San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-03
ARE THEY MARRIED.
A Contract Made in Fun Which Shay
Prove Serious in Law.

A Contract Made in Fun "nicn Nay
Prove Serious in Law.
From Globe Democrat, Dec. %.
An affair OF particular interest to
the young ladies and gentlemen of
East st. Louis, and in fact, to young
ladies and gen tlemen of all sections,
occurred at the office of Mr.. II. +.
Barnes, of East st. Louis, yesterday
afternoon, when the Hon. ID. @. Ram
say, democratic representative elect
from the Forty-seventh Senatorial
district, and Mics Bessie Caldwell, a
charming young lady and lightning
stenographer, passed through the
form Of a marriage ceremony,
which is said by leading law.
yers to be not only quasi legal
in form, but absolutely binding In
every particular. The facts IN
relation to the manner in which the
matter was broug hit about are as fol-
lows: Mr.. Ramsay. Miss Caldwell
and q few other intimate friends had
acciden tally met in the office of Mr..
H. E. Barnes, and one OF the party,
picking up copy of the Globe Demo-
crat, espied an item which detailed
and interesting marriage by contract
at Johnston, Pa. One of the party sug-
gested duplicating the marriage. the
suggestion took we'll, and was
promptly acted upon. Mr.. d. e..
Ramsay, the groom. to-be, who is q
prominent disciple of Blackstone,
proceeded TO draw up a contract.
The conditions, obligations etc.,
were inserted with precision
and accuracy. The paper was
duly signed by Mr.. Ramsay, who
contracted 10 love, honor and pro-
tect Miss Bessie Caldwell, of East st.
Louis, forever. The young lady was
then called upon, and in very
solemn and dignified manner she, too,
81 described her name agreeing to fol-
low the legislator through all kinds
of vicissitudes, or share with him the
pleasures OF the fame of which it is
possible for him TO obtain, besides
contracting 10 be his lawful wife.
The document was about to be con-
signed to the safe when it occurred to
some one that more solemnity would
be accorded the proceeding If it were
little matter was soon remedied, aud
Justice Richard s. Long, who hap
pened to be present, and Attorney r.
+. Willard attached their names as
witnesses.
Some one gave the event away, and
it became the theme of general con-
versation on the streets of East st.
Louis yesterday afternoon. Many
openly vowed that as the formalities
had been complied with, except the
procuring of license, the marriage
was indeed as binding as any common
Law marriage could be.y
Miss Caldwell was seen by repre-
sentative of the Globe. Democrat in
reference to the matter, and that
lady stated that she treated the
whole matter as huge joke, and
hoped nothing would be said OF the
affair. She admitted the performance
OF the impromptu ceremony, but held
that she bad no intentions of be-
coming anybody's wife. Mr.. Ram
say said he felt sorry that any one
would be so foolish as to suppose the
ceremony was meant for anything
serious, yet he admitted that there
were grounds for supposing the pro-
ceedings quite legal
Mr. Ramsay is 80 years of age, a
promising young lawyer, and at the
late election was elected to the Cen
eral Assembly by a majority never be-
fore accorded Democratic Repre-
sentative in st Clair county. Miss
Caldwell is pretty, petite and &C
compIished.
Many ci tizens believe the Governor g
ball next month will uudoubr eddy be
graced by Hon. and Mrs. ID. G. RAM
say, of st. Clair.