Then Wilson asked, ``What about this Kent House which you mention? I don't understand why a white hotel should be down here.''

The young banker looked at him with a certain surprise, and then he said flatly: ``I'm afraid I can't tell you anything in particular about Kent House. You'll have to find out about it on your own. Hope to see you again.'' And he dismissed the colored pastor.

It was next day that Sojourner came and sat beside him and took his hand. She said, ``My dear, do you know what Kent House is?''

``No,'' said Wilson, ``I don't. I was just asking about it. What is it?''

``It's a house of prostitution for white men with white girls as inmates. They hire a good deal of local labor, including two members of our Trustee Board. They buy some supplies from our colored grocers and they are patronized by some of the best white gentlemen in town.''

Wilson stared at her. ``My dear, you must be mistaken.''

``Talk to Mrs. Catt,'' she said.

And after Wilson had talked to Mrs. Catt and to others, he was absolutely amazed. This, of course, was the sort of thing that used to take place in Southern cities -- putting white houses of prostitution colored girls in colored neighborhoods and carrying them on openly. But it had largely disappeared on account of protest by the whites and through growing resentment on the part of the Negroes as they became more educated and got better wages.