Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-07-30


so long and works so hard, that confess to living
in ignorance of many of its sage proceedings Like
our Contemporary Of the Southern Era, we had never
heard that at its last session. it had ventured to med
die with Of the most delicate and interesting sub
jects to the whole unmarried population of the State
We leave to the Era to detail the particulars
TmE NKw MARRIAGE LAw.-we did not know until
Few days ago that the last Legislature had in corporate
capacity perpetrated OF the finest practical Jokes of
the season. The thing would have sur prisng
Syme oi the lnellgencer had been in the House; but
Syme was not there. We the Joke to some one else
aud whoever it be, here tender its authors in the name
OF our readers and oursef profoundes thanks But
the joke the joke! That il may be forgotten we will
inform all whom il concern that they will find il re-
corded ia the second section Of the 25th chapter of the
acts OF the General Assembly of Virginia passed in 1882
SPACE 40:
"Henceforth," reads the act SIT shall be the duty of ev
cry minister or other person celebrating marriage aud
Of the clerk keeper of the records any religious So
ety which solemnizes marriages by the consent of the
parties in open congregation, at make record of
every marriage between white persons Socmnized by or
before him. aud within months after such marriage
TO return certificate thereof signed 10y him. the ceik
OF the court Of the county corporation in which the same
SsoienlLed Such record and ccTff shall forth
as far as the same be dSecrtdiHcd Ia date and pac.
OF the marriage the full names both the partiss heir
agsS aud condition before the marriage whether single
or widowed) the places of their birth and residence i
bind"
Now, we venture to that this the production
Of some mlschielOving youth Who promises himself no
little amusement from the he expects 10 witness IN
the execution OF the Law.
Fancy aud eager company assembled to witness the M,
rital ceremony. There stand before the minister the
happy bridegroom and his bushing bride The service
read aloud The promises have paSsed-he to love and
cherish she to honor and obey. Now the hour of trial
mas approached The faithful parson, a lover Of hi,
country ana an oOedeni ctzen propounds the awful ques
ton. What is your age, madam the Law requires me
TO certify your age The bride is thunderstruck She
mas passed for eighteen" at least years and the
WORD Is quveng upon her lips when she the eve Of
her younger sister, full grown woman who was child
when she receiving beauK and gaanting with them
TO church She turns aside and makes another effort TO
speak Eighteen, she whispers, bot one hears her
the sound is so faint and naudbe that it does not reach
her first bridesmaid. " What is your age madam au-
Another effort and another failure The bride bushes
confused Is ready sink into the floor She recoyer-
to hear again the same question repeated She answers
not. AT this moment an angel flies her relief Her
little niece bethinks herself Of the old family Bible and
with rapdity she rsbes the where it had been
slowed away for the last fifteen years. folds il ia her arms
aud returning, with gentle manner hands to the min.
istcr: This will tell YOU sir. He takes it, and turn.
70 the family record reads aloud
CinderDa Meekues was born on the Goth day of Jul,
in the year 1918"
Just thirtyhve to day." eIclams the parson, takes
note Of it and closes the book Your age SIR il YOU please
addressing the happy recipient OF this aged hand Lifting
his head up, (thad hung down when thirty Eve struck his
ear aud well 1t might TOR he not prepared Tor t. he
confessed in the lace OF all the company that had the
honor OF entering the world the night of the 9th of De
ce'nboF, 1884, aud that he in his twenty
year.
Here we have but one scene Of the many which will
be Witnessed in making Miss Cinderella Meekness Mrs
James Thompson Birnlbas Slowfoot
The law demands other questions to he asked and the
answering OF these may make quite much amusement to
the crowd and no less anxiety the parties Immediately
concerned.
All this il admirable. Who could have contrived hap
pier scheme for provoking the mirth of entire
my Ana yet our m'rth will not be altogether unmin
g'ed With pain We reminded that there Is class
upon which this enactment will weigh heavily and
We deeply symplhize with them What shall be done tor
Their rcieiY We know OF bat way Of escape If the
law be rightly enforced. let them determine io--
get married