The sun., 1889-03-31
A JERsEX GRETNA GREEN
Four Thousand Couples Year Find Hap
pinoss In Camden.


CAMDEN, MI, March SO.-If marriage is
bliss. Camden ought TO be Bllssvllle. For the
last FIVE years there have been recorded at tho
City Clerks office here from four to five thou
sand marriages annually, which is about four
times the normal rate for city OF 10000 inhab-
itants. The Camden and Philadelphia ferries
are. In q way responsible for this abnormal
marriage rate although even II the ferries did
not exist there would probably still be an un-
usually large number Of marriages In Camden.
30 long as small boats could be hired to
cross tho river or the swimming was
good. 1t all began In tho passage by
tho Pennsylvania Legislature OF q marriage
license law that probably has more red tape
and less sense in Il than any similar law in the
world. 1t is more trouble to get license to
marry in Philadelphia than 1t is to get a girl
willing to marry. Counting has become sec
ondary consideration as preliminary to mar
ris2e In the Quaker City. The great thing Is
to make sure OF your license. Both parties
have to pass sortiof civil service examination
as to their age, sex. and previous condition Of
parents all around have to submit schedules OF
Information under oath as to the condition Of
sabshed II they live w in A's distsnt s t % parts
81 the country they have to send on their alil-
ske i ns and the 1
parental consent is obtained By forgery. per.
Jury, or IN IN &c, some I; other way; Natnraly young
to their legal readiness. for mstrlmony. and
they take the easiest road to avoid II. which. in
Be he PeVes e R
New Jersey no license is REQUIRED.
At first the Camden marriages wore good
hARrd n
distinctly bad odor about them. but within
two or three years the matter has settled down
commit matrimonv. who have no large circle
%eddn " to ST us sNs
the bother OF the Pennsylvania laws. The
sudden prosperity that the new law brought to
for the early unsavoriness OF the business.
Some Of the elerRymeu then serving in Camden
to tho by
lister named Sleeper was leader in the eoterie
a few blocks from tho ferry landings. and hs
freely circulated map OF, the city, with the
route frem the fer, eF to bis house plainly indi
srOush to HIM.
money fast: Several other clersymen oi tho
branch OF their business There came an ex-
masrase e that see he Mes
essaped unpleasant experiences With the eivi
clereymen took warning and began to conduct
the marrying business more prudently.
He Is the Rev. W. Il Burrli an tH Old anyss man. r..
Fsd ysg % pse sefs N W Se
Sleeper. He, is generally spoken Of In
body says $ that he Is Sery eaPu M and
aG epSas
month. He conducts himself very quietly but
On all the business they bring him, generally |
giving them hall; This. This. for a pToies,ioqal
Itmase MOVE to It the eompetitian of Of
ne amateurs Of the regular prlpIts.
t,RS :tfSw s s
le business Of saving souls. and the ReV. bl.
he osy esTfs 81, Pr bseey nf Is preSably
't6eT plght with brother Of . young man
s%1 h aid haS to Taom
oHrlElsge had really Sn taken end PLACE lace The The
aln,d''t ss %d end Sh shf Se fTHR
A1 Wonaered Wha VIA had
,roken loose In the dominie's house. When
Sss szs as ana %h lis Ts se q
9 . Jelly: His friend was even ,torse cut up,
T slip thauga Hsssv the Swa Ss snd and
sers % : Srsathlsss Sut Otherwise in P pretty good good
ondltion. The brother next morning IN the
eSu had u haY E s a&ssa &ss. to his
DO domain of muscular Christianity. and DR..
,agley has ever since been marrying twice as
Although, there Is no license to marry re-
ured IN Ne% Jersey the bmerraSs lay
early e yanshsd q =; ;Thsy'sre Sompsllsd By law.
,aTHsd lS1s list q Yer; ssa5shins questions Il
age. consent Of parent, and other matters.
!ake an oath to the ansWers they give. and.
able. eivllly ana criminally. for the perform
d responsib[lity; As seneri thing couples s
nknown to the clergymen are now compelled
Is SH9sn s e lus to ss W bSas
sry minister viii hesitate tp intinaie doubt Rau Of
.
Ike an oath. but the professional marryer has
. osuch scruples, and makes 1t his first object
protect himself from risk.
Besides the ministers. some of the Justices
the Peace In Camden do a thrifty little busI-
'ss In uniting couples from. Phi delphia.
qujre Cassidy. one OF the best knoy lcharac-
s:Sss ss SsSnKk q kumsr has TSR Win %as which ne
ow SQUIRE Schmidt is running his older rival
| the Datrimonial bench pretty closely. both
70 the size Of his business and as to the light !
I'd frolicsome way IA which he does It. Each
rty marriages month.
In tho matter OF revenue. the marriage busi- s
'ss Is important to Camden ministers and 1
Ickmon. "A fow years ago when q marriage /
,ense bill was up before the New Jersey
'gislature. the Senator from Camden coupty
'tly protested against It, on the ground that
would deprive the ministers OF his county {
ono OF an annual revenue of $4,000. 1t was I
I'd public policy. he argued, so drive that
Iure didn't pess the bill, The Senator'S esti- /
ate was probably not an exaggerated one. !
10 fees for Camden marriages are generally Q
,m % to s. They are rarely; 4 ever. under Z
gher figure, but not often. The hackmen Of c
city will probably average twenty-five per q
ut. commission out Of this, which reduoes The I
pisters' incomeB considerably. Besides this. 2
D hackmon get their regular fares from most a