The Washington bee., 1898-09-17
FLOTSAM AND JETSAI.

The new Office building on the site
of the old Columbia Law School, op-
posite Judiciary Square, suPplants an
Old landmark, memorable in the ms
tory of the city. The old building,
one time church, next a law school
and last of all a rookery Of law Offices,
is also closely associated with many
interesting movements in the past
among our people
Islay Walden, an odd genius, poet
and preacher, during his collegiate
DAYS at Howard University, some
twenty odd years ago, conducted a
very well attended non-denominatlon
! 81 Sunday school here. The teachers
Young men and women, were drawn
from the departments and the Univer-
sity. The singing of the school was
most attractive feature. Mr.. Henry
B. Fry, now superintendent of the in
tellectual department of the institution
for the deaf and blind at Austin, Tex,
was the chorister and his sister, Miss
Helena, whose work at Holly Springs.
Miss, is commemorated by costly
monument in front of that institution,
was the organist. Bruce Grit's bass
voice could always be heard distinctly
above all others, those days when the
skill of his right hand had not been so
universally acknowledged. Walden
after graduation, entered the service
of the American Missionary Associa-
ton, and a humble grave in remote
corner of North Carolina marks the
scene of labors that duplicated his
academic missionary services.
ha 0f lou
quite an intellectual arena. Here if |
mistake not, the Institute" formed in
the law office of Charles N Thomas,
held its few gatherings. Of those now
viving | can only recall Henry w.
Chandler, now of Ocala, Fla then a
genuine iron-cast Ado n on broze and
black
The Olive leaf Literary had a some
what longer career. Mrs. Mary A.
Shadd Carey not unfrequently was
prominent as disputant. Rev, j. D.
Bagwell's platitudes were quite anus
ing Daniel w. Lewis, then an active
police court lawyer, was source of
infinite amusement. George Yelling
ton Bryant, who visited our city
about this time, heartily enjoyed one
OF Lewis performances, the graphic
description of which in a local paper
brought down Lewis Indignation upon
the reporter whom be attempted TO
impeach and expel.
Bishop R. H. Cain figured some
what conspicuously at the Columbia.
Israel c. NJ. E. church had broken
from its A. M. E. moorings, but a
few, loyal to the old flag, were organ
lied as the Cosmopolitan a. M. E.
church, the success of which would
have made it and not Metropolitan,
the national church of that organiz-
ton but Bishop Gains magnetism and
political prestige could not galvanize
the movement into healthy life.
Speaking of literaries, | am reliably
informed that nearly sixty years ago
very influential organization of the fore
most young men of that period did ex-
cellent service. 1t must not be conClud-
ed that the topics before them were
narrowed to the progress Of the rising
generation and the outlook for the |
free colored Americans, for they had i,
interpreters of the art dramatic among
their number, and one very clever |
man, an employe of physician, had |
picked up enough medical knowledge !
10 deliver a fair lecture on medical |
topics.
Of the men foremost in this move
ment, at time when Frederick Dou- |
glass was unknown and of the nature
Of the social gatherings that were held
in defiance OF the strict regulations
against the assembling Of people of
color at night except in the presnce of
a white person, something later will
be told by A. Wrecker