New-York tribune., 1897-08-29
CREATMENT OF THE NEGRO.
PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR CONTRASTS
WAYS HERE AND ABROAD-SOME
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

Or black, to admit the existence Of many Ma
tlona faults that perfectly patent 10 the
r.itica! foreigner. But after living abroad for
even short time. the unbiased white American
Is disusioned. while the black is bewildered.
With the former the disillus,on goes to the
evolving Of new opinions and the assumption OF
now viewpoint With the latter, bewilder-
ment gradually subsidies: he falls into habits
and also changes his viewpoint. Then more
than likely. he comes home. The atmosphere be-
gins Immediately to restore him, and he sits" on
his new point Of view.
Some time ago while in England. struck
by the rather bumptious indulgence of the col
ored man abroad in the pleasures and privileges
which are here denied. Perhaps / was a little
bit diseus,ed by il. Assuredly. it TO be
wished that there might be more restraint in his
attitude. But, coming home. forgaye my dark
brothers everything. | had vaguely seen the
cause before. now fully perceived it.
The awakening came in the following manner
Some observed that he glad the negroes
had at las; found seaside resort where they
could go into the surf without restriction. on
asking what the speaker meant was Informed
that at most Of the resorts a special swimming
place is reserved for Colored -ople 1t seemed
strange at first You see. six months Of English
life had altered my way Of seeing things. had
my position before objects becarce clearly dis
cernible. Then fact grew funny: it seemed
so absurd that men should put paddock on
Gods great sea to bar out their fellows 1t was
Strange. amusing, pitifu all in one.
THE VASSAR CASE.
Without being allowed to recover from this
shock. was at once subjected TO another. Enor-
nous papers of the metropolis cxponents of the
of ci
gIaring headlines above sensational columns
And all because a colored young woman, too fair
to be recognized as one with African blood, had
graduated from Vassar. Well, what Of it? What
theme to raise tempest about! What rea-
son for dragging a refined woman into unpeas-
ant notoricty. Had she hurt Nassar or her
schoolmates? Did hor dark blood have any virus
in it which could inoculate those who came into
contact with her? Would anybody but an Amer
lean teeming with narrowress and prejudice
have thought twice about the matter? Would a
Frenchman. Englishman or a German have
said as has been said in this case. that 'she was
graciously permitted favor to take equal
rank with the members of her class? Graciously
yermitted TO do what was her right! Graciously
addlestcks. ANY other action would have been
outrage THE president himself advised that at
so late day official action be taken to pre-
vent the girl from graduating with her class
mates" Official action What for? one would
think that crime had been committed. 1t
is toe dsgraceful. 1t seems that common de-
cency would have prevented the exposition OF
such blind narrowncss. What evidence OF
breadth il is in a great institution Of learning to
even think Of taking official action" because
pupil who had filed all the requirements Of the
school. who had been universally respected and
loved was found to have mixed blood. 1t is
utterly childish. The dismay Of Nassar and the
horror of portion Of the press is like that Of the
little boy who planted poppy seed in his garden,
and one day found kitten lying in the flower
bed He flew 10 his mother in great excitement
and exclaimed: "Oh. mamma, them wasn't pop
ny seed you gimme. look what they growed.'
The college and the papers referred to are quite
as astonished at what they have "grOWed.'
Can you blame black man who has just LEFT
zach different surroundings for feeling hurt and
crampcd by such cvid noes Of restraint? Can
YOU blame many negroes who 90 abroad Cor bios
soming OUT 700 luXuriOusly in 90 much more
kindly an atmosphere? Those examples are but
two but the. serve 20 Indicate Ii condition.
Looking Lack at the very recent past. and
considering effects as they mast follow causes.
one might almost forgive Americans certain
phases of their prejudice if they were only
thoroughly horesi and consisien: with it. But
they are nSt They will say that colored per
son is by nature inferior and yet viii live ana
associate with lin Inct intimately for four
years Without discovering that inherent inferi-
ority until his racial identity is disclosed They
viii ignore him in America ana embrace him
in England They VIII withdraw themselves
from him in an America church service and
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