Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-02-24
A Rich Marriage Ceremony.

A NUMBER of years ago there dwelt in
this village gentleman by the name of
Charles Whiting If ever human being
was oVer-stocked with good humor and
Wagishness, it was that same Whiting.
He was up to all sorts of innocent tricks
and his victims were numbered by the
hundred many of whom yet reside here.
1t came to pass that this wag was elected
Justice OF the Peace, and shortly after his
installment in office, couple came over
from Iowa to get united IN the holy bonds
of +" paddock" Whiting tells how he per-
formed the ceremony, as follows:
Having been appointed to the desirable
"posish of Justice of the Peace, l was ac-
costed, on the 9th day of July, by sleek
looking young man, and in silvery tones
requested to proceed to a neighboring ho-
tel as he wished to enter into the holy
bonds of matrimony. Here was a
"squelcher" / had never done anything
Of the kind, had no books nor 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 Statutes, one ditto 'Webster's I'm
abridged Dictionary, one copy large-siZed
Bible, small copy of the creed and arti-
cles of Faith of the Congregational
Church, one copy of Pope's Essay on Man,
and sectional part of the map where the
victim lived. 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, | pro-
ceeded. | told the young man that. being
an entire stranger, L should have to ask
him to give bail for the COSTS Having
heard this so very frequently in court, l
thought it indispensable. He answered, If
| meant the fee for performing the cere-
mony, he would deposit it then and there.
AS L did not know exactly what | did
mean, magnanimously waived that por-
ttion Of the ceremony. [ then told him 1t
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 were 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 few
minutes 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 .. d
Now, said L " Georgisna" (her name
: was Georgiana), "you hear what, Hum
, phrey says Do you accept the invitation
to become his wife; will you be lenient
towards his faults, and cherish his virtues
, will you never be guilty of throwing fur.
,, , niture at his head for slight offenses, and
will you get three meals day without
grumblingg" She said she would. asked
them if they believed in the command
|, ments, and they said they did, Having
read the creed and articles of faith, az
! aforesaid, l exclaimed; Humphrey, take
! her, she is yours; l cannot Withhold my
! consent" "Georgiana, when safe in the
i arms of your Humphrey, you can DEFY the
! SCOTS and ieers of the world"
: l then read little from the Essay OF
= Man, including that passage, " Man want
" but little here below but wants that httl'
!, long" AS a finale to the scene, l deliv
= cred that little exordium; $50 in peace
! sin no more"
The generous Humphrey having places
3 a fifty cent check in my unwilling palm,
q bade the happy pair final adieu-De SOt
o (Wts.) Repu6tiegn. r1a