Telegram-herald., 1890-03-29
OLD SQUIRE BEASLEY.
A Justice OF ne Peaoe Who Has
Married Thousands
E,xns F1soasA1d One Hsnared @1d my
zwS a@~res A-4s h@ppy - shs Ola
gssneks1ua1-HsAs Grste@
lsrseE ~ h e2ISCky-

I He Las tied tke knot for s.0Ts couples
d1ring nlnegsSn ys@rs- 1nLs Is he req
ord Of SqsiEs Nsssie Eo4sley, wao
liyes a. Abs<desn. jCst opposite May
vile. Ky.. the important point IA many
a roalanas, The Grstns Green 0f Ken
tacky Just tsiAk q IL hearts - the
namb~r q s,is2 % mzde, "a least tempo
rartly. happy Aad yet through al
OF these dramatic cliuaxes, SAYS the
Phnadslphia Record. Ia which he las
played Tho necessary role. - uire Beas-
lsy has never caught the fever of that
passion without which he would DO
minus his present sRiqGe distinction
When be hrst assumed the ONCE Of JUS
tice Of the pe@ee he was lfty -four years
Cd. bachelor. and. possibly, N con-
sequence, quite philosopher. And
nov. IL the rugged old age Of seventy
three, is is with certain reflective sat-
isfzetioE that be gazes down The long
vista OF united hearts and feels : kindly
sense OF relationship 70 = generation Of
young people, who may in turn be the
recipients ~ hiz Lind Offices.
1Ol -Cl&t inc
only thing he has 90 lean upon IN his
declining days Is staff about eight feet
long. which he USES when walking.
There Is a world Of speculation in his
completed lsbors. Many OF the rosy knots
OF his tying may have grown 20 yokes
of thorns. All of life Is uncertainty,
and marriage as life itself is thing
beyond precision. That is the way
Squire Beesley resolves IL In hts philos-
ophy. Marriage. says he, is 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,
and many there are who recall him with
gratitude. His life Is simple. lie lives in
an unpretentious two-story brick house
There is an oid-style portico in front OF
the building, which in its plain severity
seems 70 reflect the owners personality.
On entering the visitor finds himself in
a large, airy room, in which is the old
time high mantel-piece 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 piled upon
it to such height that a man OF legs
with ordinary length would have 10 use
a step-ladder 10 get into IL, a number OF
splint-bottom chairs, 'grandfathers"
clock In one corner and several we'll
worn law books upon the mantel-piece.
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 Aberdeen. not
alone because of his record, for Mr..
Beasley attends 70 the ordinary duties
incumbent upon justices of the peace.
He has held his Office for tho past nine
teen years without at any time having
TO undergo tho chances Of reelection or
defeat. The constitution OF this State
provides that justice of the peace shall
hold his odice during the term for
which he has been elected, or until his
successor has been elected and qualified.
No one ever having offered himself az a
candidate for the SQuire's position, that
gentleman has never seen fit to present
himself for reelection, 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 dis
They are all valid, and just as good for
practical purposes as il performed by an
Archbishop. This point was settled to
dissatisfaction Of a runaway couple some
time ago, when the Supreme Court OF this
State decided that Squire Beasley's s
marriage should stand. He does not
require persons to produce licenses be-
fore uniting them in marriage, but dis
pcnses altogether with that document 50
necessary 20 candidates for matrimonial
bliss in other places.
Squire Beasley docs not see why n
license should have to be obtained by
persons wishing to marry any more than
oy persons wishing 20 enter into any
other sort of contract; that persons GO
ing before an authorized officer and de-
claring their intention thereafter TO
live together as man and wife are az
validly married as though they had first
procured license. Upon being asked
what fees he usually received for marry
ing. he stated that he got every price
from Thank ye" up to $50.
You know" no said, when a poor
couple apply TO mo haven't the heart
TO ask thom for any thing. bat when a
couple come 70 me from tho Blue Grass
region of Kentucky, where they raise
fast horses and have a good bank ac-
count l make them come down hand.
somelT."