New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-09
GREAT YUpTfALs SYNDICATE.

In Cumberland, Indiana, lives uhe he'c'e'' ~
Butts. Before going any further, we snouio BAY
that the facts which we are about 10 give "cie
ali Of them obtained from press dispatch from
Cumberland bearing every evidence Oh 'rusI
worthiness-indeed, what we are about to relate
;s 80 remarkable that in justice to ourselves we
couId not do otherwise than give our authority.
Resides SO many things have happened IN Ill
diana lately. accounts of which we have duly SET
down. that we feel we ought to be even more than
usually careful that we be regarded simply In the
ligbt of plain historian. We trust that thc
next curious occurrence will be reported from
some other State.
In Cumberland, Indiana, lives the Reverend MI.
Butts. lie has just been prohibited from eAer
cisng his religious functions by the presiding
elder of the district He has been suspended sitn-
ply because he was more enterprlsing IMAM Ills
brother ministers. These are the facts: Cumocr-
land is what the ingenious correspondent, Win a
happy turn for original phrase, calls the Mecca
for elopers" No marriage license is required IN
Indiana, and the young people of Ohio and heh'
lucky who are hedged about by parental oppo'
sition fly to Cumberland as the most convenient
place to be made one. For years, each CumDer-
land Clergyman has married twenty times as
many couples the average minister In other
parts of the State. The clipping couples usually
arrive on the train. AT the station have always
stood several haclSmen who have hailed them
with, "Keb sir keb! Any minister you want
in four minutes" Six months ago, an idea oc-
CURED to the Reverend Mr.. Butts. He approached
each cabman and offered to give him one-third of
the fee received from each couple delivered at
the parsonage. Every hackdriver accepted the
proposition with enthusiasm. From that day, the
reverend gentleman did the runaway marrying in
the town of Cumberland.
For the past six months the Rev. Mr.. Butts
has worked Oh an average of sixteen hours day
at Joining impusive young folks from Ohio and
kentucky in the holy bonds Of matrimony lie
has had as high as three couples in his study at
once with two others out in the hall, and a cab
man coming with his horse on the run with an
other pair Indeed, great haste mas often been
necessary all through the ceremony from the start
at the depot to the kissing OF the bride, because
of the fact that the young peoples parents were
frequently in hot pursuit. Occasionally peppery
Kentuck khan would come up and shoot through
the study window. To prevent any personal
damage Mr.. Butts had made what appeared to be
an ordinary japanese screen with paintings on
it Of twelve-inch BIRDS with legs Of different
lengths and meteor tails, making for four-inch
trees, but which was really of heavy boieriron;
and safe behind this bOmb-proof the ceremony
went on, mo matter how the parent might rage
Sometimes there would be friendly race between
the hackmcn and ii was no uncommon thing for
three or four of them to dash up abreast, per-
haps with a wheel gone from one carriage and
the lamps knocked of another, in the strife
Once, on such an occasion, the bottom dropped
out of an ancient and insecure cab and the Ohio
couple within were obliged to join hands and
run inside the vehicle from the station to the
of
obtained from the bridegroons, Of course, varied
greatly, ranging from coon-skin up to $40 and
sometimes $50. Settlement was had with the
haclSmen each night after the ten-thirtyfve train
was in and the arrivals from it attended to,
But the average Of the fees was high enough so
that there was soon evidences of prosperity both
around the station and the parsonage. Mrs. Butts
bossomed ont with new black silk dress and
rooster-feather boa, and the cabmen all got new
rubber extnguishers for their hats and patent
ventilated nose-bags for their horses. But how
was business with the other clergymen? Abso-
lutcly dead. The leaves in their prayer books
at the marriage service became widowed together.
All day and far into the night cabs rushed past
their houses and threw clouds Of dust on to their
front porches, but never one stopped For
long time the ministers could not understand it.
But one day o cabman who had just been lunch
ing on pate de role gras ana champagne oecaine
reckless and divulged the whole plan. The other
clergymen reported the matter to the presiding
elder and he has suspended the Rev. Mr.. Butts, as
we said before. Most men would be discouraged,
but he is not. He will take a much-needed rest
during the winter and for justice Of the peace
at the spring election, having been assured of
the enthusiastic support of the hacSmens union.
--