The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-09-07
MARRIED BY sQUIREs.
JUSTICES WHO TIE THE KNOT FOR
LOVING COUPLES.

Funny Stories Gathered in Justices Of
hces-Young People Prefer a Civil Mar
riage Because 1t Is Free from Formal
ity and Is Less Expensive.
1 Hundreds of couples are each year
united by the justices of the peace of st.
Louis 1t is almost surprising to what
extent people seek this form of civil mar
riage. The two hearts that are made to
beat as one by a suave justice are by no
means always those of giddy young
elopers, as the general public believes.
What is the reason that so many peo-
pie prefer a court marriage to religious
one?" was asked Squire Frank Spaulding.
II think that in the majority of cases
it is because it is so free from formality.
There is no time lost in making the
couple man and wife. The form pre-
scribed by the statute does not take more
than half minute to go through with.
Nearly all the people united by the
magistrates are poor and unable and
unwilling to go to the expense of buying
an extensive wedding outfit. They need
the money to provide for their own i'm
mediate wants Then great number
of people are bashful and do not like to
stand up in front of crowd and be mar
ried. They can go before magistrate
and be united in the presence of only
two or three persons
"Do they always have money for the
feeY'
'In nearly every case When they
haven't always make it my duty to
marry them anyway"
What do they usually give to the
magistrate?'''
''Oh, it varies. The law prescribes a
fee. but people give different prices.
Usually it is five dollars About a year
ago woman brought young fellow in
here. They had license. and he was
half scared to death, while she was calm
and businesslike. He didn't say word
while she explained to me what was
wanted made them man and wife
She then reached down into a pocket in
her dress, pulled out roll of bills and
handed me five dollars. She then gave
her husband a five dollar note, saying.
Go on out and treat the squire I've
always wondered what kind of a life
that poor mans leading now, for it was
evident that his wife was the head of the
family
DIDN'T WANT TO BE MARRIED
When | was with Squire Taft at
| IL1CNSuIu avenue, we uSGQ
to have Il great many ludicrous Incl
dents We had so many marriages there
that the place got to be known as the
marriage corner One day an intelligent
looking young couple came in. They had
heard that the place was where they
should go to get marriage licenses They
didn't know anything about that part of
the programme The clerk directed
them to the recorders Office. They went
and secured the license, and probably
thinking it was necessary to go through
some additional fornality came back to
our Office. Squire Taft was busy trying
a case, and at once got down off the
bench. He knew nothing of the preced-
I ing visit, and at once proceeded to go
through the ceremony
AS soon as he pronounced them man
and wife the young girl threw up her
hands and fell into a chair in dismay
Great Godl what will my mother say?
This is Protestant marriager she cried
| She was a devout Catholic, and thought
she was only going through part of the
forms to secure Il license. Although they
were married as tight as the law could
do it, they were married that night by
Catholic priest.
DO You have many runaway couples
call upon your" was asked
Not as many as the public generally
imagine. They are generally from out
of the city, and are tired and weary with
the journey and excitement when they
arrive. Several years ago a couple went
! into Squire Faft's office He was out
and they sat down on a bench to rest
! They had made long journey and the
first thing the groom did was to go to
sleep. The little girl at last gave in
too. She leaned her head upon his
breast, and both we're in the deepest
kind of slumber when the squire came
in. No one liked to wake them, but
finally we made enough noise to arouse
them.
"A minute later they had been pro-
nounced man and WIFE, The groom
laughed merrily over his falling asleep,
and at the conclusion of the ceremony
said, i don't know which refreshed me
the most, gong to sleep or getting mar
ried
FUNNY INCIDENTS
The funniest incident know of was
the groom that forgot his brides first
name. 1t wasn't long before we had
that fixed, however, and they went on
their way rejoicing.
Have you ever followed up the after
lives of couples you have married."
NO but about half of them follow
me up. The general impression of the
/ poorer CLASSES is that man who can
4 marry thenIcan also unmarry them.
should say that fully FIVE out of every
ten couples ! marry come around again
and want a divorce. Then in a great
I many cases when the couple have a
quarrel the husband tears ny. the mar
riage certificate and tells his wife they
are no longer welded The wife gener-