The Portland daily press., 1894-04-02
CoLoRED SERVANTS.
Fifty Years Ago They Were the Main
stays in Philadelphia.

Who Are Remembered by the Old Resi-
dents-Friendly Relations Existed Be
tween Master and Help.
Fifty years ago the friendly relations
maintained between the old families OF
Philadelphia and the respectable colored
people who served them in many ways be-
sides domestic service were so marked that
today the descendants of the patricians OF
Philadelphia of the forties, together with
some of the old colored residents of those
days, are often constrained to recall the
days of the past whenever the race ques-
ton is agitated or brought to their atten-
ton.
For in those days the negro was the
trusted house servant, the coachman, the
barber, the waiter, the caterer, the carpen-
ter, the painter, the decorator, the brick
LAYER and the blacksmith of the old fami-
lies-in short, he not only acquitted him
self creditably in very many trades and
callings in which today he is far to seek,
but was sought after and preferred by
Philadelphia aristocracy.
The other day the writer had long
talk with person well qualified to speak
on the subject, his informant being well
known and highly respected colored wom-
an native of this city, and woman OF
education and very substantial property.
Indeed the fact that she can write her
check with five ciphers stands as an evil
dence of the friendly relations of years
back" and the ability of the colored peo-
pie to take care of advantages such as were
accorded them in those days.
"I remember well, !" she said, "when the
colored people and white in this city were
as close as close could be. Nothing was
ever given in the way of receptions, balls
or parties but were superintendent by col
ored caterers and walters. No parade was
complete nor orchestral music satisfactory
unless under the supervision Of Frank
johnson, the famous colored bandmaster,
who carried his entire band of colored mu-
sicians to England, where they played be-
fore the queen on special invitation.
eNo funeral of any notable person was
complete unless Robert Bogel, a colored
man, was there to direct affairs. Robert
Bogel, besides acting as director at funer-
ais, was also noted caterer and lived on
the northwest corner of Eighth and San
som streets.
"Among the greatest entertainers repre-
senting the aristocracy of the city in those
days were the Biddles, Sergeants, ex-May-
or Scott, the Cadwaladers, General Patter-
son, DR.. Neal, Moncure, Robinson the La
throps, Clarks, Binneys, Allsopps, Norrises,
DIR. jackson, DR.. Bacon, the Bullltts and
Hare Powell. These people and others like
them always had colored servants, caterers
and laborers when they could get them.
can interesting incident happened at
the residence of Hare Powell, on the cor
u -l cfr afc fhe
palatial mansion SO long occupied by old
General Patterson. Mr.. Powell built the
house, and while the painters were work
ing he walked in one day to inspect it.
The boss painter was absent, and Mr..
Powell noticed that all the workmen were
white. In language more emphatic than
eloquent he ordered the whole lot OF them
out and told them to send their master to
him. He came, and Mr.. Powell gave him
to understand that there were enough col
ored painters to do his work, and that he
wanted colored workmen or none.
The friendly relations then existing wers
not only evidenced in the employment OF
negro labor, but in divers manifestations
of sympathy. A servant who had lived
with family number of years and be-
come old and decrepit was ever afterward
taken care of, and at death was given a
respectable, decent burial, with the family
carriage in line. 1t was no unusual sight
when member of the family of any OF the
servants died to see the family carriage at
the funeral occupied by the servants
George Harrison's and the Sergeant's car
riages were invariably seen at colored flu
nerals if any of the family of the deceased
were known to them.
In winter the families of these colored
servants were always supplied with their
winters wood and never knew what it
was to want for provisions. Along with
the family order for wood, provisions or
anything else went an order for the serv-
ants family
At times even greater interest was
shown One of the best known colored
men in those days was Perry Warren, a
livery stable owner, who owed his entire
success to the fact of his having faithfully
served some of Philadelphia s old families.
He was driver and coachman for such
well known families as the Fishers, New
holds, Pollocks and finally the Harrlsons,
who bought and stocked the livery stable
for him as a token of their appreciation OF
his faithful service. But comparatively few
of the aristocratic families of today have
colored servants or caterers. The old mann
my'' has been supplanted, and English and
French styles have largely taken the place
of American conservatism that demanded
colored coachman.
Those who do have colored servants are
usually the told timers, - who have had
their servants handed down through gen
erations. There are several such families
in this city. One aristocratic family en-
ploys, among number of servants, one
colored servant woman, who has lived
with the family for years, and her mother
and her grandmother before her served in
the family, the unbroken chain of service
going as far back as Revolutionary days
This woman eXpecta TO die under her mis-
tress' roof, as her mother did.
The colored caterer, too, is on the wane.
There are but few today who are largely
in demand Many who would be good and
efficient caterers if they could conduct an
independent business are compelled to con-
tent themselves as walters in the employ
of the few ralored caterers who do find
business as of yore. The large dinners,
banouets, balls and receptions are mostly
tuperintended today by white caterers and
served by white walters.
Unlike years ago, there are but few col
pred mechanics who find employment.
txr:4I, H., tho old line ariStOc-