Black people -- Jamaica; Jamaica; Slavery -- Jamaica
Very often the complaining man warns the public that he intends to marry
again, as “I cannot manage myself.” Sometimes he puts it in much more
grandiloquent language.
“My wife, Mrs Henrietta Scott, has not been under my protection for the
last twenty-one years, 1899 to 1920, and I am not aware of her existence
outside of Jamaica. Unless I am put in possession of information as to
whether she is living or not, I shall proceed to enter into contract of
matrimony. Joseph Scott, Windward Boad, Kingston, 12th July 1920.”
On other occasions the lady has something to say on the subject.
“Notice.--I, Edith Phinn, hereby beg to notify the public that my chief
cause to leave my husband was this: He has ill-treated me and threatened
to shoot me with his revolver, and I am now residing at my families
residence, 50 Cumberland Road, Spanish Town.”
I do like “my families residence.”
And yet another indignant lady--
“Notice.--I beg to inform the public that I have not left the care and
protection of my husband as stated by him” (I do regret that I
missed his advertisement), “and furthermore all his real and personal
belongings are for myself and his four children. We are living in his
home, I never left it even for a day. So I therefore warn the public
not to transact any business with him without my consent.--(Mrs) M. E.
Sibblies, Lewis Store, Clonmel, P.O.”
A lady who can take care of herself!
I suppose nobody quite realises what it is that appeals to a man in the
woman he takes. Presumably there is usually some strong attraction, and
yet there is a story told in Jamaica, a perfectly true story I believe,
which makes me feel that some people are either easily satisfied or
exceedingly accommodating.
There were brides and grooms and bridesmaids and ushers, and much
excitement and confusion and giggling, but the parson went on gravely
with the ceremony, trusting by his correct demeanour to bring these
dark children of the church to a realisation of the solemnity of the
sacrament in which they were taking part. But they would not calm down.
“I think--” he began severely, when the last words had been spoken, but
an usher, who had been particularly objectionable, interrupted him, and
he gave him the attention now he had denied him during the service.
“But sali, but minister,” stammered the excited gentleman in a high
collar, “you's married de wrong woman on to de wrong man!”
Now I, being a common-sense heathen, should have been tempted to
say, like the clergyman officiating at Easter-time marriages in the
Potteries, when ten or twelve couples are married at once, “Now, sort
yourselves.” It seems to me it is the intention that counts. But our
clergyman was made of different stuff. He firmly believed he had bound
indissolubly men and women who did not desire each other, and in much
consternation he retired to his study and sat there with his head in his
hands, wondering what on earth he should do.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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