or incredible as may be supposed at first they have refused to do so in the past, hearing of them. For it is a fact hardly and as they refuse to do so to-day by the less curious, if not so strange, that there only sure means which can and will conare men who while they would not think tribute mightily to effect such a purpose, of marrying into a class beneath them viz., by making the black women their would nevertheless live readily enough equals before the lay, and at the bar of in a state of concubinage with women of an enlightened public sentiment, and that class. And in this upper class there these women remain in consequence are women, not many it is true, who where they are to-day, a snare to the feet would do the same thing. They care of white men, when these men trip over enough for the men in the class beneath this snare into the hell of the senses,

they them to enter into illicit relations in secret will drag downward slowly but surely with with them, but not enough to enter into them toward the level of these self-same illicit relations with these same men in black women the moral ideals if not the the open, in the gaze of a scornful and moral life of the white women of the South.) horrified world. Has it ever been seriously considered that like father may And now a final word about the black occasionally produce like daughter in woman of the South: She holds in her the South ? And that such moral lapses keeping the moral weal or woe, not only by a few white women of that section of her own race, but of the white race also. may be accounted for in part at least by As she stands to-day in respect to the that mysterious law of atavism? The white man of the South, her situation is sons are like the fathers in respect to their full of períl to both races. For she lives fondness for colored women, why may in a world where the white man may not one daughter in, say ten thousand, work his will on her without let or hinresemble those fathers in the same shame- drance, outside of law, outside of the ful, though not altogether unnatural re- social code and moral restraints which spect ? (Do not such instances, few and protect the white woman. This black far between at present though they be, woman's extra-legal position in the South, furnish matter for grave reflection for the and her extra-social status there, render thoughtful people of the South regardless her a safe quarry for the white man's lust. of sex, or race, or color?

And she is pursued by him for immoral Have the white women of the South ends without dread of ill consequences considered that under existing conditions to himself, either legal or social. If she they are deprived of effective influence, resists his advances, and in many cases of effective power, to reform the morals she does resist them, he does not abate of the men of their race ? And that un- his pursuit, but redoubles it. Her reless the morals of the men are reformed spectability, her very virtue, makes her the morals of the whole race will eventu- all the more attractive to him,

spurs

the ally decline? If the women fail to lift more his sensual desire to get possession the level of the moral life of their men to of her person. He tracks her, endeavors their own higher plane, the lower morals to snare her in a hundred dark ways

and of the men will drag downward ultimately by a hundred crooked means. On the to their level that of the women. From street, in stores, in cars, going to and from this inevitable conclusion and consequence church, she encounters this man, bent on there is no possible escape. But the her ruin. Into her very home his secret white women of the South are powerless emissaries may attack her with their to lift the morals of their men without temptation, with their vile solicitations. lifting at the same time the morals of the Nowhere is she safe, free from his pursuit, women of the black race. If, however, because no law protects her, no moral they steadily refuse to do so in future, as sentiment casts about her person the ægis of its power. And when haply dazzled so wills it, and equality. . The double

Che by the insignia of his superior class, or moral standard has to be got rid of as his wealth, or the magic of his skin, or quickly as possible, and a single one the creature comforts which he is able erected in its stead, applicable alike to to offer her, she succumbs to his embrace the men and women of both races. The and enters the home to which he invites moral world of the white man and that her, she becomes from that time outlawed of the black woman must be merged into in both worlds, a moral plague-spot in one by the ministers of law and of religion, the midst of both races. For she begins by an awakened public conscience and then to reproduce herself, her wretched an enlightened and impartial public history, her sad fate, in the more wretched sentiment, which is the great promoter history, the sadder fate, of her daughters. and upholder of individual and national And so in her world of the senses, of the righteousness. The black woman of the passions, she enacts in a sort of vicious South must be as sacredly guarded as a circle the moral tragedy of two races.

