West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-01-23
MARRIAGE MADE EASY.
A Squire Tells How He Ties the
Nuptial Knot.
The different Varieties OF Runaway wsd-
dlngs-What People Elope, aud why
They DO SEA- MatrIulo-
niaI Melangc.

They DO SEA- MatrIulo-
niaI Melangc.
Many strangely assorted and odd
looking couple come TO me TO be ioincd
together in matrimouy," remarked to
Post reporter the other day a magis-
tratc whose Office is not far from the
City Hall, and whose bcncvolencc
toward lovers fleeing from angry rcla-
uons is well known, "and this particu-
lar portion of ny magisterial duties
brings into my possession many curious
stories and incidents a pair OF runa-
ways, seeking for some one possessing
the authority to tie the indissolublc
knot, usually feel embarrassed and
lonely. They are eager TO find an indi-
vidual TO whom they may, without fear
of betrayal, contide the cause of their
Hight Such person they usually iiud
in the obligng magistrate, who reads
over to them the nuptial ceremony, and
he Is, with rare exceptions made the
repository of their secrets. 70 him
they conidc the causes which induced
Marrying youthful lovers Is then
the plcaSantcst of your official duties.
Is it not?'' remark ed the reporter.
Certainly; nature has endowed me
with the most benevolent Instincts, and
when | see two tender hearts hungry
and pining for each other il affords me
ihc most exquisite pleasure TO bring
their owners together and make them
one and the samo for all time. 1t causes
me to feel like one whose duty and
chief delight is to Danish grief and
doubling fearaud establish in their stead
confidence and unalloved pleasure. 1
place myself in the light of a public
benefactor. and the thought of dinusmg
so much happiness in the world has
made Of me that portly and contcntcd-
looking parsonage whom YOU see be
fore you. | do not claim 10 be- by
nature endowed with deeper springs of
human kindness than other men, but
when have spoken the last words OF
the sacred ceremony and see turned
upon me two faces shining with the
light of happiness and gratitude, ex-
pcrlcnce in the region of my left side "a
feeling akin TO that so openly depicted
upon the countenauccs Of the two who
have just begun with such light hearts
the journey along the matrimonial path.
| know that !, and alone. am rcspon-
sible for SO much joy, and / can not
help sharing it. Thus my instincts are
benevolent by cultivation"
'Do YOU unite none but runaway
couplcs?"
Il preside at the marriage rites Of
many whose parents and relatives have
no objection wha,cycr TO the cousum-
nation Of their union. Weddings i'm
ordinary life are costly affairs / do
not refer TO those occurring among the
leaders OF the mos, fashionable class,
but such as are celebrated by the sons
and daughters Of staid, respectable cit
izcns. The minister must have his fee
OF ten dollars, twenty dollars, and
sometimes fifty dollars. Flower adorn-
ments are necessary for the parlCr. A
supper for the guests .is expected aad
the ceremony is not considered com
pletc unless the couple taxes b dal
tour Even when no extra amount Of
style and display is indulged i'm. these
things cost q considerable sum, often
lar. more. than groom endowed with
q scanty purse can afford When my
services are required all this is dis
pen ed with The future husband and
wife, each accompanied by a friend ~
attendants, enter q carriage, drive 20
my Office, and here the knot is tied i'm
short order. ] am paid my fee. They
re-cntcr their carriage and return 10
their home as If nothing unusual had
happened. These marriage. prove fully
as conductive 10 COnnubial bliss a4
those In which the solemn words are
spoken by an eloquent minister
in a llOwer-bcdcckcd church. aud the
matrimonial dcbutantcs arc followed by
a long train Of elegantly dressed bride
maids
ut is, however, not an ordinary pro-
cecding 10 come 10 you?"
"It certainly is. / can point ont TO
you many happy and well-cstabiishcd
couples living in This city, who. with
the full consent 0f their parents. came
10 me TO bo married They did SO i'm
order 90 avoid foolish and unnecessary
expense, and ] do not think they have
ever experienced regret for acting i'm
the manner they did. The Germans
especially who are providcnt and fru-
gal, adopt this method Of marriage, and
far more frequently than others come
to me for mylscrvice.. On some Occa-
-.0n- % carriage is sent 20 my Office. in
order 20 carry me 10 the residence Of
Che lady. but the majority como direct
ly TO this place. They tell plainly end
without hesitation what they want. and
10 does not require many minutes TO
make them man and wife
Occasionally two persons whom
you would think could ntd have the
slightest affinity toward each other
come, continued the genial macis-
tra'c "Ihe contrast in ages i- often
ludIcrous A man OF s.xn viii we'd
girl Of twenty. but Go gives me an incli-
nation 90 laugh whcl ] read the mar
uage ceremony over young fellow of
two or three and twenty aud % woman
twenty years on more his senior Such
Instances are not $50 rare. but the aGec-
ION " he Souu0Cr one .- usnalh iu-