Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-22
RUNAWAY MARRIAGES,
Why So Many Couples Come Here to Have
the Knot Tied.

| Why So Many Couples Come Here to Have
| the Knot Tied.
| Marriage licenses 81 each and no questions
asked is what brings many runaway couples
to this city and swells the fees Of the clerk of
the court. and in addition to the cheapness Of
the legal document and the easy manner Of
procuring 1t there is a minister employed in
the building, who is often called upon to per-
form the ceremony, SO that if there should be
any one in pursuit Of the fleeing couple they
would certainly have to make fast time If they
| succeeded in preventing two hearts to beat as
one.
The excursion season brings many persons
here who are willing to share the joys and sor-
| rows Of life together, and those who come on
cheap excursions get the trip thrown in for
what the license alone would cost in many
places.
| inquire for the court house as soon as they
| reach the depot, and when they do so it is
pretty certain that they are bent on matrimony.
HOW THE HACK DRIVERS GET THEM.
Many such persons come from Richmond and
other places from where excursion trains usu-
ally reach here in the morning, and the an
nouncement of such train on the road causes
| the might line" hack drivers to remain about
the depot and watch for the loving couples, be-
cause soHlc VI the drivers Will not n06ltato TO
charge several times the legal fare, and the pas
sengers being strangers, and in love too, never
stop to dispute the bill.
Some of the drivers declare that they can
always pick out the lovers who come on a matri-
monial errand, and the first thing they say is:
Here you are for the court house.
He just the man we want" they think and
without stopping to see whether the vehicle looks
as good in the sunlight as it does on dark night
they enter, and after a circuitous route is
travelled the court house is reached. and there
the people who know nothing but I'VE want to
get married are ushered into a vacant court
room where an audience is soon obtained. and
there. in the presence Of witnesses, they are
made one.
The hackney drivers tell some interesting
stories Of these couples as to how they con-
tinue their courtship in the carriage or cab.
They tell how the prospective groom takes the
fair ones hand and squeeZes it tightly until she
gives some sign of pain.
That don't hurt?" he has been heard to ask,
and OF course her reply is mo, dear"
Then their lips meet, and if they don't meet
several dozen times it Is not their fault.
At the end of the journey the cabby draws
on the purse, and he sometimes gets more
money than the cost Of the ceremony and Ii
cense.
FEES OF THE MINISTER'S.
The ministers do not always get their pay in
ready cash for services rendered, although
tHey Set ROOQ promises. ana sometimes the
amount of cash i SO small that it would not
buy the minister's family a bushel Of potatoes.
City folks usually give the minister a dollar
or two and once in long while it is increased
to ive but this seldom happens. and when it
does the minister has good grounds for the be-
lief that the bill is a counterfeit.
Charles county people have a superstition
that an apple and 81 cents will bring them
good luck and seldor does their donation go
higher. and the apple must come from their
own farm. Those who come from other coun-
ties in Maryland give according to the thick
ness OF their purse, while the Virginians vary
In amount. some patterning after Charles
county and some doing even worse. great
many, however, do considerably better.
BARREN ENVELOPE.
The man who came from Green county did
the worst. He completely fooled the author
lied minister Of the gospel who performed the
ceremony, and he so arranged it that the latter
could not make the discovery until it was too
late to call attention thereto.
closely sealed envelope, which was sup
posed to contain SIS bill. was handed to the
minister when he had said amen, and of course
he felt delicacy in opening it before the happy
couple, and lie also, no doubt did not care to
have those present know the exact amount he
was given.
The size of the envelope was enough to glad
den the heart of the minister for the ns tant but
after the guests had departed and the envelope
was opened there was an emptiness about it
that made the minister think that the man from
Green county was not as green as his county.