The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-29
THURSDAY, os,ToBEa ee, 1908.
THAT IS HER TASTE.

From The Richmond Times-DispatGh we learn that Mrs. Van Rennselaer Cruger, one of the society leaders of Washington has announced that Booker Washington has been invited to be her guest when h 6 visits the Capital. Being told tlaat she would incur the enmity of all Southerners by such an act. she replied:
 I cannot help it. It is time that com mon sense and common justice we se being paid to the claims of the negro. and the most charitable of us cannot deny that the South has acted in manner entirely unwarranted in its denunctation of those who would pay tribute to the genius of Mir. Washington.
 As a matter of course, Mrs. Cru ger has a right to invite to her home and table, and to associate with, any member of any race with whom she is willing to 'tse asso- eiated on terms of perfect equality. The taste of cultivated white woman who will thus violate the sentiments of all rIght-thinkfng people of her own race is not be be envied, and will not be, we imagine. unless there are others like her who are anxious for notoriety and care less of the means used to attain it. It is ID defence for her to say that she has high precedent for her proposed act, for, at least, 1t has not been usual for society ladies in Washington to practice misce- genation in their social and public func- lions.
 This act. we repeat. is a matter that Mrs. Cruger. and those of like taste and sentiments, must settle for and among themselves. but when she proceeds to lecture the South and prate about "com- mon sense and common justice as ap- piled to the race question in the South, she gives evidence of the truth of Pope's line, For fools rush in where angels fear to tread" Whether the South is right or wrong in its Accommodation of those who pay tribute to the genius of Mir. Washington" is not involved, nor is her indictment true. There are many in the South who fully appreciate Wash lngtoR's genius and work, but among them It would be difficult to find one lady of refinement who would invite him to be her guest. and if even one could be found, she would become a social outcast so far as her reception by other ladies would be concerned. We recognize genius and good work in colored man down here. but we leave social equality to the Van Crugers.
 But Mrs Van was not satisfied with her defiance of sentiment and good taste, but she must read lecture to her own class, tn these words:
 These pretudices, of which the negro problem is only a sample, are so many and so deeply imbedded that one-half of mans life is spent in trying to unlearn the false teachings of the other half We have to devote so much time to getting rid of our foolish seream-eagle pride, m getting rid of nonsensical theories and in bani8h1ng Feady-made opinions that we are old men and women, with added brains before We begin to learn the first principles of right living and right think ing"
 We acknowledge that we shall watch with some interest to see if entertaining negroes is to become fad among Wash lngton'a smart set. For it must be evident that it would be unjust and inconsistent to make an exception in favor of Wash lngton. There are many colored men, both in the North and the South, who are as much deserving of social attention as washington is. and if the Cruger set lay predicate by inviting one. they must lay down the bars and invite all others who are decent in their habits and ap- pearance. What will be the outcome?