Before the late war, the city had an association of colored men called the "Philharmonic Society." Several liberal-minded native and foreign gentlemen of the other race were always glad to come and play with the "Philharmonics" overtures and other music of a classical character. This was really a scholarly body of musicians, with whom the very best artists of any race might well be proud to associate. Constantin Deberque and Richard Lambert were among those, who at times directed the orchestra. Eugene Rudanez, Camille Camp, Adolph Angelaine, T. Delassize, Lucien and Victor Pessou, J.A. Bazanac, Charles Martinez, and over one hundred other amateur musicians, added a lustre to the good name of the colored men of New Orleans, even during the gloomy days of oppression. These men with all their souls loved music and the drama; but were kept away from the grand opera, from concerts and theatrical performances, because they would not submit to the degradation of sitting in a marked place designated "for colored persons." Nevertheless, they were not to be deterred from following that bent of their minds which a love of art directed; and so, thrown entirely upon their own resources, these high-minded men formed the "Philharmonic Society" and other musical associations, finding in the same much to compensate them for what they lost by being debarred from entering those circles of culture and amusement, the conditions of entrance to which were, not a love of and proficiency in art, but that ignoble and foolish one, the mere possession of a white face. * * * * * And thus has been briefly and (as the writer fears) imperfectly told the story of these highly musical people of New Orleans. Bearing in mind the great and manifold difficulties against which they ever had to struggle,--not only such difficulties as all must encounter who study the science of music, but also those far, far greater ones that are caused by color-prejudice, the extent of whose terrible, blighting power none can ever imagine that do not actually meet it,--bearing in mind, I say, all these obstacles, and their triumphs over the same, it will be seen that much has been accomplished that may be considered really wonderful. As better opportunities for culture, and that fulness of recognition and appreciation without which even genius must languish and in many cases die,--as these come to them, as come they surely will in this new era of freedom,--then will such earnest votaries as have here been mentioned, with "No fears to beat away, no strife to heal, The past unsighed for, and the future sure,"-- attain to even greater degrees of proficiency and eminence in that noble art of which Pope thus beautifully sings:--