People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-10-11
FOUND HIM A BRIDE.
A 1l9On-Eyed Maiden Who Went East
to Wed a Christian


Nine Sarah Grand's scruples about
marriages of convenience do not dis
turb the ladies who conduct tho
Chinese mission home in Sacramento
street-at least, not so far as their
Acknowledged charges are concerned.
This may be a violent assumption,
but it is suggested by a business-like
little romance which began at the
home and came to its natural end at
New Orleans few weeks ago 1t is
the romance OF May ai,aged 2O,who
now presides over a small household
in Louisiana's capital, says the San
Francisco Chronicle.
-Four years ago the good ladies OF
the mission suatched May Lai from
the burning and from the highbind-
ers. she was a very ,wiusome aud
pretty girl. as Chinese girls 60.
and to her cOmeliness she added-so
herChristian guardians say-a ready
intelligence and a docile and obedi-
ent spirit. Indeed, she was Just like
the good little girls in the story
books. Eventually she embraced
the faith, and then she was COM
plete. Probably size would yet be
pursuing in the handsome mission
home on Sacramento street, under
the guardian eye of Miss Culbertson,
the even tenor OF her eyed way.
diverting herself with the occupation
of being an exemplar to the way
ward of her sex and race and per-
haps thinking lite insufferably dull,
as girls-even Chinese girls-will at
some times, had not Mrs. c. P. Rad
clitfe crossed her horizon.
Mrs. Radcliffe is the matron of the
New Orleans Presby terian Chinese
mission, located on South Liberty
street, in that city. Connected with
the mission is a Chinese Christian
association, the secretary of which
is a celestial, name unknown IN these
parts, who is described as being
possessed of many graces of mind
and body. He is 2S years of age,
plays the organ, reads and writes
English and is sincere and devout
Christian. His earnestness in that
respect had long since won him the
regard of the Christian men and
women of the crescent city. When
he learned that Mrs. Radcliffe was
about to come here on religious
work he charge her with delicate
mission, and she, being a woman as
well as a missionary, at once agreed
to his prayer. 1t appears that All
Sam-being nameless and a Chinese,
that will serve him as well as the
next-wanted helpmate. New Or.
leans has not many Chinese women
and no pale-faced school teacher
offered herself as an oblation, for
there is certain prejudice against
oblations OF that kind, especially
down south. All Sam bethought
himself to seek a bride among the
legions of his country people who
favor this neck Of the vineyard with
their presence.
So Mrs Radcliffe came to San Fran
cisco with commission. In due
course the subject was laid before
the ladies of the home IN this city.
1t was charmingly romantic. The
commissionaire vouched for the
character of the young man in the
case, and the business was as good
as settled. But on whom should
this good young man be conferred?
II the limit of choice had been I'm
restricted, it is sad to think what a
bone of contention this philanthropic
affair might have become. But it
wasn't On the contrary the number
from among which the selection was
to be made was wofully small, the
average Chinese female who comes
to these shores developing a cross
obstinacy with regard to conversion.
1t was not strange, therefore, con-
sidering her manifold charms of
feature and form and her religious
standing, that May Lai should have
been hit upon. Being feminine, she
liked the idea OF marriage, and never
having thought very seriously of
woman's sphere and the tyranny of
man, she was disposed to take her
other half on faith. So the facts
were laid before her, she was duly
informed of the gravity OF the step
she was about to take, and she read
lily, even joyfully, agreed to &C.
company Mrs. Radcliffe on her Jour-
ney to New Orleans. Her patrons
and guardians got her up a nice
little banquet at the home before she
left. and sent her on her way rejoic-
ing. They wee married, All Sam
and May Lai, in New Orleans by Rev.
DR.. Nall, pastor of tie Presbyterian
church, and there the idyl ends.