The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-01-26
Getting Married in Germany.

This time I was bound to make sure
work, and so, with the best information
I could procure. started off for the civil
bureau (Standes ANTI to ascertain pre-
cisely what was required.
Upon what business do you Gomez"
demanded the rompous servant at the
door.
II am an American citizen, and want
to know how to get married in Ger
many" I faltercd.
He opened the door of the main Office,
and shouted, Elm Herr Amerikanner
wishes to marry himself!" and then
showed me into q larg, and well-flled
~waiting-room to take my turn,
every occupant of which gazed.6xedly
at me without winking for some min
utes. One thin, dark, wiry man in
soiled linen ard bright yellow kid gloves
had dropped in to- announce the death
of his third wife. A trembling young
mother was sharply ~reprimanded for
letting the legal third day pass before
announcing the death Of her child. A
somewhat scedy clerk had come, with a
radiant face, to announce the birth Of a
boy fourteen hours old, and to be called
Johannes Conrade Herman Degener-
meister. A servant girl and her lover
were waiting in one corner-shc red and
giggling, he erect. digni6ed and taciturn
as q hcad-waiter-to be made man and
wife. I had plenty of time to observe,
for nearly an hour passed before my turn
came. At length 1 was shown into a
long room. with half q dozen clerks ut
one end, who twisted their necks, ed
justed their glasses, and gazed and lis
tened with open-moutbed wonder.
Il wish to get married in the very
simplest and quickest way" l said, pre-
seuting my passport. Will you please
:ell me how to do it?"
"it is extremely simple" said the
officer. eve must have a certificate of
your birth [Gehurtsschein signed by the
burgomaster of the town in which you
were born, and with his seal, and wit
messed in due form. Your certificate of
baptism CTaufsshein). shout! also be
sent, to guard against all er or, sealed
and witnessed by the present pastor or
the proper church officers. These must
be presented here by each of the con
tracing parties, with their passports, as
the first STEP"
/ carefully noted this. and he proceed
ed:
The parents, if living, should GER
tify to their knowledge and approval of
the marriage. We must also be salts
fid that there is no obstacle, legal,
moral or otherwise, to it: whether
either of you have been married before,
snd if so, whether there are children,
and if SO their names and ages. The
parents names should be in full; also
their residence, occupation, age and
place Of birth should of purse be given
for record here"
l begged for another scrap of paper
and made further notes.
"When we have these here in this
desk" lie continued, patting fondly that
piece of furniture, "then either
we can publish the bans (Aufgebot) by
posting a notice of your intention in the
Rdthhaus for fourteen days, Or else you
can have it printed in the journal of the
b place where you reside in America, and
!. bring US a copy here as evidence that il
has actually appeared. After the ex
piration of this time you can be married
5 in this office
= Must it be hereP" I queried.
"Of course" he said. "This is the
! only place which the law now recog-
nizes. Poor people are content will
2 civil marriages only, but all who NOV,
in good society 60 from here to thu
, church for a religious ceremony"
t lis it not possible to shorten tn
!. timer" I timidly ventured to inquire
I'VE had made all the arrangements 70
q an earlier day, and are seriously incom
NODDED by the delay. l did not know
the requirements. 1t takes four week
e to hear from America, and then tw,
s weeks more here, and You do not
), perhaps, exactly understand, and yet
i hardly know how to explain. But Their
|, is really haste. We are pressed fo
d time"
"Hastep Pressed for timer" be re
y peated. perhaps I do not understand
& I am sorry, but it cannot possible b
= souner. You think we are slow in Gel
many. True, put we are sure. We n
Is quire u people 10 take time to thin
r over the matter beforehand, and divorc
g with us is far from being the easy ma
J. ter I have heard ii is in America."-
ID atlantic Monthly.