The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-14
THE BASHFUL GROOM.
How He Acts When Securing a
Marriage License.
HIS FRIENDLY GENIUS TALKS.
The Applicant Betrays His EFrand and
His Character-A Few Words
OF Friendly Advice.

The most interesting period in mans
life is when he contemplates entering the
matrim oniai state. The best place to
study him at this stage is at the county
auditors Office, where the lover must
needs secure a license before he can call
his adored his own. Questions without
number are asked by the candidates about
the first step into matrimony. namely, the
getting of the license. How do they act
who gets it, do both parties come? and
so on. A few days ago young man, EVIL
IDENTIFY from the country, entered the
auditors office and glanced nervously
about as if fearful of meeting a creditor.
Then he made himself known to the regis
try clerk and stated that he wanted a
license to wed. He pocketed the license
and went out in way that would lead
lead one to believe he had been guilty of
robbing henroosts.
"Do they all act like that?" asked re-
porter of the registry clerk as the date of
the license was entered and the register
was closed.
Not always" was the reply. ''But We
can always tell them the moment they
open the door. There is the bashful man.
the self-confident man, the stingy man,
the youth not yet Il who brings his father
or mother along. and lastly the young man
you wouldn't mind marrying yourself.
1.-THE bashful man comes through the
door in a halt-frightened manner. looks
about him. sees the window with the sign
Marriage Certificates above it, walks as
though afraid of being heard and always
has creaky boots on. Finally. upon reach
ing the window, he informs the waiting
clerk, in a whisper, that he would like to
have . marriage license. Poor fellow !
The chances are he has, in his ignorance,
come alone. If such be the case he is told
that he must procure a witness He goes
away, returns IN a half hour all heated,
doubly nervous and endures the agony all
over again.
"The self-confdent man comes in as
though to get married was the last thing
on earth he contemplated. He walks in
the direction Of the record window and
when nearly there he suddenly turns
around towards the window where these
papers are dispensed and asks for his
license. He chats with the clerk and
makes you feel glad you don't have to
marry him, he is SO likely to be overbear-
ing. His witness, by his stale jokes on
matrimony, always gives you the idea of a
man disappointed in life.
1.-THE stingy man. when he asks for his
license and inquiries about the price, says
Pretty expensive. isn't it, and you have
to explain to his satisfaction where every
cent of it goes. He is so afraid you are
trying to cheat him and you are doubly
glad you don't have to marry him.
1.-THE youth not yet q comes with his
father, or else armed with letters from his
parents, also from the parents of his pros
pective bride, if, as not seldom happens,
she be not yet Is. OF him you think:
Does he really know what he is doing7'
"Then comes the nice young man. He
has the witness ask for the licence in q
manly way, smiles pleasantly, and looks
as he feels-happy. He takes the paper
from your hand with word of thanks,
walks proudly out of the Office, and in
your heart you wish him joy.
Sometimes after the license is procured
all is not well. In one instance the young
lady's parents objected to her marriage.
The man, widower, had children who
also objected; however, the license was
secured, the ceremony was performed and
the certificate was duly signed. Imagine
the CONSERVATION of the husband when
his new-made wife absolutely refused to
accompany him, returning home instead
to her own people. In another instance
the man, duly polite, let the lady sign tho
certificate, wheseupon he refused to attach
his signature to che paper. with the re-
mark:
~ want to see what kind of wife she
will make before bind myself
"Among those who come for license to
wed 1 forgot to mention the woman. She
usually comes in accompanied by her in
tended. She asks for a license, pays for
it, pockets it while he stands by and says
not word. often wonder if be remains
in this sat-upon state.
"To the man who wants to get married
it would be well to offer q word of advice.
When you want to get married, if you
think it necessary to come yourself. bring
q witness who knows your prospective
wife. Do not come, as some do. without
even knowing the lady's first name or her
age. Enter the Office and ask for the
license as though you were proud of the
fact that you had found a woman to love
you. Ask for your license, pay for 1t
quietly, don't kick Oh the price-it's only
S., and rest assured that you will not at
tract one-third the attention many others
in their ignorance do"