Century XIX - the division of social classes

Joao Pessoa Square, for decades, was surrounded by iron fences. Only the high society could cross one of the four gates locked the key for a caretaker.
At the beginning of the century XX there were frequent public concerts in place and the audience was divided by social class. Standing in circles, first came the high society around the bandstand, public officials in the middle and then, finally, students. The people stood outside the bars of iron.
In 1921 the square was the scene of a tragedy which resulted in the deaths of two young students of the Normal School (only studying girls) and the Lyceu Paraibano. Students from both schools could not found each other. For greater control, was established a "line of decency," an invention of director of Lyceu. No one could cross it on pain of suffering punishment.
Ágaba and Sady, students, began a relationship. The boy crossed the imaginary line and received a warning not to do something more. Repeating that, Sady started a discussion with the officer in charge for the "maintenance of order" and took a fatal shot. About ten days later Ágaba committed suicide. As they were under important families the death of them caused the fall of director of Lyceu and almost resulted in the deposition of the mayor of the capital, Solon of Lucena.
In 1929 laws were withdrawn and people could frequent the square freely.