If woman by Southern law and public the white man works the moral ruin of opinion against the sexual passion and her and hers, she and they in turn work pursuit of the Southern white man as is upon him and his a moral ruin no less the Southern white woman. Such equalsure and terrible

ity of condition, of protection, in the What is the demedy? It is certainly South is indispensable to any lasting imnot the segregation of the races in a state provement in the morals of its people, of inequality before the law. For such white or black. If that section persists segregation exists to-day. It has existed in sowing inequality instead of equality to the hurt of both races in the past. It between the races, it must continue to is the fruitful parent of fearful woes at gather the bitter fruits of it in the darkenthe present time, and will be the breedered moral life, in the low moral standards of incalculable mischief for both races," of both races. For what the South sows, for the South, and for the nation itself, whether it be cotton or character, that in the future. The remedy lies not then it shall surely reap. in segregation and inequality, for that is

ARCHIBALD H. GRIMKE. the disease, but in segregation, if America Boston, Mass.

THE ROMANCE OF THIN TILLY WESTOVER.

By HELEN C. BERGEN CURTIS.

'T WAS the occasion of a big spectacu- show,” had once been known almost to

lar performance at a well-known jump aside from the path of this modern theater in New York city, far-famed for Hercules, when he was condescending to this style of production, that Tilly West- assist at the performances of the over, suping at twenty-five cents a night, theater. For Sam had an air about him first saw the big scene-shifter called-well, which indicated a distinct aloofness from we will call him Sam.

his occupation. He suggested in an Sam was possessed of rope-like muscles indescribable manner that his rightful and therein took great pride. “Out of occupation might be razing castles, tearme way,” he would call to the huddleding up mountains, or pulling down Caliextras,” in commanding voice, and even fornia redwoods; anything rather than the much-heralded beauty, “star of the such simple, easy work-or so his manner

'over

implied—as that which in reality engaged greeting was in this wise: “Hully gee! his distinguished attention.

get outer de way. Do n't yer hear the Tilly Westover, being poor, unknown, 'sistant stage-director shoutin' and of extremely humble origin, may be ture'?” simply and accurately described as thin. Tilly obeyed with alacrity. For the Under other and more favorable worldly rest of the evening she felt less alone, as circumstances she would be designated if, strange miracle of emotions, a strong with propriety as “spirituelle," "lithe,” arm were protecting her; she could not “willowy," or something fetching in the have explained it for the life of her, but way of adjectives. But since she is only intuitively she realized that something, Tilly Westover, with the merest apology as yet intangible, but sweet, had entered for a home in an extremely unfashionable, her hitherto dull and uneventful life, for not to say undesirable, part of the city, the honest eyes had looked straight into she may be safely described as thin, and hers, and the glance was kindly. nothing more.

The next night Tilly longed to place Well, perhaps a little more. For in herself in the same position just to be addition to great paucity of flesh, scat- ordered away, that she might reëxperitered gingerly over a spare but graceful ence the exultant thrill contingent on the little frame, she was possessed of a soul discovery that she found favor in a strong capable of great appreciation, which ap- man's eyes. But courage failed her, or preciation was bestowed gratuitously and inherent modesty prevailed, and she seatunconditionally on the burly scene-shifter, ed herself instead on a huge coil of rope Sam.

