Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-01
LICENSE In A BIBLE.
ROMANTIC STORY FROM NEW YORK
ABOUT A RICHMOND COUPLE.
Her Husband That They Had
Bccn Married.


marriage they having denied Il,
Tho Herald's story is as follows:
short paragraph. which was printed
in The Herald on March nth last, has
been me means OF restoring 20 woman
her marriage certificate. which had been
lost Tor three years.
More than this. It has put into her
hands the long-ueedcl proof 20 satisfy
tie parents Of her dead husband, who
have s,cadtastly refused to recognize her
or her little son. that she has every right
20 call herself their daughter-ln- law, and
70 share in their wealth.
This is the paragraphs
Down IN the neighborhood OF Broadway
and Eighth street there exists what Is
known as the New York Hotel Bible So
c'rfy When the hotel cafe closed for
good on the evening ~ March IS 1896.
the head bartender set up a farewell
round Of drinks. and in addition handed
each customer present a Bible. These
hat been collected from the various
rooms and bear, stamped in gold letters,
the words Given by the New York Bible
society 20 the New York Hotel. 1871"
The recipients Of these volumes, who are
tuainess-mcn Of the neiGhborhooi,
promptly organized an informal society.
The members are not exactly religious,
bit cardinal principle Of their dealings
with each other is the golden rule.
CERTIFICATE IN \ BIBLE.
There were q few Of these Bibles which
John Farrell, the manager Of the cafe.
OH not give away. simply because there
were not customers enough % take them.
As they were not Catalogued among the
other articles 90 be sold, he took one ~
two % them 20 his home Then he bacc
goodbye 20 the hotel after ten years
OF service. and after having all his fellow
employees put their autographs on the fly
leaves OF another Bible. ne took that
home. placed N aside, and promptly for
got all about g.
Having nothing better 20 DO "a month or
80 Dfterward he took UP this book, and
turning over "a page. he found neatly
folded paper which he soon had spread
out before him on the table.
II was n marriage certificate. showing
that Ralph Preston, OF Richmond. Va, /
had taken Anna German az his wife. As
well as Mr. Farrell can rrcollcct. II
showed that the late Rev Dr. Deems !
who was pastor Of the Church Of the
Strangers, In Mercer street had performed |
the ceremony. Fomc time I'm 1891. lie |
wrote to Ralph Preston, Of Richmond, |
telling him he had discovered the certih- |
cate bat he never received any reply |
TO his letter.
lie opened saloon in clinton Place a !
Few months ago. lie was behind the |
rar last Friday when a cab drove up |
.o his door. and from II aliEhtcd a good !
ooking woman about rs years old. dressed |
o. Widows weeds She entered the saloon, !
r1girinC ~ ne was Mr. Farrell, and |
then she drew from her pocket copy Of /
iha Herald in which was printed the |
e'Dry Of the distribution Of the Bibles. |
ts Farrell tells II, this Is what followed: |
a STRANGE STORY.
1T is that" she said (which has |
brought mo to your place all the way |
from Richmond. Before ] tell YOU what |
. am seeking I viii tell you my story" !
Il Zen In love with q young man in |
Richmond I'm 1891. Ills folks were wealthy, |
min" were not. They would not hear OF /
a.s marriage TO me, and he proposed that |
Sc run away and he married. ] agreed, |
and after O. civil marriage In a town some |
miles away from Richmond. We came |
raht TO this city and to IN" New York |
Hotel
.- not fully satisfied with the civil cere.
m1ny, ] insisted that a minister join us.
We found that n minister. | think il was |
the Rev. UT. Deems was guest OF the |
hotel aud 90 him We went and were mar
rlrd We occupied the bridal chamber Of |
the hotel for a few days, and then we
CALLED for Europe.
There my husband, who was n Wild |
boy, seemed 20 forget his love for me. |
He dlSs.pated heavily. became III. and |
while We We're temporarily separated he |
died I whs left penniless. and was I'M |
able 20 return to this country until after |
my boy was born when I did return |
I went directly to Richmond and to my |
husbands parents
ITO my CONSERVATION they refused TO |
recognize me. saying their son had never |
said he was married to me- Indignant |
I said | would produce my marriage GER |
rFc4tc. and went TO my trunk to get It; |
mt I could not find II, and search as l |
could ! could not bring IT 10 light. SO l
concluded ] had lost Il, and was forced to
tear tho calunny and rcproaChes which
lry failure % produce it brought on me-
With my son / moved into the suburbs /
ns Richmond. and there ] have lived ever
since. my husbands friends refusing TO
GAVE HER A CLEw.
u picked up an old copy Of the Herald
. fav. daya ago. and there l read the
raraEraph about the distribution OF the
E.g, York Hotels Bibles. Like nash
/, an came back to me. one night while
ar the hotel my husband went out. | was
r..liur the Bible, and put it down TO
look at nv certificate | continued read
.- the Bible until something else at
trt.tgi my attention. and / put the GER
fH.4tr into the book as a page mark. |
closed IL. and never thought of it after
uarI. until ] read that article in the
Herald.
Vow / want you 10 help me find every
T...0u who received one Of those Bibles,
.n. / will visit all, for ! must ind that
certificate Il It takes years"
What were the names on the CertEi-
lafar" shouted Farrell, who was 50 cX-
cited that he could not restrain HIM
My husbands name was Ralph Pres
-ua ana mine was Anna O'GoT'-
[ have it, have H." yelled Farrell,
'lt ls al home. Wait here hVe minutes
arl IN get IL for you
Giving the woman no chance TO say a
n rl he rushed from the saloon He was
back in a jiny, and had placed In the
mans hands the long lost certificate.
lt s useless 70 endeayor to describe her
.g. but her eyes flied with tears, and
-rn left. saying she would start at
.... ior Richmond, she assured Farrell
".t lhIs must convince her husbands
l.ra'ra and II SO. she would see that
.. Was not forgotten.
GOOD bless the Herald and YOU" were
r last words.
.Espu has not heard from her since,
20 aU iHe members OF the Now 1oIh
a.i. Bible society know Of the strange
10 and all are awaiting further de-
'-.-l-tutE with feverish anxiety.
No Trace of Preston.
lave igauon on the part Of the Dispatch
.H o. develop any trace Of Ralph Pres
.. no such man Is known 70 have |
.i tu or near Richmond, and the
..reuya 10 a oiyil marriage In a town
. .. miles from Richmond gives addl-
-.... doubtful cast 10 the story.
Educational Excursion.
4 Litter has been received here from Mr..
'.H1 IS. Prsther secretary OF public
5..sslt Of Anderson. Ind. saying that
.. Board OF Education have adopted |
---- IL D - ~. nrL.al nrA r.nnra nhLcal / .