The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-07
4 tidal WAVE OF VEDL0CK
And Thousands ofthe CoIored Race
Caught Within Its Coil.
Rev. Mr.. Morris Employed by the Day
30 Perform the Ceremony. Joined
in Satches. Great Rush to
Escape the WcrShouse by
Negligent Negroes.


! DENT in Washington is in the grasp of
8 great moral reform. A tidal wave Of
wedl6ck is sweeping over it. There is II
! lAw called the Edsaunds law. II was
{ meant to now tho Mormoas. But it has
been put into recent active operation in
tine city of Washington. and thousands
OF the colored race were caught within
h its coils, A large portion Of them have
never thought of getting o marriage Ii
cense or parading before preacher Mt
sall.
The whole population of the District
h lis declared ny the police census to be
i about gro, 900, of which so, 900 are Of
African blood. The books also declare
that while colored persons take ont only
& 6 per cent of the marriage licenses they
! Furnish 40 per cent of the births
The constnbulnry mouth ago began
40 arrest all who were found living to-
sether without marriage. Colored cir
Giles became profoundly agitated.
Not more than twoscoro had been
sent to tho workhouse when former
Representative Conn of Indiana, mil
liensire, heard of the crusade.
Why not cure these evils with dose
[ of marriage licenses?" asked Mr Conn
He negotiated for a few roalns Of
4 blank marriage licenses and started in.
II He fitted up big room in his building
\ snd made q compact with the Row j.
b W. Norris Of one of the local colored
churches, by tho terms Of which the
Rev. Mr.. Norris was to report for duty
at 3 O'Clock in the afternoon during tho
t5<rSyr 4
Ii ~ all corners.
The bureau has been running less
4 than O week, and tho craze to come
down town and be married. is prcying
inpon the colored population. There have
/ baen 20 couples married during four
Ifdays. Az
Most Of them said they had not been
married before; it cost too much Some
1 of the Applicants for FREQ wedding
II were aged "uncles" and "auntios" who
1 had lived together ever since dc wah "
Il 1t am suttingly u CRETE privilege
4 (which, remarked the Rev Mr.. Norris,
4 de moral sagashusness of Mistah Conn
u nnfol's to de pore darkenod colored sin
a ners Of Wash 'nton an vicinity" Tho
q Rev. Mr.. Norris might have said more.
q hnt O'Clock rung out; game was called
4 and he had to go to bat. His IS and his
q duty called.
II Things had simmered to a system in
q this business Of marriage Mt Wholesale.
Il the preliminary canter, as it were, con-
B1sted of fashion of wedding march
i when one after another each couple pn-
a raded before tho preachers desk and re-
e8piied, to such queries as the law pre-
48 Gcrfbes. They did this readily.
81 Tho first couple to score was John
81 aones and Della Merriman. Johns age
gainea him this precedence. He was
wrinkied and bent, with wool as white
las cotton
q Evah since Gin'rul Grant reviewed
is3his troops Mt de close OBJ do wah," OBJ
Easeeryed John to me, me and my ole De-
|aa$$liaSh has been alvin together. But I'm
9gettin ole, an me Sn Della allowed de
s55slay befo' yist day dat eff we hadn't lived
3}3narried de least wuz we'd die married. -
After the Rev. Mr. Norris had asked
s99the questions he addressed the multi
833tnde briefly. 1t was labor saving ora
tion. He said:
a Now of you all folks will stan about
2sae In semmysuckle can marry seben
*$ceupas at clatter an shorten de time -
81 Sayen couples arranged themselves in
6ss45san arc in front of the Rev. Mr. Norris.
zzS han the seven couples were arranged
The Rev. Mr.. Norris cleared his throat,
Eppened his book and remarked:
Stan faoin each other an jine yo'
right hans" They did it as if the move
ment had been rehearsed. There they
<fStaod, these IA black candidates for n
5etter life and q higher plano of morals,
ooking for all the world as if they ex-
scted the next order would be Grand
Might and left. y
ia But 1t wasn't The Rev. Mr. Norris
snsarTied the whole outfit in less than q
minute. Of those who were welded
M hat day all bad been in need Of the
eremony from to 30 years. At
least 20 children were rendered legiti.
& rate by that days charity Of Mr.. Conn.
a a colored belle approached timidly
md said she and Young man named
disi wanted to be made man and wife.
H Nhar ia he?" remarked the Rev.
IT. Norris. "P'int de trifer out, an I'll
narry you"
Mistah Hill amt heah," she muir
2aured, hanging hor head "But if it
gains we will be down tomorrow at 8
2<$s, c5Dcl. -
What's de rain got to do wild it?''
M ananded the Rev. Mr.. Norris suspi.
tS5<i S,ffslr