at the extreme rear of the stage. Perhaps it was mental telepathy, and At identically the same moment almost, perhaps merely chance, which was re- as on the night before, Sam would be sponsible for the fact that Sam's big, steering his end of the big scene to its temhonest vision was one night attracted to porary resting-place; perhaps someone Tilly, standing meek, unobtrusive and was standing where she had stood, and thin, in a nook formed by heaped-up he would later address her in that comproperties. There had been other “lady manding tone, that still lingered in Tilly's supes” conspicuously resplendent in their heart, a joyous memory. A jealous spangled finery, and far more advanced twinge almost lifted her from the coil of in both manner and appearance, who rope on which she sat at the mere thought. had viewed him with approval; many of Overture,” called the assistant stagewhom, in fact, were frequently crudely director. “Overture," she heard him frank in their manner of procedure to calling, first on one side then on the other. attract his attention, calling softly to him She arose, shook out her tinselled gown, in varying phrase and accent: “Hello, then instinctively felt for the toy crown Sandow; let's feel your muscle.” But upon her head, as the familiar strains of one and all of the “lady supes” had failed the music, which announced the supers' to make a hit with Sam, until he saw cue, reached her ears. Others also in Tilly with furtive glance resting her eyes tinsel gowns were crowding about her; on him, as she stood half-hidden in her some with wings and some with wands; improvised retreat waiting to "go on." the "star" stood in the front right-wing.

He was too rushed at the moment to Miss Westover took her place with the lend any formality to his greeting of her, other “supers” engaged to fill in the even had he been so inclined.

He had a ranks of the chorus in the opening scene. firm grip on his end of a big "shift" which The snare-drum tattoo reverberated he was trying to land in the vicinity of thrillingly. It filled her with more than Tilly's vantage-ground. His business- the usual exhilaration on this wonderful like, and it may be added, characteristic night. There was an inarticulate and

suspicious grunt in the vicinity of the purchased at the bargain-counter of a
calcium-light man; a faint, whirring department-store, thinking how this, his
sound and the curtain was going up. first “hit,” would enhance his prestige
The much-heralded beauty, “star of the along Broadway. The Wall-street spec-
show," flanked and backed by shimmer- ulator forgot stocks and tickers for awhile
ing cohorts, burst forth on the gaze of an and revelled in dreams recalled of his
impatient audience. But what mattered boyhood. The blasé society-woman over
it to Tilly Westover? The wild billows there in the lower stage-box at the right,
of applause, and the air vibrant with gowned in mauve satin, with its cold
wondering murmurs of finely-costumed silver embroidery, resplendent in hard,
women and immaculately-garbed men. glittering, white diamonds, smiled un-
Her god was back of the scenes. Her consciously, thus partially effacing the
god was to her greater than all these. set expression of placidity about the
Her heart beat high above the clapping mouth, remembering vividly other less
of hands it seemed to her, for her god prosperous but infinitely, as seen by her
had addressed her, in homely phrase to in the music-set retrospection, more sat-
be sure, but nevertheless addressed her; isfactory days.
"Straighten yer crown," he had said; As far as the audience had power to
“it's dead leary; shove her to starboard." observe everything was running with

A rapture, delicate yet well-defined, satisfaction and despatch.
stole into Tilly's little starved heart and Behind the scenes consternation reigned.
lent wings to her feet as she tripped It started in this way: there was a
through the mazes of the fantastic march, slight commotion in the wings when it
while the orchestra kept up the inspiring was discovered that Miss-well, we will
melody that set the incorrigible gallery- call her Miss St. Clair-had fallen in a
gods to whistling and keeping time with faint and would have to be sent home.
their feet. The entire house seemed Miss St. Clair had but one line to speak,
lifted out of itself in a passing spasm of yet, as often happens, it was a line of
prismatic emotion. The "promoters some importance, not so much in itself
of the show standing in the wings, tried as in relation to the production as a whole.
at first to conceal their joy under a look To pick out a girl adequately to take her
of bland and prosperous indifference, place at a moment's notice was really a
failed, then shook each other's hands and matter of more difficulty than it might seem
roared incoherent congratulations at each to the average person inexperienced in
other with cigars, unlighted, in their lips, things theatrical. For there was a certain
and the latest thing in derbies set well amount of stage-business went with the line.
back on their heads.

