The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-06-07
YOUNG kENTuckY.s FRIEND.



He has tied the knot for 4.076 couples
during nineteen years. This Is the
record of Squire Massie Bcasley, who
lives at Aberdeen, just opposite Mays
vile. KY. the important point la many
a romance. the Gretna Green OF Ken
lucky, just think Of III Hearts TO the
number OF 3. l52 made. nj least tenn
porarily. happy. And Yet. through all
of these dramatic climaxes In which he
has played the necessary role. Squire
Beasley has never caught the fever Of
that passion without which he would
be minus his present unique distinc-
ton. When he first assumed the office
OF Justice of the Peace he WAS 81 years
old. bachelor. and. possibly. ia con-
sequence, quite philosopher. Aud
now. at the rugged old age Of 7S. II Is
with certain reflective satisfaction
that he gazes down the long vista of
united hearts and feels kindly sense
of relationship to a generation OF young
people. who may la turn be the recipi-
ents of his kind offices.
Contented. though unmarried. the
only thing he has TO lean upon ia his
declining days is a staif about eight
feet long which he uses when walking.
There Is world of speculation in his
completed labors. Many of the rosy
knots of his trying may have grown TO
yokes of thorns. All OF life Is uncer-
tainty. and marriage rs life itself is a
thing beyond precision. That Is the
way Squire Beasley resolves ii in his
philosophy Marriage. says he. lis
either freedom or slavery. and very
often an unpleasant mixture OF both.
But In spite OF this the old mans
heart Is full of kindness and sympathy.
aud many there are who recall him with
gratitude His life is simple. lie lives
ia an unpretentious two-story brick
house There Is an old-style portico
In front of the building. which ia its
severity seems 10 reflect the owners
personality. On entering. the visitor
finds himself in a large. airy room, ia
which Is the old-time high manielpiece
and spacious backlog fireplace. This
room serves the Squire as his bedroom
and office. Its furniture con sists of an
old-fashioned four-poster bed, with
bedding piles upon IT TO such a height
that man with legs of ordinary length
would have TO use a stepladder to get
into il, number of splitbottom chairs.
"A ''grandfather's" clock in one corner.
and several well-worn law books upon
the mantelpiece.
The Squire talks entertainingly, and
his native shrewdness gives "A bright
ness and originality TO his converse.
ton. He Is an exception TO the old
adage OF the unappreciatve prophet.
for he is exceedingly popular in Aber-
deem, not alone because OF his record,
for Mr.. Beasley attends to the ordinary
duties incumbent upon Justices OF the
Peace. He has held his office for the
past nineteen years without at any
time having 10 undergo the chances of
reelection or defeat The Constitution
of this state provides that Justice of
the Peace shall hold his office during
the term for which he has been elected.
or until his successor Is elected and
qualified. No one ever having offered
himself as "a candidate for the 'Squire's
position. that gentleman has never
seen iii to present himself for re-elec-
ton but has held on up to the present
time. and will probably die ia harness.
There ssn-be no reflection upon the
'Squire's marriages, and even their
despatch can prove no legal objection.
They are all valid and just as good for
practical purposes as ii performed by
an Archbishop. This point was settled
TO the satisfaction OF runaway couple
some time ago. when the Supreme
Court OF this State decided that Squire
Beasley's marriage should stand. He
does not require persons To produce
license before uuiting them ia mar
riage, but dispenses altogether with
that document SO necessary to candi-
dates for matrimonial bliss in other
places.
Squire Beasley does not see why n
license should have 10 be obtained by
persons wishing To marry any more
than by persons wishing TO enter into
any other sort OF contract; that persons
going before an authorized officer aud
declaring their intention thereafter TO
live together as man aud wife are "a
validity married as though they had
first procured license. Upon being
asked what fee he usually received for
marrying he stated that he got every
/ price from a Thank We" up to $50.
You know" said nc. when poor
couple apply TO me haven't the heart
TO ask them for anything. hut when
couple come 10 me from the Blue Grass
region OF Kentucky where they raise
fast horses and have good bank ac-
count, | make them come down hand
somely. "-Ph Philadelphia Record.