The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-16
A NOVEL SCENE.


A NOVEL SCENE.
When Quong Wah, the proprietor of
the Chinese laundry at 252 West Third
South street, presented himself at the
county clerks office yesterday after
noon and asked for a "mallige lishens"
for himself and the young lady who
accompanied him, Clerk Blair was
ncnplussed. The chief of the marriage
bureau called to mind the laws restric-
tons and informed the couple that he
feared he could not issue the license.
Quong Chung Yuen, the Commercial
street merchant, should have been on
hand to act as interpreter for the
han-scared Monaghan who talked
pigeon English, and further negotia-
tons were postponed till Mr.. Yuen put
in his appearance. Miss Harris could
have acted as interpreter only that she
could not talk Chinese.
After a few minutes delay, Quong
Chung Yuen, the interpreter, came.
His coming cheered UP the shriveied.
homely MIR. Wah and the lass whom
he wants to ''mally."
Deputy Clerk Blair invited the trio
into the private Office and conducted an
inquiry TO ascertain whether he could
legally issue q license to the China
man and the girl whose COMPLEXION is
that of = Caucasian
Quong Wah was ill at ease He said
he was IS, although he looked twice
that old. He asked his "fend," Yuen.
the interpreter. to say TO Deputy Blair
that he 'Iubed Miss Hallis'' and
wanted a "liShenS to mally her."
THE LAW EXPOUNDED.
Eyes, L understand said Mr. Blair,
'but the law prohibits marriage be-
tween Mongolians and white persons or
between negroes and whites, but the
law does not seem to be clear on the
point as to whether Mongolians and
negroes may marry. The law is very
strict and 1 would get myself in
trouble If l issued a license for a mar
riage that is prohibited. Your COM
plexion, Miss Harris, would indicate
that you are Caucasian, and il YOU
are I cannot grant the marriage per-
nit"
ANCESTRY OF MISS HARRIS.
Miss Harris then went on to state
that she was a Quadroou. Her father
was half-cOlored and Irish: that is,
her grandfather was negro and her
grandmother came from Ireland. Her
mother. she.said, was a French creole.
In the general acceDtation of the
term = creole is one born near the
tropics. Miss Harris said she was
born in Winnipeg, Canada, % years
ago and came to Salt Lake about three
years since. overland. with a man
named Emil, who works for the b. &
o. Transfer company.
Miss Harris further stated that her
occupation was that of a domestic. I
She became acquainted with Mr.. Wah
early this year and worked for him
several months ironing in his laundry. |
QUESTION OF COLOR.
Mr.. Blair asked the Chinaman. do
you know this to be a white woman?"
Miss Harris answered the question
by saying: IT claim to be colored, but
would pass for white. Since living
in Salt Lake have associated with
both colored and white people and
have been classed as both"
But your complexion indicates that
you would be more properly cIassed
as a Caucasian" suggested Mr.. Blair. \
I'm Canada" retorted Miss Harris,
half breeds have blue eyes and light
hair Complexion counts for nothing.
don't see why you can't. issue the
license. Judge Varian says there is 30
law in this state to prevent US getting
LOVE AND SYMPATHY.
When asked for her reasons for /
to marry the Chinaman, Miss |
Harris said she had been sick with /
common to her sex and she /
felt unable to work and earn a living. !
She was constantly under DR.. Witch |
er'S care and il was her desire to ac- /
cept the love and hand in marriage of /
Mr.. Wah so she could have home and |
not be thrown out upon the cold and |
heartlesS world. I
Through the grinning interpreter, |
Mr. Wah was asked his reasons for |
wanting TO enter the marriage state. |
The Chinaman stated that his SYM |
pathetic heart had been touched and /
warmed INTO love for Miss Harris, /
whom he regarded as a good girl He /
aad paid her doctors and hospital bills
and had paid out money for the medi-
zines she needed, and in addition he
had shown his sympathetic love by
'enting a room for her so she could en-
10y some of the comforts of home.
The deputy clerk suggested that
Mr. Wah could not return to China if
lie married Miss Harris. and the I'M
ortunate woman replied: "Oh, no."
IN China lots of white girls marry
Cinnamon end wear Chinese clothes,
)ut I would not care 20 change my
manner of dress"
THE LICENSE REFUSED.
This closed the evidence and sum-
illue5 up ICPalS SAStA EiSb4A cl14llOOlANC4
hat as he understood it the pre-
,onderance of blood in Miss Harris
vas Caucasian and besides it had not
,een established to his satisfaction
hat Mr.. Wah and Miss Harris were
qualified to receive marriage license.
DR. Blair added that he believed the
question should be judicially passed
IDon. He did not feel like assuming
he responsibility of issuing the license
N the Sing made. but if the court