The sun., 1895-05-27
MARRIED FREE OF COST.
ENFORCING THF rnwuNDS IAH TN
THE DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

A Morning Newspaper Establishes . Mat
rimoninI Bureau, nnd Impccnnious Col.
ored Couples who Have Been Living
Together Contrary to thc I.nw Throug 10
Daily TO Get Married without Price.
WASHINGTON, May o6.-Cake walks and CRAP
shooting parties are not popular In middle. class
colored society in Washington just now. Getting
married FREQ OF cost is their latest fad" The
local authorities have entered upon vigorous
enforcement of the so-callcd Edmunds act,
which prohibits people living together as man
and wife who hnvc neglected to go through the
formalitics OF a legal marriage. This law was
framed to stamp out poly ysamy In the Territories.
Tho law Is now held to be applicable In the
District of Columbia.
For moro than week past the police have
been filling the Police Court daily with offenders
against this law. the large majority of them boz
Ing colorcd people Many of the victims. when
brought into court, declared thnt they did not
have the price OF the marriage liccnso-S1-nor
the fee for the minister On several occasions
the hat has been passed among the lawyers in
court and the ceremony then and there per-
formed. Finally the presiding Judge DECLARED
that he was tired OF having the court business
interfcred with by these frequent marriages.
and he threatened to enforce the law to Its full
est extent in the future.
"A low uayS ago Jno owner OF n morning newe>
paper came forward and volunteered to furnish
the necessary marriage licenses, the parson, and
place for the ceremony to be performed. for
all who desired to marry and thus advertise his
paper. Tho glad tidings spread rapidly among
the impecunous colored population. and the
improvised matrimonial market is doing Q
thriving business daily. room has been fitted
upin the top, story OF the newspaper office,
to come there at certain bonrs ensas1a sna s
the nuptial knot for all who desire to take adj
vantage OF the opportunity to be legally mar
mart arc amusing to the throng of spectators.
There stands nn ebony-hue minister, who is
provided with an almost inexhaustible supply
Of marriage licenses, for all comers. black or
or O'Clock In the afternoon. when the particle
pants have finished their days work.
Among tho candidates for matrimonial honors
and Robert Leo and Victoria Queen. Some OF
the bridal parties, were decked out in all the
colors Of the rainbow. with a little dash OF
Alice jackson look ed as though they had walked
many miles to legalize their union. and they
were about to Join a group and repeat on the
mony. Reuben Holmes and Mamie Thompson
had evidently been coached" for the cere-
mony; for they went through the performance
the average couple. When tho rush became
fast and furious the pnrson did not "eplce"
one couple at a time, but he directed them in
punches OF four and five to stand up and take
Thus far nine -tenths of these marriages have
been among col ored people. many OF whom havo
M lived together IN an unmarried state for years.
dark corners" Of this city to take advantage
OF this opportunity to start life anew in q legal
manner. It is the leading topic of gossip among
pie Of matrimony" is a popular resort for the
study OF human nature in black"