The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-11-02
MARRIAGES GALORE.

Wedlocit Is sweeping over it. There is u
law called the Edmunds law. It was
meant to NOW the M0rmOns. But it has
been put into recent active operation in
the city Of Washington, and thousands
of the colored race were caught within
its coils. A large portion Of them have
never thought Of getting a marriage H.
II or p~arading before a preacher at
all.
The whole population of the District
is declared by the police census to be
about 2i0,0 O of which so, 600 are Of
African blood The books also declare
that while colo2ed persons take out only
q per cent Of the marriage licenses they
furnish 40 per cent Of the births.
The cOn~stabulary a month ago began
to arrest all who We're found living to-
gether without marriage. Colored cir
cles became profoundly agitated.
Not more than twoscore had been
sent to the workhouse when former
Representative Conn of Indiana, d mil
lionaire, heard of the crusade.
why not cure these evils with a dose
OF marriage licenses:" asked Mr.. Conn.
He negotiated for q few roams Of
blank marriage licenses and started in.
He fitted up a big room i'll his building
and made Il compact with the Rev. j.
w. Norris Of one of the local colored
churches, by the terms OF which the
Rev. Mr.. Norris WAS t. report for duty
at 3 o'clock in the afternoon during the
six working days Of the week and mar
ry all Corners.
The bureau has been running less
than a week, and the craze to come
down town and be married" is preying
upon the colored population. There have
been rs couples married during four
days.
Most of them said they had not been
married before; it cost too much. Some
OF the applicants for a free wedding
We're aged ''uncles" and ''aunties'' who
had lived together ever "since de wah.
"It am suttingly a CRETE privilege
which,, remarked the Rev. Mr.. Norris,
ode moral sagashusness of Mistah Conn
nnfol's to de pore darkened colored sin
ners of Wash'nton al vicinity" The
Rev. Mr.. Norris might have said more,
Sut 8 O'Clock rung out; game was called
and he had to go to bat. His SIS and his
duty called.
Things had simmered to a system in
this business of marriage at wholesale,
The preliminary canter, as it were, con
sisted Of a fashion of wedding march
when n after another each couple pa
d before the preachers desk and re-
piled to such queries as the law pre-
scribes. They did this readily.
The first couple to score was John
Jones and Della Merriman. Johns age
gained him this precedence. He was
wrinkled and bent, with wool as white
as cotton.
"Evah since Gin'rul Grant reviewed
his troops at de close Oh de wah," OBJ
served John to me. me and my ole De-
lila has been alvin together. Blu I'm
gettin ole, an me an Della allowed de
day befo' yist day dat eff We hadn't lived
married Gle least wuz we'd die married.
After the Rev. Mr.. Norris had asked
the questions he addressed the multi
tude briefly. 1t was a labor saving ora
tion. He said:
"Now eff you all folks will stan about
me in IA se%inmysuckle | can marry seben
couple at IA chatter an shorten de time,
Seven couples arranged themselves in
an arc in front of the Rev. MI. Norris.
When the seven couples We're arranged
the Rev. Mr.. Norris cleared his throat,
opened his book and remarked:
''Stan facln each other an jine yo'
right hans They did it as if the move
I-.- .l.nl rl,D,., thA-
stood, these "A black candidates for Il
better life and IA higher plane of morals,
looking for all the world as if they ex-
pected the next order would be Grand
right and left"
But it wasn't. The Rev. Mr.. Norris
married tho whole outfit in less than a
minute. OF those who were welded
that day all had been in need Of the
from + to 30 years. At
least 10 children were rendered legiti'
mate by thai days charity Of Mr.. Conn.
A colored belle approached timldiy
and said she and Il young man named
Hill wanted to he made man and wife.
"Whar is heE" remarked the Rev.
Mr.. Norris. "P'int de tritler out, all II
marry you.
''Mistah Hill amt heah," she muir
INJURED, hanging her head. But if i
rains we will be- down tomorrow at
O'clock
whats do rain got to do wild it?'
demanded the Rev. Mr.. Norris suspi
ciously.
"Why, Heury's a bricklayer, replied
the bride to ba. "Ef it's sunshiny he
be at work an We'll have to put it off
But eff it rams We'll come tomorrow
ar =