The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-09-27
ARich Marriage Ceremony.

. r
The following description of marriage
in Illinois by newly appointed Justice
of the Peace who is something of wag,
is taken verbatim from letter written to
friend in this city. He says:pais,g Afi
Having been appointed to the desirable
G"posish" of Justice of, the Peace, was
accosted, on the 9th day of July, by a
sleek-looking young man, and, in silvery
tones, requestedto to proceed to nei ighbor-
ing hotel, as he wished to enter into the
holy bonds of matrimony. Here was
"squelcher. l had never done anything
of the kind; had no book or forms; yet
was determined to do things up strong,
and in legal manner. So I proceeded
to the hotel, bearing in my arms one copy
of the revised statues, one ditto Web
ster's Unabridged Dictionary, one copy
large-size Bible, small copy of the
Creed and Articles of Faith of the Con-
gregational Church, one copy of Pope's
Essay on Man, and sectional part of the
map where the victim lived. Having
placed a table in the middle of the room
and seated myself behind it, I, in trumpet
tones, called the case. With that the
young man and woman, with great alac-
rity, stepped up before mo. Having
Isworn9them on the dictionory to answer
we'll and truly all the questions 1 was
about to ask, I proceeded. I, told the
young man that, being an entire stranger,
I should have to ask him to give bail for
the costs. Having heard this so fre-
quently in Court, l thought it indispensa7
Bile. He answered, if I meant the fee for
performing the ceremony, he would de-
posit it then and there. As / did not
know exactly what I did mean, / mag
unanimously waved that portion of the
ceremony. I then told him it would be
necessary to give bail to keep the peace.
This he said he was willing to do when he
arrived at home, and I then waived that
point also.
Having established to my satisfaction
that they wanted to get married, and that
they were old enough to enter into thai
blessed state, l proceeded to tie the knot.
l asked him if he was willing to take that
woman to be his wife. He said he was
I told him did not require haste in the
answer; that he might reflect few minutes
if he wished. told him she looked like
ine girl, and I had ne doubt she was
but if the sequel proved thet he had beer
taken in, / did not want to be held re
[sponsible. I said he must love, honor
and obey her, as Long as she lived. III,
must not be "snappy' around the house
nor spit tabacLo juice on the floor, all O
! which he promised to heed.
Now said 1, sGeos giana. Cher name
was Georgiana,) you hear what Humphr,
says. Do you accept the invitation to be
come his wife; will you be lenient towart
his faults, and cherish his virtues; viii
you never be guilty of throwing furnitur,
at his head for slight offences, and will
you get three meals day without grum
bling? She said she would. asked
them if they believed in the command
4 ments, and they said they did. Having
read the creed and articles of faith, a
aforesaid, I exclaimed, 'Humphry, tax
her; she is yours; can not withhold m
consent Georgiana, when safe in th
arms of your Humphry, you can defy tn
SCOTS and jeers of the world ets~
/ then read little from the Essay O
Man, incl uding that passage, Man want
but little here below, but wants that lii
tie long As finale to the scene, I de
liyered the following exordium: 60 il
1 peace, sin no more, ~ is;g sss5, -. "a,
i The generous Humphry having placet
fifty cent check in my unwilling palm,
bade the happy pair a final adieu.