Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-23
CANADIAN ANNEXATION,

o.~s1DAnA~
It 10 Done in Great Shape in Windsor To
Oblige Couples From the States.
From the Windsor Quill
Windsor is becoming Q veritable Gretna
Green for American couples who wish to get
married with neatness and dispatch In many
cases absolute secrecy is also required, and
that is another speciality Of the Windsor mat
rimonial moose tyer. The young and giddy
read the yellow backed novel and become inn
bued with the idea that an elopemeut would be
the proper caper with which to start their mat
rimonial career. They come to Windsor.
Then IN old couple, who have each probably
buried several helpmates, decide to hitch up
for the remainder of their lives They also
come to Windsor.
In the neighboring state Of Michigan il is
difficult to get married without having the fact
published, but in Windsor it is different II You
wish to get married on the "a. t." it is nobody q
business. You can do SO and no one need know
Of it except the man from whom the license is
procured and the minister who ties the knot.
The marriage license man wouldn't say any,
thing about IL, because he doesn't care. He buys
the blank license from the government for 8
cents and charges 90 for it when the blanks are
filled in. He pockets $1.97 Of cold, hard profit
and says never q word. In fact, he probably
never thinks of it again, but keeps his eve open
for the next couple, when he gets another 90
rake-off.
The minister will not mention it, either, 30
long as he gets a reasonable fee for his services
When a couple have eloped and wish for the
paternal blessing, they never think OF tele-
graphing home that will and were married
today" Instead. they flash over the wire.
1--WE have been to Windsor" and the situa-
ton is explained Then the irate father grad
ualy lets his bottled-up wrath effervesce, and
wires the erring couple to come home. They
go. and everything is lovely because they were
married in Windsor.
Windsor ministers have a great bonanza
The fees derived from marriages form no in
considerable portion Of their incomes. The
advantages of a Passionate in the city are we'll
known and appreciated by the ministers OF all
the churches, and when one Of them gets Q
chance to locate in Windsor he is considered q
lucky dog
The ministers have transported the old
phrase Of so much year land pickin's," when
speaking Of salaries, and when brother comes
here he gets as good salary as any other city
and 'weddin's."
The Rev. john Gray, now Of kalamazoo,
when pastor Of st. Andrews Presbyterian
Church, probably broke ali records in the
marrying line. His average during the past
few years was 40 knots year. which alone
would yield an income Of fully 500. One
Fourth Of July Mr.. Gray married seven
couples.
The Rev. John Learoyd Of the Windsor Ave-
nue. Methodist Church was q close second and
started almost many on the road to ''double
cussedness." His successor, the Rev. G. w.
Henderson, is making . record for himself, and
this year is leading the procession with an ay-
erageof four per week. The Rev. ID. 81. Hind
OF Sandwich marries . few. too, running about
nine q month.
In order to get married in Canada every man
must at least have %, il costs that to get the
license, but then the minister would have to do
his work for nothing, and they don't like to do
that They have to do it sometimes and have
many amusing experiences in that line.
The Rev. Hind tells of q Detroit lawyer who
came over in a very anxious state Of mind. He
was accompanied by lady, and they wanted
to get married. He had left his purse at home,
30 he said, and didn't have q cent He bor-
rowed 81 from the rector to get the license,
and they were married, and TO this day
Mr.. Hind has not seen his lawyer friend nor
his 81.
Mr. Hind married q Detroit couple and the
groom gave him $25 and sent another couple
over the following week. Mr.. Learoyd mar
ried q couple. and when he WAS through the
groom said he did not have cent There were
four in the party, and he made them take mp q
collection, which yielded thirtv-ive cents. The
minister gave the bride and groom Q sound
lecture and let them go.
The Rev. Gray married two well known De-
troit people and was given a handsome pin. "a
diamond valued at s200, "and as the man said,
for security for his fee. They never came back
and Harry Bradley pronounced the gem worth
Just about five cents. Sometimes the ministers
do not get anything. and sometimes they get q
nice fat fee. but the average seems TO be about
. IS note.
Not long ago q clergyman Of this city was
called in from his study in the evening to marry
young couple who we're waiting in his parlor,
bent upon matrimony. The young couple ap-
peared to be from an humble walk in life, but
were beaming with happiness At the conclu-
sion Of the ceremony there was q pause Of some
length. The bride looked inquiringly at the
groom. and he gaEed back at her with happy
but somewhat vague expression Of confidence.
At last the bride stepped forward in hest
tating manner, and. dropping an elaborate
courtesy, said:
We've are-very much obliged TO you, sir.
and we hope that at some time We shall be able
to retaliate."
Her husband looked at her with undisguised
pride in her ability to cope with a word Of such
length and elegance, and the minister bowed
the couple out with as grave face rs be could
call up with that remarkable wish ringing in his
ears.