The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-04-03
YOUNG KENTUcKY's FRIEND.
Squire hssasley. the Aberdeen Justice, VIII c
has United 4, Os6 Runaway Couples.

He has tied the knot for 4.076 couples
during nineteen Years. This is the
record of Squire Massie Beasley, who
lives at Aberdeen, just opposite Mays
Vile Ky. the important point in many
romance, the Gretna Green of Ken
lucky, Just think of it! Hearts to the
number of S.152 made. at least tenn
gorarily. happy. And vet. 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 "a years
old. a bachelor, and, possibly, in con-
sequence, quite a philosopher And
now, ut the rugged old age of 73, it is
with certain reflective satisfaction
that he gazes down the long vista OF
united hearts and feels Il kindly sense
of relationship to a generation of young
people. who may in turn be the reclpi-
cnts of his kind offices.
Contented, though unmarried, the
only thing he has to lean upon in his
declining days is a staff about eight
feet long, which he uses when walking.
There is n 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 as life itself is a
thing beyond precision. That is the
way Squire Beasley resolves it 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. He lives
in an unpretentious two-story brick
house, There is an old-style portico
in 'front.' of the building, which in its
severity seems to reflect the owners
personality. On entering, the visitor
finds himself in n large, airy room, in
which is the old-time high mantelpiece
and spacious backlog fireplace. This
room serves the Squire as his bedroom
and office. Its furniture consists of an
old-fashioned four-poster bed, with
bedding piles upon 1t to such a height
that Il man with legs of ordinary length
would have to use a stepladder to get
into it, number of splitbottom chairs,
a grandfather 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 unappreciative 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 to 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 tit to present himself for re-elec-
ton, but has held on up to the present
time, and will probably die in harness.
There can 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 rs if performed by
an Archbishop. This point was settled
to the satisfaction of IA 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 in mar
rage, but dispenses althogether with
that document SO necessary to candi-
dates for matrimonial bliss in other
places.
Squire Beasley does not see why a
license should have to be obtained by
persons wishing to marry any more
than 10y persons wishing to enter into
any other sort of contract; that persons
going before an authorized officer and
declaring their intention thereafter tc
live together as man and wife are as
validity married as though they had
first procured Il license. Upon being
asked what fee he usually received foI
marrying, he stated that he got every
price from Thank ye,' up to $50.
You know" said he, ''when a poor
couple apply to me | haven't the heart
to ask them for anything, but when q
region of Kentucky where they raise
fast horses and have good bank ac-
count, | make them come down hand
somely. "-Philddeiphia Record.