The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-13
AT THE LICENSE WINDOW.
Strange Scenes Witnessed by the
Clerk Who Issues Mar
riage Permits.
Friday an Unpopular Day With
Applicants for That Sort
of Document.
Taking the Oath and Signing the Blanks
How the Irishman Comes-Othor
- Nationalities. =

It was on Friday that I visited the mar
riage license window, and 1 was Informed
that any other day of the week except Sun
day would have been better, because those
who are even a very little superstitious dc
not visit the window on that much -slandered
day. Very supsrstitious persons 20 much
farther than that, for one couple, upon
hearing a band pass the window playing a
funeral match at the head of a procession,
refused to take out the license until an
other day. And Mr.. Salmonaon says that
on one occasion a young man inquired
whether he thought it would rain before
night. The sky looked threatening, and the
clerk said he thought rain might fall.
"Then l will come on another day. said
the timid applicant. ut would be bad
luck if it rained on the day I get my
licenge."
Icould not help wondering what must be
the scene on such unusually busy days as
Saturdays or the days preceding national
festivals, for though it was Friday there
was no pause in the business at the window.
As quickly us one man got his permit an
other took his place. Only wi women
came with their prospective husbands.
There is no need for any of the fair sex to
80 to the window. and, as q rule. it is only
the humber and more ignorant ones who
do so, conceiving it to be a necessity.
In taking an oath to the truth Of what
they have said, rs all must do, it is noticed
that many laborers from Protestant Europe
raise three fingers. to represent the Trinity,
instead of ono hand. as VIC do; but one
man, on being asked to raise his hand,
liftarl 1~th urr.S~ - NJ L--l In.M-.-@'
professional criminal, accustomed to being
searched by officers of the law. Young
Americans are usually in a hurry: thew
want to know if they can be attended to
fright away" They spoil blank after
blank in a vain sndeavor to sign their full
have abbreviated thsir signatures in the
rush of business until their hands refuse to
break the old habit. One man il said to
havs signed himself Smith a. Co."
The Slavs and the French Canadians are
the most illiterate applicants at thsiwindow.
MANY seem TO have no schooling. Irishmen
who cannot write are ashamed OF the fact.
Some appear with their right hands ban
daged, while others give the impression of
having practioed the art of printing merely
the letters of their names and NO others.
Many of the Hebrews can only write their
names in Hebrew characters. They are the
most deferential applicants. Oftentimes
they knock at the open door. and being
bidden to enter, stand ut a distance uncov-
cred. They come direct from the syna-
poRues dressed in their best. with their
sweethearts beside them. Those who are
most strict will NOT touch pen and ink on
Saturday, though they come on that day.
lrishmsn bring their friends, who are apt
TO tease them, calling them Victims" and
saying that one stroke Of the nom will de-
stroy their liberty. The Irish nro tho ones
who most frequently offer to treat the clerk:
When q man strides up aud produces his