The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-10

A little girl in the public schools OF
Washington has had the bar OF race rals-
ed against her. She is a favorite OF her
teachers. a pretty little miss about to
make her bow to the world by entering
the first grade She will do that next
week. but not. It is believed. in the school
her parents had intended.
About her innocent head a contrOverss
has arisen involving TIE citizens OF Brook
land and the school authorities. ana all
OF them are determined she shall receive
her education not IN the white. but in a
school for negroes.
Her name is Elizabeth Wall. and she is
seven years old. Her parents are Mr..
and Mrs Stephen Wall, who live in
Kearney street, near Tenth street, Brook
land, and are well-to-do. Her mother is
a white woman. a woman OF culture. who
is from Boston. It is said. But about her
father
'They say she shall not go to this
school because they think her father has
negro blood he says himself.
While he will neither confirm nor deny
the report Of his extraction. Mr.. Wall.
who is an employe OF the Government
Printing Ofice. says he and his wife
Will fight the case TO a finish before Su-
perintendent Stuart and the board Of edu-
cation.
Places Burden OF Proof.
THE burden of proof is on them." he
says. IF they believe I have negro blood.
very good, Let them prove It. For my
part. 1 only know the law compels me
to send my child TO a public school, and
that 1 have obeyed the law"
Little Elizabeth lies on a sick bed.
prattling about school. and not know
ing that when her mother takes her back
some day this week. as Mr.. Wall says
she will do she viii be forbidden 10 en-
ter And her playmates will shake their
heads In wonderment, for Elizabeth is
as white as they are. and bears no trace
Of her supposed negro extraction.
Il am certainly going 10 send my child
back 10 school as soon as she Is well" "
said Mr. Wall last night. As l under
stand Il. the case is not yet settled.
do not know why my little girl has been
barred from school She has not at
tended this week. because she is sick"
But from other sources II was learned
the girl has been refused admission TO
the Brookland school. OF which Miss
Mary z. Little is principal. Several per-
sons connected with the school expressed
surprise last night that the parents in
tended 10 make any further effort TO
place their child in the school. and added
Il would create painful and embarrass-
Ing situation.
The little girl attended school but three
or four days at the opening OF the term,
when she was abruptly compelled TO
leave. Just when or where the order
came from was not ascertained last night.
But It is about two weeks, it is said since
the little girl has been seen at the Brook
land school. or at any other school
There is no question that the teachers.
as a whole, Ike the girl" said one of
them. "and probably would like to see
her back. None OF them even suspected
she had colored blood. and 1t IS diff
cult 10 make them believe Il now
Two Other Children.
There are two other children in the
family. One is a golden-haired little
girl, about four years old. There is a
DeSy boy. None Of them suggest the
negro. It is remarkable that these chill
dren could probably go to any school in
the United States as whites.
The mother is a charming. cultured
white woman who undoubtedly feels the
situation keenly. Those who know her
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