Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-02-21
Anioh ,rarrlnre ceremony.
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From the DeSoto tWisl) Repubiican1
A number OF years ago there dwelt in
this village gentleman by the name of
Charles Whiting. IL ever human be-
inc was overstocked with good humor
and waggishness il was that same Whit
ing. He was up to all sorts of innocent
tricks, and his victims were numbered
by the hundred, many OF whom yet re-
side here 1t came to pass that this
wag was elected Justice Of the Peace,
and shortly after his installment in Of
fee. a couple came over from Iowa to
get united in the holy bonds of pad
lock-" Whiting tells how he performed
the ceremony, as follows;
Having been appointed to the desira.
BILE "posish" of Justice of the Peace, i
was accosted, on the 9th of July, by a
sleek-looking young man, and IN silvery
tones requested to proceed to neigh
boring hotel, as he wished 10 enter
into the holy bonds of matrimony. Here
was squelcher." / had never done
ANYTHING of the kind, had no books nor
forms eSet, | was determined TO do things
mn strong and in legal manner, so |
proceeded to the hotel, bearing in my
arms one COPY of the Revised Statutes,
one ditto Webster's unabridged diction-
airy, one copy large-sized Bible, a small
copy Of the creed and articles OF faith OF
the Congregational church, one copy of
Pope's Essay on Man, and sectional
part of the map where the victim lived.
i Having placed table in the middle of
the room, and seated myself behind it, |
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, ! proceeded. l 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, thought it indis-
pensable. He answered that if | meant
the fee for performing the ceremony, he
would deposit it then and there. As |
did not know exactly what | did mean,
magnanimously waived that portion of
the ceremony. EtheR told him il would
be necessary to give bail to keep the
peace. This he said he was willing to do
when he arrived home, and | then waived
that point also.
Having established to my satisfaction
that they wanted to get married, and that
they we're old enough to enter 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 / did not require haste
in the answer-that he might reflect a
few minutes if he wished. | told him
she looked like 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.
"Now," said /, Georgiana [her name
was Georgianal, you hear what Hum
phrey says. Do you accept the invita-
ton to become his wife? Will you be
lenient toward his faults and cherish his
virtues; will you never be guilty of throw
ing furniture at his head for slight Of
lenses, and will you get three meals a
day without grumbling? She said she
would. / asked them if they believed
in the commandments, and they said
they did. Having read the creed and
articles of faith, as aforesaid, | ex-
claimed: Humphrey, take her, she is
yours; cannot withhold my consent.
Georgiana, when safe in the arms of
your Humphrey, you can defy the SCOTS
and jeers of the world.
then read little from the Essay on
Man, including that passage, Man
wants little here below, but wants that
little long" AS finale to the scene, !
delivered the following exordium: Go,
in peace; sin no more.
The generous Humphrey having placed
a fifty cent check in my unwilling palm,
| babe the happy pair final adieu.