The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-12-13
COMMUNICATIONS.
RICHARD MERRILL EXPLAINS
DANCE PLANNED AT CARNE.
GLE LIBRARY.

DANCE PLANNED AT CARNE-
GLE LIBRARY.
Nashville, Tenn, Dec. 10, 1912.
Editor Nashville Globe:
Dear Sir-There appeared in the
Nashville Globe of Friday, December
6, an article headed Dance Planned
at Carnegie Library" which has been
heralded all over our city, state and
otherwise, causing me to be severely
criticized and a reflection to be cast
upon the entire race. l feel very
much aggrieved and would like very
much to make a few statements
through the columns of your next Is.
u that my friends may know the
truth as it is, and If possible remove
the blot from the name Of the
young men of Meharry Medical Col
lege caused by such statements as
appeared in the article.
These are the facts and / earnestly
ask the public to weigh them for
their worth. In the very first place !
am the custodian Of the Library.
Therefore the custodian nor any OF
the officials, to my knowledge, were
expected to be away. AS has been
the custom the porters have been al.
lowed to have entertainments at the
Library yer since there has been a
Carnegie Library in Nashville. No
dancing allowed, however, So that's
no new feature.
AS Thanksgiving was approaching
my wife and / decided we would en-.
terrain a few friends at the Carnegie
Library. l therefore got permission
from the Librarian, Miss Crutcher.
field, to have the entertainment on
Thanksgiving night. In speaking of
the matter a few days before Thanks.
giving to a young man (not a student
OF Meharry Medical College, l sug.
gested that he invite some of the
young people. He, without my knowl.
edge. or my wife's knowledge, pro
ceeded to have printed invitations
announcing a dance, and issued them
among many Of his friends. He didn't
know that dancing was prohibited at
the Library In fact he misunder.
stood the word entertainment, and
really Thought by having the invita-.
lions printed he was furnishing a
pleasant surprise to me. However,
the entertainment doubtless would
have been a pleasant AFFAIR had not
some person taken It upon himself ID
interfere by gOfng TO the trouble to
notify the officials OF the Library and
to paint a very black picture of the
affair to this official.
After this colored man (and a sup,
posed friend Of mfne) thus interior.
ed by making a terrible picture OF
the whole affair to this white on.
eial, naturally the official hearing the
nowls of supposed representatives OF
the Negro race, thought he had bet.
ter look into the matters. Thus he
began the investigation, which l am
proud to say did not result in the
loss of my job nor the Librarians
who gave us permission to have an
entertainment. After the sensation
arose and went its rounds I then de
cided to abandon the idea of having
the affair at all and so notified the
young man, who proceeded at once to
call in the invitations. l am glad
to say the Carnegie Library was moi
surrounded by policemen or any Off
GERS of the law: there was no police
patrol or any hereafter about the en-
tertainment more than what this gen
tleman OF u own race and the Glob,
has seen fit to make of it. / never
"hiked away" as the Globe has said
for had no u to do so. / was al
the Carnegie Library in my owl
room.
Allow me to say I have worked only
at three places since I was twelvI
years old; namely: The STANDARD
Club, the Athletic Club and am nov
custodian of Carnegie Library, which
position | have held for some time
During my lifetime I have nevel
round 1t necessary to slip arount
and entertain my friends by unfai
means or without the necessar,
knowledge of my employees" I an
800 " ApNAoi odldly anu give ulySel
credit Of having some common sense
don't think any sensible person
would hardly plan an entertainment
at the Carnegie Library without a
least consulting some one of the Of
fcials, and allow me to say turtle
that colored citizens and some o
Nashville's very best citizens too hav
attended entertainments at the Cal
negie Library without a single on
being arrested or ridden to Jail I
the police patrol. Now I very muc
regret the occurrence Of the Who'll
affair and hope that the public an
my friends especially will accept tn
truth as it is here given. I. remain,
RICHARD A. MERRILL,
Custodian Of the Carnegie Librar,
NEGRO PRESIDENTS OF NEGRO
} 80 $500