Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-08-12
Arch Marriage Ceremony.

The following description of a mar
riage in Illinois, by newly appointed
Justice of the Peace, who is something
of wag, is taken verbatim, from let
ter written to friend in this city. He
says:
"Having been appointed to the desi.
rable 'posish' of Justice of the Peace, /
was accosted on the 9th day of July by
sleek looking young man, and in sill
very tones requested to proceed to a
neighboring hotel, as he wished to en-
ter into the holy bonds of matrimony.
Here was a 'squelcher.' / had never
done anything of the kind, had no books
or forms; yet / was determined to do
things up strong and in legal manner;
so proceeded TO the hotel, bearing in
my arms one copy of the Revised Stat
utes one ditto Webster's Unabridged
Dictionary, one copy large size Bible, a
small copy of the Greed and Articles of
Faith of the Congregational Church,
one copy Pope's Essay on Man, and a
sectional part of the map where the VIC
tim lived. Having placed table in the
middle of the room, and seated myself
behind it, 1, in trumpet tones called the
case. With that the young man and
woman, with great alacrity, stepped up
before me. Having sworn them on the
dictionary to answer well and truly all
the questions was about to ask, pro-
ceeded. I told the young man, that,
| being an entire stranger, should have
| to ask him to give bail for the costs.
Having heard this so frequently in court,
L thought it indispensable. He answered
| If L meant the fee for performing the
marriage ceremony, he would deposit it
then and there. As 1 did not know ex-
| actly what / did mean, magnanimous-
ly waived that portion of the ceremony.
I then told him it would be necessary 70
give bail to keep the peace. This he
said he was willing to d0when he arrived
at home, and then waived that point
also.
"Having established to my satisfac-
ton that they wanted to get married,
and that they we're old enough to ven-
ture into that blessed state, proceeded
to tie the knot. asked him if he was
willing to take that woman TO be his
wife. He said he was. told him that
l did not require haste in the matter,
that he might reflect few moments if
he wished. ] told him she looked like
a fine girl, and had no doubt she was,
but if the sequel proved that he had
been taken in, did not want to be held
responsible, said he must love, honor
and obey her as long as she lived. He
must not be snappy around the house.
nor spit tobacco juice on the floor, all of
which he promised faithfully to heed.
"sNow, said /, 'Georgiana, (her
name was Georgiana, you hear what
Humphrey says Do you accept the in
vitation to become his wife will you be
lenient towards his faults, and cherish
his virtues; will you never be guilty of
throwing furniture at Lis head for
slight offences, and will you get three
meals day without grurnbling 2 She
said she would. I asked them if they
believed in the commandments, and
they said they did. Having read the
creed and articles of faith, as aforesaid,
exclaimed, Humphrey, take her, she
is yours cannot withhold my con-
sent. Georgiana, when safe in the arms
of your Humphrey, You can defy the
SCOTS and ieers of the world
81 then read little from the Essay
on Man, including that passage, Man
wants but little here below, but wants
that little long. As final to the
scene. delivered the following exordi-
UNI, Go In peace, sin no more.
The generous Humphrey having
placed fifty cent check in my unwii-
ling palm, babe the happy pair final
adieu."