The evening world., 1891-07-18
WE'D AS YOU PLEASE.
Loving Couples United, Day or Night,
aud No Questions Asked.
Midnight Marriage Mills Work
Secretly and Quickly.
Three Broadway Gretna Greens and
Their Method of Marrying.

New York has Gretna Green, or rather
three Of them, where, In the language Of the
presiding genius-whether II good or an evil
one the reader may Judge" couples can get
married with secrecy and despatch just M
easy as rolling on log, and no one will be
the wiser"
New York Gretna Green, or Greens, are To-
Gated at Il, 12O and 1870 Broadway. Here
is what the advertisement says;
Marriages soomnihed ,BrAmAu Law Company
(Joseph and Il. Y. BrAmEnl, Once Elvhya
open. day aud night, Sundays and holidays In
cludcd mover ClosCd).
The business Of the firm Is not only to
make two one by a method Just ms easy as
| rolling OF log" but also to secure informa-
tlon TO rend asunder those whom God hath
Joined together" and "reliable detectives
are kept on hand day and night" the adver-
tiSement adds for that very purpose.
An EVENING WORLD reporter was curious 20
know how marriages are solemnized by the
Braman Law Company's marriage mill, that
grinds matrimonial grist day and night
sundays and holidays included, never closed"
one onice OF this perpetual marriage mill Is
In room 40, Mt No, II Broadway, or rather a
dark, dreary cubbyhole that has TO be kept
| lighted in daytime.
A youth, who said he was "Alr. Bramans
son, sat at desk. He was real young, but
knew all about marriage He gave 1t as his
opinion that marriages were not failures
| Judging from the number his father per-
formed. The latter wasn't in just then, but
the younger man would transact any bust
ness In his fathers absence.
IAN right" said the reporter; al want 70
get married"
That's easy-as easy as rolling of a log"
answered the youth.
81 don't want any publicity about II, how
ever"
"secrecy guaranteed. Nobody Will ever
know word about it."
"Won't the minister tellf"
"Young man." said Cupid's agent, "you are
evidently from the country, see that" and
an almost inperceptible curl OF contempt
was noticeable on his upper lip; but he con-
descended TO explain.
"1here is no minister In this. See? You
Just bring your girl here. We draw up n con-
tract, each OF you signs IT, and you are man
and WIFE"
| " But -
But-thero is no but about II. know
what you we're going 10 say. A marriage by
contract under the laws OF New York Is valid,
just az valid as II you had been married by n
priest or minister or the Judge OF some court.
Besides, 1t does away with publicity. Just the
thing you want to avoid. You needn't take
out q license and no record need be made OF IL
at the oflices OF the Board OF Health"
ado you keep a copy OF the contractf"
mo. 1t is printed in regular legal form,
and all that is required is the filling IN OF the
names and minor details"
"well, then, suppose should destroy the
contract In case should get tired OF my wife2
She would then have nothing TO show and no
record 10 produce that she ever was wife ?"
ave have your name on our books; that's
all. With the rest we have nothing to do"
The glib-tOngued youth began 10 feel rather
uneasy under the reporters cross-ex amlna-
tion. He pulled himself together, however,
and said
ave never ask questions. It's none OF our
business who the people are. They want TO
get married, and We marry them"
All you have TO do is 10 pay your money and
say you want to get married the Bramans
do the rest.
"It's quite n popular way OF getting mar
ried," continued the youth. "There are hun
dreds OF couples In this town who were mar
ried by contract. know that In the country
they hold up their hands In holy horror when
you talk to them about contract marriages,
but IN the city they are the proper thing Be-
cause OF this prejudice In the country we LEFT
the words Secret Marriages Performed on
our business cards"
"Can get married any time herer"
Amy hour OF the day or night"
Well, suppose, the girl is under age. II IA
against the law for any one 10 marry a minor
isn't TT"
The age OF the girl is not mentioned n
| the contract" was the evasive reply OF the
youth, who began TO get restless again.
"NOw, there is one other question want
10 know" said the reporter. HOW much
win II cost 70 get married by contractf"
"That depends. We won't be any harder
on you than q minister would. They take
what they can get from poor people. with
wealthy couples it's different. They have 70
pay handsomely. our regular price for draw
ing the contract is $40; but you come around