Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-09-23
Cutting Marriage Rates.

lhbs, OhO Va thN ahOSo PNNt-'
yet most thriving, industries of JEFF
fersonville, the county seat, just across
the river from this city, was tenn
porarily paralyzed. This industry is
nothing more nor less than the tying
of nuptial knots for clipping couples
from Kentucky and elsewhere. That
it is an important business may
be inferred from the fact that in one
day, while the County Clerks office
was closed out of respect for the dead
officer, seventeen runaway couples
went to New-Albany to be united in
matrimony. A new clerk has been
appointed, however, and the license
business has been resumed at the old
stand.
This business Of matrimony in JEFF
fersonvlle is carried on OH strictly bus.
mess principles. From 1900 to g.
600 clipping couples 60 there to be
made one every year, and very few of
them are disappointed. The Indiana
law is elastic. 1t requires that the
girl must be eighteen years of age be-
fore the license can be granted, but
this does not prevent many mere child
rem from getting the desired docu-
ment. Few questions are asked, and
it is easy enough to pick up friend
with an elastic conscience, who will
swear that the maiden is of age. In
fact, more than one inhabitant Of this
Gretna Green makes living by
swearing) for consideration to the
age of would-be brides.
Four magistrates and as many
ministers make comfortable livings
out of this matrimonial business. All
of these professional marriers have
agents or runners, who make their
headquarters in the neighborhood of
the ferry dock. They can tell an
clipping couple at glance, and they
arc not backward about Offering their
assistance. AS a general thing. the
swain gratefully accepts. The success
full runner first pilots his "catch' to the
County Clerks Office, where license is
obtained, the standard price being 81.
Then the magistrate, or minister, is
visited, and he ties the knot, receiving
from So up to SO, whatever the new
husband is willing to give. Of this
fee the runner usually gets one-third.
A bitter rivalry exists between the
knot-tyers, and many ludicrous in
cidents grow out of the zeal of the
runners to secure jobs for the mag
istrates they represent. Esquire
Keigwin recently fitted up handsome
suite of offices in Spring Street, half a
block from the ferry dock, and hung
out a sign matrimonial Parlors.'
His runners represented that his was
the only genuine first-class wedding
factory ia the city. Esquire Hall
opened an office just at the top of the
wharf, where he could stand in the
door and see the couples as they left
the boat. His runners were supplied
with neatly-printed cards on which
was the cheering announcement: "Spe-
cial attention guaranteed to wedding
parties" Esquire Ware fitted up an
office two blocks from the river, while
Esquire Lee is still further away.
There had been lull in the bust.
ness for several days recently, and the
runners were getting weary of doing
nothing. Finally lone couple was
spied on the cabin deck of the ferry
boat when she reached the middle Of
the river. The runners made rush
for the dock when the boat landed
Each eloquently presented the advan
tages of knot tied by his Squire
Keigwin's man was about to win
when Squire Halls agent, Johr
House, called the groom to one side
and confdentially whispered "Keig'
win will charge you SIS for the job,
Squire Hall will do it for $3.50?
Keigwin's man heard House, and HI
bid So. House saw the 81, and lower
ed it 10 cents. Then Keigwin's mm
dropped to dollar. The prosperity,
groom smiled, and with his prospective
bride started up the hill with TIN
dollar man.
Then House, his pride aroused, call
ed out that Squire Hall would d
the job for nothing and would throw
in gratis his blessing and a photograph
of himself to be hung in the wedde'
couples parlor. This liberal PROPOSE
ton flooded Keigwin's man, and be
fore he could recover breath or thin
up something more generous, Hous
was marching triumphantly up tn
hill with the clippers in tow.
As a rule, the runners stick closel
to business and seldom cut rate
The industry is a Aourishing one an
it has taken many dollar into Je
fersonville.-New York Times.