Sam, the gigantic scene-shifter, was Out“ in front " the author of the libretto on the alert. He had been employed at modestly concealed among friends in an this particular theater for five years and upper box. was secretly lamenting that was a person of some consequence. “Exthe music was so mediocre for so fine a cuse me, boss,” he said suddenly to an book, while opposite, in another upper anxious-looking man, “but there goes a box, the long-haired “musicianer,” who girl could do the business. I'll put her had contrived the score, felt acutely ag- on to de line meself.” grieved that the "book” was so bad, The stage-director and the two “prowhen the music was so superior. Yet moters” stood a gaping trio; the latter each genius, nevertheless, felt like throw- two now had their derbies tilted far down ing his opera hat-secured on credit for over their noses, while their cigars slanted the occasion-into the air, the while he acutely upward toward the down-slantsat outwardly calm and quite imperial ing rims. Her?” they ejaculated alin a rented dress-suit, and gleaming linen in most unison.

your business."

Her,” retorted Sam, apparently stir- The stage-director followed the hurryred to the verge of mutiny by their tone. ing figure meekly. “Who'd have thought

“She'd queer it to beat h- ,," was it?” he was saying to himself. “These the prompt rejoinder of the anxious stage- thin girls always have so much more in director.

them than one would expect.” The two “Naw, she would n't,” retorted Sam “promoters ” looked up at him anxiously. strenuously.

“It 's all right,” he said before they could “It can 't be done,” snapped the stage- frame a sentence; "she's game, and a director in his turn. "You go on with brave exponent of the eternal feminine;

she's gone to let her young man get in Sam suddenly took on a placid and his little instructions, and feel his imexasperatingly inactive look. “It's a portance in consequence, although she difficult set, the next one,” he said slowly, does not need them anymore than I do.” "and needs a firm hand and a knowin' one at de head of de push. Either she The curtain went up and the act was goes on as de

guy

wid de line, or I quits- on. At the right moment thin Tilly on de spot, too.

Westover acquitted herself with extreme The stage-director looked volumes, credit. After the “show” Sam asked if but he was too staggered to retort, and he might see her home. She said he simply glared at the doughty knight of might, and with beating heart went out the scenes and the girl.

at his side, while the rest of the "lady “Perhaps we ventured the “pro- supes,” whose manners in this instance moters.”

might have been better, either punched The stage-director cut them short with each other and giggled, or stared in una mighty sneer, then snorted forth to the disguised amazement. waiting giant: “Get your girl and coach “Will you be my special ?” asked Sam her on the line as soon as you have the on the way home. Tilly looked properly set finished. You have plenty of time. bashful, and protested that she did not She won't get a chance to queer the show know him well enough. till the middle of the act. To-morrow, "Aw, go on," said the scene-shifter report at the office of Mr. Squires--you bluntly, “don't yer 'spose I've seen yer know him I guess."

lookin' at me all durin' the rehearsals ? " Sam turned away without loss of time “Lots of people look at you,” protested and applied himself vigorously to the Tilly, “because—because you ’re so big work of the moment, while the stage- —you ’ve big, strong arms-and-anddirector went down to the basement dress- you 're a very strong man." ing-room and sought out thin Tilly West- “Yes,” said Sam, without any preover, who was busily putting a lavish tense of false modesty, “I can 't deny as layer of powder over her exposed should- people look at me,

people look at me, but yer see I don't look ers. Calling her to him, he briefly ex- at many; and,” he added with an infiplained what he wanted her to do, re- nitely tender look at the girl by his side, ferring her to Sam for further instructions. “they don't all look just as you have. If

"I know the line and business per- you want me take me. I am not the fectly,” said Tilly promptly. “I can do man as will be turned down twict runit.”

nin'." 'What relation is that scene-shifter “I'll take you,” said thin Tilly Westto you?” asked the stage-director over, palpitatingly. brusquely.

The next day Sam presented himself “None yet,” returned Tilly, and then before the manager. Mr. Squires looked giggled girl-wise, and continued: “I'll at a slip of paper he held in his hand and go see what he's got to say about this." then at the strapping, well-set-up young