The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-01-07
FUNNY MARRIAGES.
Magisterial Experience in Tying
Love Knots.
Couples Who Wed and Pay Not-Marrlag'es
That Have Convenience or Neces,
sity For Their Causes-Leaves
From Squire's Docket.
Philadelphia Tlmes.l

his arm.
There was nothing particularly striking
in the appearance of the questloner. His
companion, however, was "fixed up" for
the obvious purpose of exciting the pass
ing comments Of those of her sex whom
she might encounter on the street. Her
suspiciously light hair supported jaunty
fall felt hat, ornamented with pretty
birds breast, and her jersey was of wax
like fit. Her firmly-set lips indicated the
self-possession Of one who was able to take
care of herself. The magistrate looked up
from his desk and answered that he was
the civic fnnctionary who did business in
that seat Of justice.
ave would like to see you about u little
private matter" the young man said hesi-
tatingly.
The magistrate gave them an invitation
TO step into the back Office. There the
young man began again, but became cm'
barrassed. His companion, ready-wtted,
sprang into the colloquial breach With the
remarl, brief and to the point: "The fact
is, We want to get married, Mr. Magis-
trats. Why couldn't you tell him, Jim"
she remarked, turning to her escort, with
out houndering around SO: Now goon and
tell him all about it,"
The language and the slightly sarcastic
tone Of the fair girl acted as an inspiration
upon the young man, who then proceeded
with the explanation.
"The fact is," lie said, "the young lady
and myself are In the variety business and
have been on the road and are going out
again. It's necessary for us to travel to-
gether, and 1t is very often difficult and
embarrassing for us to find quarters just tc
suit, especially in some of the smaller
towns. The married ones in most cases
have the advantage in getting room
when there is crowd. So we just made
up our minds that the best thing to do, as
long as we had to travel together, was to
get married"
The Magistrate said he would soon per-
form the necessary ceremony, and, sum-
moning his clerk and another witness, ex-
peditiously tied the matrimonial knot that
gave the performers the legal right to call
themselves by the same name. The neces-
sary names were appended to certificate,
which the young woman, who had been
syeing 1t carefully while It was In course
Of preparation, quickly reached for, folded
up and slowed away in her sachel.
"How much is your fee for the serviceW
the newly made husband inquired, produc-
ing plethoric roll OF notes
"The fees all 20 TO the City Treasury"
the Magistrate responded.
"Well, III make IT that" and the young
man laid down a So note and the clerk made
an entry OF the transaction. The visitors
then thanked the magistrate, shook hands
with him, were congratulated and wished
the usual sum Of happiness, and departed.
There was an increased brilliancy In the
eyes Of the bride and frmer ring from
the brass-tipped heels of her dainty boots
as she took the arm OF her five-minutes old
husband and passed up Seventh street
toward Race.
transaction In the way Of marriage that
ever saw" twas the magistrates comment
as he resumed his cigar. "I'll wager a new
hat that they'll get along well. You can
see who's going TO be boss In that firm. See
how she clutched that certiHcatef think
that's about the biggest fee l ever re-
ceived,n and he reached for the duplicate
record Of marriages which the law re-
quires magistrates and justices Of the
peace TO keep, and turned over the pages.
"a great many OF these marriages are OF
parties who have been sent here by the
guardians Of the poor, and there is many q
story involved in them.
A scrutiny Of the pages corroborated the
r r-agistrate's observation that the most OF
these marriages were "tank ye" affairs.
The bridegrooms who had gone through
the matrimonial mill In preference TO the
alternative Of spending a season In the
cells OF the county prison did not appear
TO have been blessed with a superhuity OF
coin. In the majority Of the cases nothing
had been paid; "fifty cents" came up smil-
ing on many lines, and one spendthrift OF
a groom had squandered Sl.so. The mag
istrate did not remember whether this
bride was endowed with any unusual
beauty TO warrant this prodigality.
81 had funny marriage here few dayi
ago." said another magistrate. "A pretty
young German girl came towing-yes, ac'
tually towlng--a big, d-shouldered
Saxon into my office, and with them was q
Germas American as interpreter. 'Yot
want to get mamiedr said b the man
He grinned and pointed to the girl and saic
something TO her, The interpreter told me
no had said. she wants TO get married.
81 questioned them further, and found
that they had left Germany on the sam'
steamer, but on arriving here the young
fellows courage oozed out, and he could mo-
face the music. But'the girl was not going
10 let him slip of so easily, and she hat
brought him three times TO my Office befor
he could make up his mind TO enter. I sool
tied the knot"
That the "moon-cyed leper" who man
giles American garments under the pretens
Of running laundry Is gradually afiliat
ing with the white race is fact borne on
by the records. Magistrate McClintoc
recently performed the necessary marriag
ceremony for Chinaman who owns sew
erhi laundries, and Is reputed TO be well Of
In worldly goods. There are several Chi
uamen married 10 American girls In tn
city. ,... -.
1--WE are sometimes asked 10 unmarr
people, magistrate declared. "An Italia
and bis German wife were here several agt
seeking to get divorce, but ! told theI
they would have 10 go TO court"