St. Paul daily globe., 1890-03-24
MARRIED BY PROXY.
One of the Recognized Customs
Of the United States of Colom-

One of the Recognized Customs
of the United States of Colom-
bia.
Senor Upiono Obando was, until re-
Gently, consul OF the United States OF
Colombia at San Francisco.
We, the senior and myself, lived at
the same hotel, and, by mutual agree
ment, we each instructed the other in
the language, customs and manners of
our respective countries, says cOrre-
spondent eff the New York Herald.
grew up to be quite fond of the
senior, he was so generous and simple
and eager to learn our ways. His con-
sular duties consisted mainly in draw
ing his salary, which he did every month
with clOck-like regularity.
The senior was married, / learned. and
the picture of his wife, which he always
carried abont him, was that of charm
ing sonora of the regulation Spanish
type of beauty.
Bogota was the home of this loving
pair, Nine. Obando being the niece of
the president of the republic.
One day the senior said to me in his
broken English: 81 must go home to
my wife; can no longer bear this sep
aration. Besides, my father has been
married to her about long enough"
His father, thought.
"What on earth do you mean?" l
asked. "When were you married,
senor?"
"About six months ago." he replied.
knew he had been in San Francisco
year, so said:
''Oh, see; your wife did not like San
Francisco, so she returned home."
''She has never been here"
"And yet you say you were married
to her six months since?"
Certainly; gave power OF att0r-
ney to my father, who married Inez in
my stead"
"Now, see here, Obando," I re-
marked, 81 am afraid you're making
fun of me. This idea of your wife being
your stepmother at the same time, and
your fathers wife being your daughter
in-law-Oh, no, it won't do"
The senior, however, was In earnest,
and then l learned one of the peculiar
customs in vogue in the South American
republic.
As matter of policy or convenience
it had been necessary that Senor Oban-
do should marry his affianced, and
therefore the necessary instructions
NOAO MAlOu W ailtlildR COuNClOQ
thence down the Magdalena river to the
port, and by muleback to the capital.
In the same manner the news of the
ceremony was conveyed back to San
Francisco and Senor Obando was duly
married man.
Marriages of this sort are by no means
infrequent among Spanish-American
people. The proxies" are generally
male relatives of either prospective
bride or groom. An intimate friend. In
fact, may perform the Office, though in
the latter case it sometimes happens
that the friend betrays his trust and the
fond, absent husband returns home to
find hlmsel divorced.
These marriages are perfectly legal,
ana are recognized by the church. They
are somewhat like "bindlng slips"
insurance,the ''policies'being delivered
afterward.
Upon the return of the husband,
though, he must be married publicly.
In case he dies before seeing his
proxy" wife, then his "vicarious"
widow inherits his property the same as
if she had been married in the regular
fashion.
Senor Obando returned to BOgota, and
the last time heard from him he was
occupying high official position and
living happily with his wife, to whom
he had been regularly" married.