The Colorado statesman., 1912-03-30
AFRO-AMER|CAN CU[[|NCS

The negroes of New York, of whom
there are now some 100000 in the
four Boroughs, have more public en-
tertainments, more elaborate and ex-
pensive, than those of any other city
in the country. This is true because
they make more money and save less
and have more opportunities than the
negroes of other cities.
White, black and colored of New
Workers are alike in the disposition to
dress better, feed better and enjoy
life more than any other people in the
country. People who spend most
they make come upon trouble after
a while and fall out, but in New York
there are always others to fall in, so
that there is never any gap. The so
ber-sides, and old fogies who watch
the passing show and furnish the food
and drink and clothing for 1t gather in
the dollars and keep them. They are
the substantial negroes in every com
munity who do this, and they get more
satisfaction and comfort out of gath
ering and saving the dollars their
brethren spend than the spenders do.
Indeed, it is more blessed to gather in
and save than to scatter and spend
But those organizations of ours
that give entertainments should sit
down hard on the disposition to scan
dalous conduct which has made its ap-
pearance at public receptions. These
organizations have, in the main, rep
utation for high and ennobling pur-
poses to maintain, and they cannot af-
ford to allow it to be lowered by con-
duct of their patrons scandalous in
character. A new generation have
come upon the scene in New York,
many of whom have a notion that
loud, boisterous and vulgar conversa-
ton, indelicately suggestive dress,
dances in which the proprieties are
whistled down the winds, and drink
ing to excess are the things most ap-
proved to be done, and do them-the
wives and daughters and sons should
be protected from the extremes in
these things that corrupt the mind and
encourage extravagant spending in
dress, drinking and eating.
1t is to be regretted that the lessees
and owners of dance halls and gardens
retain the right to sell all the liquor
and cigars and eatables they can, and
do it, to make up the difference in the
small rental demanded for the use OF
such halls and gardens. The leSsees
make the money on the bar and res
taurant privileges, and the organiza-
tion scarcely covers expenses by the
admission prices demanded. 1t is
fair deduction that 80 per cent.
of the vast sums spent every week
by negroes in public entertainments
goes into the pockets of the white
lessees and owners of the halls and
gardens who retain the bar and restau-
rant privileges, and who often make
a scandalous condition in the effort
to sell as much liquor as possible, and
do it. There is no apparent escape
from this condition in New York ex-
cept that our organizations pool their
money and credit and purchase one
great garden and one great hall of
their own.
Public entertainments that corrupt
the morals of old and young alike,
that put a premium upon intemper-
ance which lead to display of obscene
talk and vulgar actions-such public
entertainments are dangerous. Our
older men and women should see this,
If the younger do not, and do what
they can to keep the moral standards
high We believe they desire to do so
and will welcome any assistance we
can give them in helping them to do
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