The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-13
UNHAPPY UNIONS.
WHITE WOMEN AND CoLoRED MEN
SELDOM MATE WELL.
Cases Where tho Bliss OF Welded Life
Seldom Puts in an Appearance
ni-Advised and nl-Devised Mar
rlages.

1.-THE old, old story" is trite old
phrase that has been applied TO all the
love. making heart-breaking and sinful
ness that have occurred from the time of
the romance OF the Garden Of Elem down
to the present era. But "the old, old
story" is presented in so many varied
fashions and served in so many different
styles that it is often mistaken for an en-
tirely new creation. Love is blind, and
commits many serious blunders. To ex-
cuso these its votares always advance the
argument that 'love viii 90 where IL Is
sent" And TO what funny extremes is il
sometimes sent and what homogeneous
unions are 80 often the result The in
congruity stands out in divers shapes and
forms. One form which is ever conspicu-
Gus looms up NJ all times, like an ominous
black shadow which is never 10 DO got
rid OF, and that is the very prevalent, but
increasing, practice Of iniermarriage be-
tween colored and white people OF this
country. In tho Southern States there
may be an excuse for the practice, consid-
oring tho relationship which existed be.
tween the men and women OF both races
during and just after the war. II is an
imported custom In the North, where
these unions are tolerated, although
strongly disapproved OF by both white and
colorcd people. The cases In Northern
cities are comparatively few when one con-
siders the enormous number OF marriages
contracted in a year, which mount as high
as 1900 and 5000 and moro In Boston.
But Bostons culture never allows her
60 ovordo thing, and so her modest limit
in the number Of these mixed marriages
seldom or never reaches even half hum
dred year. In 1883 twenty-eeven cases
of marriage between white aud colored
people were recorded out Of 4, 702, and in
the following year there were ton less,
only seventeen out OF i,62i. That was five
years ago. Instead OF a general decrease dur
ing the succeeding years, II is found that in
1887 twenty-nino were recorded and last
wear there was no ilucluation in the rate.
twonty-nino still being the number Since
the beginning Of the present year there
have already been ten mixed marriages,
and during the past six weeks five inton-
tons OF this kind have been registered.
These illadyiscd aud ill-dcvised marriages
are certainly not on the wanc, even II they
do not increase rapidly. The strangcst
thing about this kind Of mairimony Is that
and the brides are white, and il is only ia
half dozen eases during year that the
grooms are oven muniios. The white
women who take thosc men for their
husband are, In the majority OF
cases, either handwriting women who may
marry for the sake Of home, or women
who have dragged out a piliable existence
and have fallen from the respect aud oven
the protection oi parents aud friends, who
accept rs a last ruiugo the devotion OF tho
black men who make them their wives
They hope 10 put an end to their misera-
bic existence, but this Is only the begin
ming OF q new chapter In their unhappy
lives. Even more miserable than the
former days do the succeeding ones be-
como.
Black men adore their white wives, and
are slaves TO their capriccs, and lavish upon
them all the attentions aud luxurics the
ecantincss Of their purses will allow. But
their jealousy Is unbcarahlc. especially 90
women who, Ike their wives, have fol-
lowed their own inclinaiions for a number
OF years, and then quarrcls become inov-
liable; blows follow. and soon after comes
n separation. This is nearly always the 10.
suit after two OF three yean Of such mar.
red life, and sometimes after only a few
monthA And the result Is only natural.
In every way these people are unsuitcd
for each other. Totally unlike In every re-
spcci, without mutual sympathics or lasles,
the woman very soon curses the Ay she
took the fatal step, and ihe msh loses all
While black mcn>( the city will in.
hystiably we'd whle women. and boast OF
it'll has hasn sltcd M a somewhat remark
able tact that white men will not make
cOlorcd women their wives. Instances OF
white men marrying colorcd women are
very rare In this city, 20 rarc that In the
year OF 1857 not n single one Ia recorded,
and during tho past year (iSSSl only two
such marriages wcrn performed. As a rule,
the white men VINO do marry them are of
forcign extraction. aud when they are
not their object u almost always q mcr-
ccnary one. In a rcccn, case the man was
a farmer, and wanted a strong and healthy
woman for a second wife, aud that could
work. he said, and help about the farm,
and one that was healthy NJ we'll lie had
chosen buxom mulltto girl OF nineteen
years, aud seemed perfectly well satisfied
with her lie came from down Easl"
and was married In Boston, and took his
wife back with him 10 30 tho farming. In
another case the man was a porter. and
tho woman ho married WAS an ordinary
domestic servant SO Ear this year there
has only been one instance where white
man aud a colorcd woman married. Tho
man II q railroad conductor OF sixty Years
and the woman II servant, and has also
attained tile ripe agc Of sixty.
II the colorcd men would follow the
example OF the white men there would,
no doubt, be genuine satisfaction be.
tween both races The custom IL 20 die.
tasteful TO the white people generally, aud
The colorcd "a we'll, that tho subject Of
introducing hill into the Legislature for
bidding marriage between whites and blacks
was nj one time matter Of discussion. but
The impraciicahilily of the step was at once
~ evident that the idea was abandoned.
although u is strongly desired by largo
number OF white and colorcd people In the
city. The causes Of ihc1c iniofmarriarcs
are numerous. II they grew out VI love
ahain alone, perhaps no ono would have
cause 70 cousuro either party, but because
the bulk oi them are marriage of cony..
nience one does have cause II l. said
thai certain classes Of muatio women ro-
siding In this city will not encourage tho
attentions Of black men because thew do
not wish 10 we'd other than a man OF thoir
own complexion. On tlu other hand.
thero aro black men in BOSTON who
show n rcpugnancc Eos women of
their own hue. This line of do.
narration, drawn 20 sharply among
the colored people Themselves, has much
10 do with a custom ~ prevalent and 40 I
nbhorrud A eolorQd MAJ, IA, ..,,.,....