The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929)(about) |
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Monday 17 December 1928
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2 corrections, most recently by djbcjk - Show corrections
Black and White at the Altar.
I mentioned recently the interest asso- ciated with the scanning of early news- paper files. In proof a correspondent has forwarded the copy of a paragraph
taken from the Southern Australian of January 28, 1848, recording the first legal marriage in South Australia of a white man to an aboriginal woman. The Deputy-Registrar-General performed the ceremony on the previous day. The bride- groom, Thomas Adams, was a shepherd at Crystal Brook, and was 37 years old. His black bride was named Kudnarto. She belonged to the Crystal Brook tribe, and was 16 years of age. The report of the wedding goes on to say: — The bride has been for more than two years living with her present husband, whose affections have become so strong towards her that he determined on securing her for his lawful wife. For the last two months she his been in the native school. Her dress during the ceremony was a neat gown and low boots. She wore no bonnet, but her hair was carefully dressed, and her whole appearance denoted cleanliness and comfort. Mr. Moorhouse, protector of aborigines, attended and gave her away. She speaks good English, and repeated the responses distinctly. She is, for one of her race, remark- ably good looking, and has a pleasant expression of countenance. We are told that the fortu- nate swain considers that he has made an acquisition, as she is a good tempered and very hard-working girl. Two other Europeans have for some time, we understand, contemplated similar marriages, and now the ice has been broken it is probable they will carry their intentions into effect. One of the intended brides is now in the native school under due training. "The Law Pays." The lawyers played the law students cricket on Friday, and there was a dinner at the South Australian Hotel in the even- ing. And thereby hangs a little story. Four busy newspaper men who had been for a vigorous three-mile walk, hit the South Australian, just before 6 p.m., and called for drinks. The waiter brought the order, and when the money wad tendered, he said, "Are you with the law?" Having been with the law all my life except when our liberties are as- sailed by some absurd Act of Parliament, I replied, "Yes, I'm with the law." The waiter replied, "Then you need not pay. The law pays." Emerging through a cloud of smoke from an hilarious company, my old friend H. T. Ward said, 'We're having a discussion as to whether you are 'Autolycus,' 'Rufus,' or 'Behemoth,' and we want you to decide. "Well, I'm so bewildered by the attitude of the waiter who refuses to take money for the drinks, explaining that the law pays, that I positively don't know who I am," I answered.