Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-12-23
Getting Married in Germany.
[From the Atlantic for January.

This time I was bound to make sure
work, and so, with the best information l
could procure, started off for the civil bu-
reau (Standes ANTI to ascertain precisely
what was required.
"Upon what business do you Gomez" de~
man3ed the pompous servant at the door.
81 am an American citizen, and want to
know how to get married in Germany"
/ faltered. @
He opened the door of the main Office
and shouted, "Ein Herr Amerikanner
wishes to marry himselfl" and then show
ed me into large and well>flled waiting
room to take my turn, every occupant OF
which gazed 6xedly at me without wink
ing for some minutes. One thin, dark,
wiry man in soiled linen and bright yell
low kid gloves, had dropped in to an
nounce the death of his third wife. A
trembling young mother was sharply rep
rimanded for letting the legal third day
pass before announcing the death of her
child. A somewhat seedy clerk had come
with q radiant face, to announce the birth
of boy fourteen hours old, and to be call.
ed Johannes Conrade Hermann Degener-
me ster. A servant girl and her lover were
waiting in one corner, she red and gig
Cling, he erect dignafed, and taciturn as
head,waiter. to be made man and wife.
l had plenty of time to observe, for nearly
an hour passed before my turn came. At
length was shown into a long room, with
half dozen clerks at one end, who twist
ed their necks, adjusted their glasses. and
gazed and listened with open. monthed
wonder. H
II wish to get married in the very sim
plest and quickest way" said, presenting
my passport. will you please tell me
how to do it?" $685.
1T is extremely simple" said the officer.
I'VE must have certificate of your birth
[Geburtsscheinl, signed by the Burgomas-
ter of the town in which you were born,
| and with it's seal, and witnessed in due
form. Yourscertifcate of baptism [Tauf-
schein] should also be sent, to guard
against all error, sealed and witnessed by
the present pastor or the proper church
officers. These must be presented here by
| each of the contracting parties, with their
passports, as the first step"
/ carefully noted this. and he proceeded.
| The parents. if living, should certify to
their knowledge and approval of the mar
rage. We must also be satisfied that
| there is no obstacle, legal, moral, or other
wise, to il; whether either of you have
been married before, and if SO whether
thore are children. and, if so, their
names and ages. The parents names
should be in full; also their residence, oc.
cupstion, age and the place of birth should
| of course be given for record here"
| begged for another scrap of paper and
made further notes.
when we have these here in this desk, u
he continued, patting fondly the piece Of
| furniture, then either we can publish the
bans (Aufgebot) by posting q notice Of
your intention in the Kathhaus for four
teen days, or else you can have it printer
| in the journal ofthe place where you re-
| side in America, and bring US copy here
| as evidence that it has actually appeared.
! After the expiration of this time you can
be married at this office"
| Unjust it be here?" I queried.
'Of course" he said. This is the only
place where the law now recognizes. Poor
| people are content with civil marriage
only, but all who move in good society go
from here to the church for religious
ceremony"
"Is it not possible to shorten the time?'
1 timidly ventured to inquire. 1--WE had
made all the arrangements for an earlier
day, and are seriously accommodated by
the delay. I did not know the require
ments. It takes four weeks to hear from
| America, and then two weeks more here,
and You do not, perhaps, exactly un-
derstand, and yet hardly know how to
| explain. But there is really haste. We
are pressed for time"
'Haste2 Pressed for time?p he repeated.
perhaps I do not understand. l am
sorry, but it can not possibly be sooner
You think we are slow in Germany. True,
but we are sure. We require our people to
take time to think over the matter before
hand, and divorce with US is far from
being the easy matter l have heard it is in
! America"