Mr.. Faelten to select some worthy
place for her to board.
He sfterward wrote his daughter TO quit
the school altogether, but she had already
| anticipated his wishes and severed her
connection with it. She will remain
in Boston, however, and receive private
| instruction from the teachers Of the con-
servatory at her boarding place.
Desverney said that he is the last man on
earth to force his color upon those who did
not want to mingle with colored people. He
and his family have the respect and con-
fdence both OF white aud colored citizens
Of Savannah