The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-05
Fronl The Ne,c York Stn,,

tive.
From the Ne,U York Star.
Recent investigation has proved that the
proud distinction of being the first to wed
by proxy in this country does not belong to
August Spies, the dead Anarchist, and Nina
Van Zandt. Several years ago Miss Fanny
Horowitz married an actor, Leopold Pincus,
the latter being represented at the wedding
by cigarmaker named Nathan Geiger.
Now, it appears, the lady in question is
suing the cigarmaker for divorce, so that
she can properly wed the Thespian, the for
mer having set up claim that he was her
legal spouse,
In some countries marriage by proxy is
recognized as all that is necessary to enter
upon marital relations, and matrimonial
ventures of that sort are as numerous as
those sanctifed by the church ceremony.
In Spain such occurrences are common and
excite little or no comment. One of the
most recent events of the kind there was
solemnized in Barcelona, the bridegroom
being at the time in New York city. The
lady was Senorita Gertrudis Payaro and
the gentleman Senior John Baptist Romeo,
then connected with the engraving depart
ment of Harper's publishing house, but now
with Mr. Philip Meeder, an engraVer at
No. 2l Beekman street
Senior Romeo resided in Barcelona until
few years ago, when he came to this coun-
try to accept an engagement with the Har-
perS. He and Senorita Payarol we're then en-
gagged, and We're soon to have been married,
but the wedding was postponed until such
time as Senior Romeo should become estab-
lished in business here.
A short time after his arrival in this
country Senior Romeo sent for Senorta
Pavarol. The lady's father objected to her
making the trip until the marriage had been
celebrated, and his decision was conveyed
by letter to the anxious Romeo. The latter
protested that he was unable to leave his
business, ana So - accommodate all parties
concerned, a proxy marriage was decided
on. Two sets of papers were drawn up in
Barcelona. One set was handed to Senior
Payarol and the other was forwarded to
Senior Romeo The latter was instructed to
find some lady willing to personate Senorita
Payarol, wed her as proxy, have the papers
signed, and return them to the authorities
at Barcelona.
Acting ON the instructions received Senior
Romeo requested one of his lady friends to
honor him by representing the absent bride
at church altar. This lady friend it Is
said, was herself considerably snitten with
the charms of tho handsome Romeo. She
COHSenIeu TO serve as JIle proxy anu Vic Odlb
was agreed upon for the wedding. When
all arrangements had been completed one Of
Romeo's male friends called upon him and
earnestly asked him to abandon the project
On being pressed for reasons the friend
alluded to the proxy's affection for Romeo
and stated it as his belief that she could
claim him for her husband if the ceremony
was performed. Romeo became alarmed,
consulted his legal adviser, and learned that
what his friend suggested was tru5. The
proxy wedding was abandoned.
In the meantime Senior Payarol had taken
his daughter to the cathedral in Barcelona.
The papers We're produced and attested and
the wedding ceremony solemnzed, the
lady's father standing I'D as proxy and an
swering the necessary questions for the
absent Romeo. Then father and daughter
went home to wait for the return of tho
papers from America. They failed to come
for the reasons stated. Finally the bride
tired of waiting and asked her fathers per-
mission to secure passage on a steamer then
about to sail Pater familias demurred, but
the daughter represented to him that the
papers would probably arrive on the next
steamer, adding that it was cruel to keep
her longer separated from her Romeo. The
Old gentleman was finally persuaded and
allowed her to depart.
Senorita Payarol came by way of Havana
on the steamer Niagara and was met on
landing by Romeo, who explained why the
proxy marriage here had not been cele-
bratej. The senorita shed tears of joy
when she learned that her beloved had es-
capped, even SC narrowly, becoming the hus-
band of another. The couple then went di-
rect to the Mayors office and were married.
To settle the question beyond all cavil
they went from the Mayors Office to the
church of the Jesuits, on Sixteenth street.
where they were again married
They are now living in West Forty-third
street, but are not yet on speaking terms
with the lady who SO kindly consented to
serve as proxy. Senior Romeo is a typical
Spaniard, with heavy black hair and beard,
while his wife is decided blonde, petite and
pretty. The necessary papers were recently
forwarded to Senior Payaroi, and all con
cerned are now happy.