Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-01-16
MARRIAGE OF WONG WA FOY
THE TRUE STORY OF A STOLEN BRIDE.
Ely j. H. EMERY
BY j. II. EMERY.

absolutely refused to be married in
Chinese costume. Her plum-coiored
tunic and widc-ilowing trousers must
be exchanged for American clothes:
only her jade stone earrings ana silver
| tipped bamboo bracelets were retained.
together with the jeweled darts that
held back her purp,e-black hair.
Close questioning convinced me that
this was a true love match-no bargain
and sale. rs | had feared. such as is
common OF the Pacific Coast. All
they asked was American protection
and freedom from moles;at lion.
With painstaking care. matrimonial
responsibilities. moral and legal. were
| explained ard Il minister engaged. who
helped Wong secure his license. The
ceremony was set for ha,r-paSt two.
and the Young couple departed to Sc.
cure suitable garments.
With amused impa tiencc the clergy.
man and Il few invited guests waited
ill > y. III. fo: the chief actors. At last
they appeared in full conventional
dress. gray kid gloves and fashionable
bats. the poor little bride struggling
painfully with her rnaccustomed
skirts.
Without further preliminary. these
two members OF an alien race We're
made one. What God has Joined
;oGe, her let no man put asunder"
Then came m uncx Dected hitch. II
the marriage certificate Ma 10y" was
tie Eaiae given the b-iGe by the c,c:k
az ilie caur, 20 this shc objected. say.
ing. My r:ac not so. my Sunday
school teacher say r;"ht name A-a-u-a."
and Anna Only woI!j she s;Sn
Na:rly the newly married pair
searched for respectable boardin.
nlacc among ;hr whites. M ona would
take the Chinese pair. lodgings were
secured. however. in TIE American part
Of The town. a&d they settled down To
housekeeping.
~ this i:rcturc was suddenly
called East; Before leaving took
Wong and his wife to church. ana be-
smoke tn" kindly interest of the Ladies'
Missionary Society in their behalf I
also impressed upon them that the min
ste" would befriend them in case OF
need. Thea. secure in the thought that
;heSa two Eeathcn AZ the door would
he well cared for hy workers in the
hidden field" took my departure.
Six weeks later / returned to find
that the Chinese bride had been
claimed by Chinese Free Mason OF
Butte. as HIS friend and chattel. valued
at $500. and spirited away. while her
husband had seemingly been swept
from the face OF tho earth. rs not thu
fain.cst trace Of his whereabouts could
be- foInd.
Chinatown. though racked to fhe
cenirr. h,indly smiled NJ the inIuisit.ve
reno:teTS. and refused all explanations.
Ny own anxious inquiries among my
Chinese friends were met Will, polite
evasions or abirct APOLOGIES We alice
solly Wong make Miss Eilery So much
.rorb.e. He steal him wife" To my
Indignant protests that Nh 10y WAS
lawfuilv married and should b. nro.
tec:ed liy the courts. they answered;
Wong know better ;haa 90 to court.
Wong 20 To law. no win, alice lite. he
nay cost. You help Wong win. then
Chinese paper say. One thousand dol
lars for some one stick a knife in
Wonc.' You not know what Chinese
paper say. No one kill for one thou
sand. paper say. Two thousand. three
thousand Some night Wong die M
Que know. Flee Mason pay. Six Com
1aHy pay Wong Flee Mason. Na 10y
bion= TO Flee Mason. Wong steal him
wife: tell much biz lie. Veily bad
Somewhere in Eu:tc- Montana.
Swee;-caccd wife worse tl.an widowed.
rags out her l:oae:esS days in degra-
iat:on and shame. while he: marriage
certificate is fled sway 10y thr clerk
# the court
Sufficiently enlightened to understand
that -Amcrica WIS the home OF the free.
where no slavery could exist. these
simple minded children had sought un.
der protection of our laws to evade
Cheese customs. Ma 10y. the chattei.
hld RIM away from bondage believing
hat in this Christian land she would
he permitted to head clean. virtucCs
life rs the wife of Wong Wa FOy.
What could do: What could any
one DO single handed with the sword
Cf DamocleS hanging by n hair over
.hcir heads:
No doubt Wong was killed" said
he minister. Ia which the editor added.
It's hot stufT for u story Write it mp.
Have it i.luStra;cl in co.ovs.'-New
Nor.: Evening Post