The Portland daily press., 1900-07-24
CoLoRED FOUR HUNDRED.

How New YOrIz's Swell Negroes
Greeted Friends From Texas.
When the steamer from Galveston
warped into her dock down along the
East river a party were in waiting to re-
ceive friends Three men and two
women represented various shades from
chocolate to coffee They were garbed
after the manner which can be seen no
where except on Sixth avenue on sunny
Sunday afternoon. The women wore
shiny leather automobile coats, with
other ixings to correspond; the men had
no brighter polish on their shoes than on
their silk hats. Altogether they stood
for the highest pitch of New York colored
society. The shabby stevedores on the
pierhead gave them place as the highest
attainment Of the Afro-American race,
which tolls not, neither does it spin, but
can give old Solomon cards and spades
and win every time on the other seven
points.
Up in the bow of the steamship hand
kerchiefs waved from a man and a wom-
an as they saw the party on the pier.
The two were interrupted from time to
time, for mates whose duty it is to get
the lines over the side never are likely to
waste much consideration on passengers
who have come up in the colored steer
age. But whenever the mate and the
hawsers left q vacant spot along the rail
those dingy handkerchiefs were gayly
Haunted. The three men of the shore
party made a polished acknowledgment
of the salute by graceful removal of
their silk hats, and let it go at that.
When the steamer had been made fast
and the gangplank Slid over the side.
after the first few cabin passengers had
landed the dusky stecrage contingent
came tumbling ashore. The man and the
woman made a rush to greet the waiting
party. They were hearty and ELUSIVE.
for they had brought with them southern
ideas and Texas ways, which the waiting
party had covered in a metropolitan man
ner.
$50 pleased that you have come north"
said one of the women. eve are sure
that you will enjoy your stay"
Hope your voyage was an agreeable
one" said one Of the elegant men.
There are likely to be distressingly high
winds along the coast at this season."
But the Galveston arrivals were NJ
most speechless as the full glory of their
friends broke in upon them. The man
seemed to have only one idea left, and
that was to twist his shabby felt hat into
still more shapeless mass. Great
day.! exclaimed the girl "How fine Won
all isl'
ooh, not at ALL" said one of the wom-
en-. I'VE came down just as we were.
You should ought to see us on Sunday.
But never mind; it won't be long before
you learn our New York fashions. I
don't guess you have the Paris styles
down ID Galveston so soon as we do"
rs them Paris fashions? WHY. if wa
was to wear them things down in Texas
the patrol would sure catch us.o
How were things in Galveston when
you lefty" asked one of the New York
men by way Of making the southerner at
home
'Oh, pretty much the same as usual
sir-that is, just tolerable, just tolerable. /"
An, quite so, quite so. That's the
worst Of those small provincial towns
They have no progress; you fairly star
nate. Now, here it's different: there is n
great deal of life, particularly on Sixth
avenue, and you will find that it freshens
you up. No man should ever stay in n
small town"
How are we going to get to you alps
house Z! asked the girl who had lust
come from Galveston.
Why, we were thinking Of taking Won
up home in our automobile. bnf von,ro
not dressed for it. Probably Won v~o,,i5
better go up in the street cars. and wo'lI
tell you what number Of the street II -
where you get off. That's probably the
best way, for you don't know about tbeeo
automobiles, ava it might make Won, no,v-
GUS to ride in one. You can ride in tho
street cars up here-you're Just the same