The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-11-30

central office paid no attention TO the
bell. Finally, when she did give atten-
ton to the ringing, requested an in.
terview with the chief operator.
In very short time by conversa-
ton with him over the wire ascer.
tanned that he deemed it to be his duty
TO defend the girls under his direction,
no matter whether they were right or
wrong. and therefore ! found it neces-
sary to make report to the general
superintendent in order to get proper
attention to the demands of subscrib-
crs for the telephone service. No mat
ter how the girls may delay or hamper
the desires OF people who want to talk
over the telephone wires in this city
if you simply call for an interview with
the chief operator. the girls at the CEN
trail Office nippantly reply: oh yes, If
it will do you any good; and an inter-
view with that official does not do any
good. apparently, SO far as my expert
cnce Is concerned.
Last Sunday morning colored
woman endeavored to secure admit.
lance to q hospital with child suffer
ing with diphtheria. She was refused
admittance at half a dozen hospitals
and finally went to police headquar-
tiers. She carried the poor child in her
arms all day. and ii was not in the pow.
er Of the police officials to secure har-
Dor of refuge for her. except in little
unused upper room at the precinct sta
ton house. Late at night, just before
church time. when the bells were ring
ing. calling our people to worship I'M
der the forms of the religion of love, the
health officer of this city was discovered
somewhere, and. by the exercise of I'M
usual official energy. he found some
means Of caring for the unfortunate
woman and her child. That is d sample
Of how we are governed in the District
Of Columbia.
mo lady can visit the department OF
agriculture in the national capital
J without humiliation. Between Tenth
and Fifteenth streets. on Pennsylvania
avenue, there is Gordon OF crime
through which every person must pass
who wants to go to the department OF
agriculture, the bureau of engraving
and printing or the Washington monu-
ment. Seven solid blocks of residences
are occupied by fallen women; and
they receive police protection, or en-
enlargement.
"No lady or gentleman can go TO the
top of the dome of the capitol building
without being intercepted by beggars
or disreputable characters. The dome
Is not properly policed, and many
crime of a venal nature has been COM
Iuitted there. But conditions have re-
Gently somewhat improved.
people who read the daily news from
Washington do not realize how difficult
| it sometimes is to ascertain bare facts
| from officials who seem imbued with
the belief that they are custodans OF
great state secrets. and that they must
withhold from the public all informa-
ton concerning public affairs.
"Then again, ii is exceedingly exas-
perating to be obliged to stand out in
| corridor and send in card, begging
an audience of a man who sits behind
closed doors mainly for the purpose OF
magnifying his own importance. Too
many doors are thus guarded in the
public departments. Moreover, many
man in this city is drawing 500
month for doing nothing but sit in
front Of the door OF some man who
thinks he is great because he holds
| little brief authority, when the same
man, IL be were not a messenger to
some supposedly great man, could not
earn a dollar a day chopping wood or
working on the streets.
| But there is another thing which
ought to have public attention The
white people are encouraging the
crime of miscegenation. The black
| men and women who abound in Wash
ington are no longer regarded as de-
! sirable servants. The people who have
but little colored blood in their veins
are taken in preference to the pure
African. Moreover, in our barber shops
the black men are not as popular as
| thew used TO be, and their places are
being taken by the light-colored null
attoes. This condition OF affairs is en-
couraged by our white people, and
II produces crime. Moreover, strange
| as it may seem to you. light-coiored
girls no longer associate with black
| men. nor accept them as beaux at any
of the church meetings, or any OF the
other entertainments of colored people
This city is a nondescript commu-
nifty, which cannot be called cosmo-
| politan, and il it were written up AZ
| It ought to be written up, or down,
by some good descriptive writer, 1t
would surprise the American people to
learn the facts concerning real life IN
Washington. The national capital they
usually read about is a fictitious at.
fair. Any newspaper man who might
have the foolhardy courage to write ac-
tual facts concerning this city might
soon find himself out of job. because
| all manner of influences would De
brought to bear to wreak his ruin
It will not do to tell the truth on all
occasions, particularly concerning this
| city," sMiTH u FRI
sanitary Item.
| Trntovp and his friend Westside were
| I'm n car on the Sixth avenue elevated
Although II was quite chilly uptown
pushed up the window.
Don't do that. you will get pneu-
mouia," expostulated his rfiend'
.That's precisely what ] want. NY
Landlord is doctor. and II don give
him something to do pretty soon Ne
will raise the rent On me.'-N. l.
| World