The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1890-02-08
u
A Little Review OF the History and Ex-
perience Of the Colored Ex-senator.

A Little Review OF the History and Ex-
perience Of the Colored Ex-senator.
Washington Letter in the Independent
AS a man and a gentleman Mr.. Bruce is
above criticism. AS the leading repre-
sentative of his race he is only second to
Frederick Douglass. / say Ibis race" and
yet he is considerably more a white man
than black man.
1t need hardly be said that Mr.. Bruce
owes his white blood to having been born
q slave. That he shared with his masters
son the instructions given by the same
tutor would prove his claim to something
of ancestry on his fathers side. When the
wal broke ont the young master" and
companion went into the confederate
came North. taught school, and later
became student at Oberlin,
where, at the time. there was in all the
country the one college open to white and
black alike. His advent into public life,
when be was elected a Senator from Mis-
sissippi, created a stir, not yet forgotten. He
was but t%hirty-four years of age, and his
splendid physique would have attracted at
tention anywhere. His skin was just dark
enough to show the negro blood. otherwise
there was little trace of it. His whole bear
ing was that of the scholarly, polished gen
tleman. senator ConklIng. the fairest of
blondes, and as all know, a man of Chester
field grace. at once took a fancy to Senator
Bruce, and from that on as long as he lived,
tUtE6 GXlSItu Iut WdIIutSi, IuOSI tON al
friendship between the two men-so unlike
and yet so alike. When the first boy came
to the Bruce household he was named Kos
coe COnkling Bruce.
Senator Bruce married after he entered
the Senate. Naturally, hismarriage caused
more of a stir among the women of the sem
atorial circle than going into the Senate
had among Senator's. Ought we to visit
'herf was the question frequently asked;
but 1t did not have 10 be answered for some
time: Senator and Mrs. Bruce made their
wedding journey a summer in Europe. and
the bride did not appear until Just before
the opening of Congress. A good deal had
been said by way of information, and it
was known that Mrs. Bruce was graduated
at 0berlin. and afterward taught
in the public schools of Cleve-
land. When she entered official circles
society was not prepared to see a really
beautiful woman. She was young. slender
and graceful of figure. with q contour OF
head aud face almost faultless, large, eX-
pressive. dark eyes. and a fine. clear skin
that would have passed her for Caucasian
in any city. Ii was during the Arthur
regime. and Senator and Mrs. Bruce were
often seen at the White House among
guests at receptions. Women are not al
ways satisfied with other women's gowns:
but they could lind no fault with Mrs.
Bruce's toilets, either for day or evening.
She was always the well-dressed woman.
having the manners OF a gentlewOnian, aud
dTcdul COnNtEsIllDIIllSt Dlu tltN WISH DtE.
To their credit, be it said, the most of them
did-pay their duty visits; but. outside Of "a
small circle of friends, 1 think the Bruces
were not often asked 10 dinners. or To other
receptions than those where the guests in
clude the Congressional directory list. At
the same time there were men and women
high in the social SWIM and made much
of, but of whom hOstesess were not quite
sure. and who sometimes disappeared very
quietly. No questions were asked. CUES
tons wOuld have embarrassed their enter
tanners. The attitude toward Senator and
and Mrs. Bruce. and the atti-
tude toward the shady" or doubt
full element. was. to use the mild
est word, an Inconsistency. And ! may
add, no season in Washington is free from
this same inconsistency. There was not at
any time of senator Bruce'ssix years in the
Senate a question of other than equality
with his brother Senators. Women, also,
looking down from the gallery. pointed ont
the 'cOlored Senator" who they declared,
showed the unmistakable traces of good
blood" His wife, who possessed even more
of the Caucasian blood. was not, however,
regarded with similar favor. Mrs. Bruce
was free born. Was the pride of good
blood" in slavery so much a greater inner
itance than the pride of good blood" III
freedom.