The evening world., 1891-07-18
wed As YOU PLEASE,
Loving Couples United, Day or Night,
and No Questions Asked.
Midnight Marriage Mills Work
Secretly and Quickly.
Three broadway Gretna Greens and
Their Method OF Marrying.

New York has Grctna Green, or rather
three OF them, where, in the language OF the
presiding genius-whether a good or an evil
one the reader may judge" couples can get
married with secrecy and despatch just as
easy rs rolling Off log, and no one will bc
the wiser"
New York Grctnn Green, or Greens, nre To-
Gated at II, 100 and 1870 broadway. Here
Is what the advertisement says:
Marriages Solcmnizcd Brnmnn Jaw Company
tJoseph Il aud u. r. Bramaui. Ohoo always
open, day and night, Sundays and holidays In
Cluded tnever closod).
The business Of the firm is not only TO
make two one by method Just as easy as
rolling OF a log" but also to secure informa-
tion " to rend asunder those whom God hath
Joined together" and "rellable detectives
are kept on hand day and night" the adyer-
tlsement adds, for that very purpose.
An EVENING WORLD reporter was curious to
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 ohice of this perpetual marriage mill Is
in room 40, at No. II Broadway, or a'hcr
dark, drcary cuhbyhOle that has 10 b" Kept
lighted in daytime.
A youth, who said he was " VI. Brpman's
SON" sat at desk. He was real YOUNG but
knew all about marriage. He gave It 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 Dusi-
ness in his fathers absence.
IAN right" said the reporter; al want to
get married"
That's easy-as easy as rolling off Il log"
answered the youth.
~ don't want any publicity about 1t, how
ever"
Secrecy guaranteed. Nobody Will ever
know word about it,
"Wont the minister tell7"
"Young man." said Cupid's agent, "yOu are
evidently from the country, | see that" and
an almost inpercepuble curl OF contempt
was noticeable on his upper lip; but he con-
descended to explain.
There Is no minister In this. See? You
just bring your girl here. We draw up a con-
tract, each OF you signs 1t, and you are man
| and WIFE,"
| But -
But-there Is no but about It. know
what you were going TO say. marriage by
| NOhtihSb tub luNb VI NcN 1OTh lS Nhllu.
| Just as valid as II you had been married by a
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 license and no record need be made OF It
at the of1ices OF the Board OF Health"
"Do you keep copy OF the contract7"
"No. 1t Is printed In regular legal form,
and all that is required Is the hlling In OF the
names and minor details"
"well, then, suppose / should destroy the
contract In case ] should get tired Of my wife?
She would then have nothing to show and no
record TO produce that she ever was a wife -
1--WE have your name on our books; that s
all. With the rest we have nothing to do"
The glb-tongued youth began TO feel rather
uneasy under the reporters cross-axamina-
tion. He pulled himself together, however,
and said
1--WE never ask questions It's none OF our
business who the people are They want to
! get married, ana we marry Them
All you have to do is to pay your money aud
| say you want TO get married the Bramans
| do the rest.
ITS quite "A popular way OF getting mar
ried,n continued the youth. "There are hun
ureds 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 here2"
| Amy hour OF the day night"
"Well, suppose, the girl Is under age II is
against the law for any one 10 marry minor,
! isn't IT,"
"Thc age OF the girl is not mentioned in
! 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 tho reporter. How much
VIII 1t cost TO get married by ContyaGt2"
THAT depends. We won't be any harder
on you than a minister would. They take
what they can get from poor people. With
wealthy couples It's different. They have to
pay handsomely. our regular price for draw
| ing the contract Is $40; but you come around
and see the old man. Hen let you OF easy"