The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-06-09
A DELICATE ENrERpRrsE.
Gorgeous Marriage Certificates Sent On An
prevail % Brushing Brides.

n. Y, Sun.
A gentleman of this city recently went
into Connecticut for his bride Soon after
his return to his home in New York his
wife received by mail, in neat pasteboard
tube most deliberately designed marriage
certificate, printed in all the splendid col
ors of which chromo-lit hography is cap
able. Upon salmon tint the border and
lettering of the certificate were printed in
red and blue and yellow and green In
two blushing ovals at the top were the al
ways touching words:
Two souls with but single thought,
Two hearts that beat as one.
From these depended festoon of roses
and paraquets, forming the frome of ma
rine view. In a large skiff was knot of
people, wedding guests, no doubt; in the
midst of whom stood blushing white
robed bride resting her cheek upon the
vest collar of the bridegroom. Some doves
roasted upon convenient ledges at the up
per corners of the design, while the lower
corners of the placard were adorned by
two ladies who had curiously outstretehed
pinions, and wore princess robes of blue,
unbelted and without trimming This is
to certify that" (and here the gentleman's
name appeared in red type with a few
ffourishes and dashes) s'and" (there was
printed the brides name in fulD "were
united in marriage blythe minister's neme
was here given according to the ordi-
nances of God and the laws of the State"
The date followed, but no State or place
was mentioned. 1t was altogether doc
ument calculated to fill a newly married
couple with a beautiful idea of the sanctity
and happiness of wedlock.
Accompanying this elaborate work of
o,.4 ~. 1af4 a.
mark of a northern Ohio city and publish
ed from the 'tOff1ce of the -- Certifi-
cate Company" 1t began Dear Madam"
and stated politely but insinuatingly that
it was in accordance with plan followed
by no other publishing house that they en-
closed this magnificent marriage certii-
cate duly filed with your name and that of
your husband was sent. As reasons for
thus sending unsought marriage eertifi-
Gates to unsuspecting couples the circular
went on to say that 1.-THE - Certificate
Company" desired to convince the person
addressed of the superior beauty of the
chrome autographed marriage certificate
by thus placing it directly before her.
"Our experience has taught us, continued
this affable circular, that those who
would not risk their money in ordering
certificates they had never seen are in
them in this manner, whereby we assume
all of the risk and they none,'' At this
point the engaging circular raises its voice
as it were in a trif1e larger and italicized
type, and cotinues:
at is not necessary for US to enlarge up
ON the value and Importance to every hus-
band and wife of having in their home a
certificate of their marriage. Assuming
that everybody appreciates this fact, we
have employed the highest skill of the art
ist and photographer in producing the most
elegant certificates In the United States, of
such as can be handsomely framed and
made an ornament for the parlor of any
home" The type again changes to full
face black letter equivalent to a stage
whisper, and the circular says in so many
words, IF the accompanying marriage GER
tificate pleases you, and you desire to keep
it, you will please enclose 81 in the print
ed envelope, which we send herewith, and
mail it to US. If, however (and once more
the type drops to a soft undertone( it
does not suit your fancy, or
if for any other reason you do not wish to
keep it, please enclose it again carefully in
the pasteboard tube, place a two cent
stamp upon it, and renal it to our address
and we beg you to bear it distinctly in
mind that you are under no obligation to
keep it simply because we send 1t or be-
cause we have gone to the extra trouble OF
filling it out with your names. This we
did without your order or solicitation, and
whatever loss is Involved falls entirely
upon US, and no blame can attach to
you"
A blank space was left after the printed
name of the clergyman. An IN. B." in
the circular suggests in most friendl
manner that lit is advisable to have him
sign this at once, as it adds materially to
the value of the document, and if often
delayed until through death or removals,
it cannot be obtained at all. !" The circular
closes: With sincere regards, we have
the honor to be, respectfully. yours, -,
Certificate Company"
Upon receiving this friendly and delicate
matter the amused bridegroom laid it away
and took pains by inquiring to inform him
self that the publishing house in question
really did large business in this way.
Agents and correspondents all over the
country secure marriage notices as prompt
" as possible, and send them to the house
IN southern Ohio. The certificates = are
sent out with names and date filed in, and
it is estimated that out of every hundred
of these gaudy documents forwarded on
trial perhaps not one-third are returned to
the publishers.