Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-27

their birth, many of them merely approx
mating their age, as "past 30." So long as
their appearance shows that they are more
than 81 years old this ignorance does not
impede their progress to matrimony.
HER FATHER WAS AWAY,
An amusing case occurred recently. A
young couple came after a license. The
lady was only 20 years old, and was told
that she must have her fathers consent.
She hesitated and then said: "My father
can't get out"
"Well," replied Captain Heiber, 'take
the blank consent to him. get him to fill it
out, have notary public swear him to it,
and then bring it back"
"Oh, he's not at home"
"Well, why no. wait till he comes back.
How long will he be awaY?"
"Oh, for nearly six months. We don't
want to wait that long"
"Why, where is he? Out of the country"
NO." and here she hesitated and
blushed; "he's in the workhouse."
"Well, that's easily fixed" replied Cap
tain Heiber. "Take blank consent to
Claremont. One Of the officials is a notary
public, and he will swear your father to it. -
On another occasion a stern-visaged woman
came to the Office to give her consent to her
daughters marriage. The clerk asked the
girl if her father was living, and she said he
was She was told that the old gentleman
must give his consent as he was the head of
the family.
''oh, that's all right" interposed the
mother. II run the house. Whatever
say my husband agrees to, and he'd better,
too."
1t took some time to persuade the woman
that she could not run the Commonwealth,
and the next day the old gentleman was
produced and meekly gave his consent, but
in a manner which showed he felt hattered
by the consideration paid him by the great
keystone State.
An evidence of superlatiye cheek was
given by young man from Troy Hill who
wanted to marry the daughter of a neigh
Dor who objected to the match. A license
was refused because the lady was under
age, and the young man tried to bluff the
stern parent into consenting. He asked the
old man to accompany him to the Court
House to help him transact some legal
business. The old gentleman agreed, al
though 1t was stormy day, and the two
finally reached the marriage license office in
a wet, bedraggled condition.
The young man called the clerk aside
and said: Here's the father of the girl 1
want to marry. He'll give his consent"
A HITCH IN THE PROCEEDINGS.
The clerk made out the proper papers,
and calling the old man up, asked: "Do
you consent to the marriage of your daugh-
ter with this young MANI"
"What?'
'Do you consent to the marriage of your
daughter to this MANI"
"Who-me? What do you mean?"
Then it dawned upon the old man that he
had been fooled. The young man had a
start of few feet, and he kept it down the
corridor and out of the building, when both
were lost to view.
1t is not an uncommon thing for white
women to marry colored men, and although
the officials scan these cases closely they u.s.
ually obtain license, as there is no law in
this State against miscegenation. On one
occasion white woman and Chinaman
applied for a license. The woman was
asked if she did not think she was making
a mistake, but replied that she knew the
bridegroom was industrious and would sup
port his wife, while she had known many
idle, worthl ess Caucasians. Her argument
was invincible.
Under the marriage license law self or
common law marriages are permissible. The
parties sign paper very similar to the or
dinary marriage license, their signatures are
attested by two witnesses, fee of so cents is
This is not often done, as most people feel
that marriage is a religious ordinance, which
should receive the sanction of the Church.
1t is quite a pretty sight to see young
couple in the marriage license Office The
pretty bride-and ali brides are beautiful
feels, or acts as if she feels, a little timid.
She is not accustomed to legal procedures.
and is not quite sure but she NAV be ruth
lessly torn away from her gallant lover. To
prevent this she clings closely to his side.
THE DREAD ORDEAL.
The clerk picks up blank in a cold, pro-
sale manner, and the girl wonders if he
realizes that John and 1 are to be mar
ried?" The clerk asks the usual questions.
The lady is usually ready with her answers,
although she protests with her eyes at
the impertinencegof the law. and often
prompts the briGegroom when he forgets
whether he was born in the United States or
in Asia Minor. Then they have to sign the
record. The lady generally takes of her
gloves, and thereby shows her engagement
ring. After afixing her signature she looks
atltcrltlcally, apparently wondering whether
she will like her new name better, and if it
will take her long to learn to write it. Both
hold up their right hands while they are
sworn to their statements John paws half
dollar, puts the precious paper in his
breast pocket, and the couple depart Ten
to one, before the Office door closes you hear
a suppressed giggle and an injunction to
John not to lose the license.
Occasionally John doesn't have 80 cents.
and has to borrow from the LADY. More
than once the happy groom has had to leave
his bride in the Office while he went out to
skirmish for the fee.
A peculiar thing about people who are
about to get married is that most of them
object to having their names published in
the daily list. The reasons they give are
various. One man works in mill, and he
doesn't want his fellow-workmen to plague
him. Another man had grown-up daugh-
ter, and she might make things unpleasant.
A widow did not want her first husbands
family to know she was remarrying, and so
the reasons multiply.
TE WAS UNCOMMON.
n