The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-04-06
MARRY in GERMANY
BUT IF you ARE AMERICANS BE PRE-
PARED FOR A SIEGE

''"'e" 10 the Civil Func-
uonary-rhe Trials of n Young coupIe
OF Americans In Berlin.
IL Is often almost impossible for an
american to secure the papers necessary
make European marriage valid es-
'eciaily IN Germany. The lovers are fire.
luently Obliged to wait until thew can
epair to some less inquisitive land
where priest or legal functionarv will
consent to unite them without asking
nperhuous questions. When the CON
racting parties are themselves Euro-
leans. the formalities are probablv for
ndaple enough, for besides the actual
marriage papers there are settlement
papers and various preliminary docu-
nents to be drawn up. But il Won are an
american OF course you are a sugpicious
character, and you will find if oven
LOUDLY difficult to marry the girl Of
FOUR choice. You must first prove vour
light to live and breathe and have vonr
being, and your bride must prove her
light to live and breathe and have her
'eing' and your father, and your moth
r. and your brides father, and your
rides mother must also prove that they
we're born in due time and have lived
rreproachably ever after, and i'm case
hey no longer exercise the functions of
living, breathing and having their be-
ng 1t must be shown that they ceased
% do so in sober and godlike manner.
All this and much more must be set
'orth in quod erat demon strandum
ashton by means of documents before
Iou will be allowed to bend your neck
20 the conjugal yoke.
The truth of these remarks was illus
rated q few weeks ago in Berlin, when
he happiness of two young Americans
lung for long time in the balance un-
i'll German authorities finally consented
% let them join hands and hearts. The
1oung man was an Psychologist and
'ound it necessary to be in Egypt at a
certain time. He hoped to take his bride
With him, but almost up to the last mo-
nent he was uncertain whether he
Ihould have a bride to take. For months
lie had been trying to bring about this
marriage, but the requirements of the
German law were enough to drive even
man accustomed to the complications
If the Tel-el Ell Manah tablets to de-
pair. The bride had lived formerly on
Inc other side of the world, and as there
existed in the cautious German mind
he possibility that she might have gone
through the marriage ceremony on some
previous occasion it was necessary to
publish the banns weeks beforehand, not
,nly in the Berlin papers, but also in
The journals of her native American
Town. Both parties were obliged to Sc
,ure certificates of the birth and bap-
ism of themselves and their parents
md to furnish an epitome of the family
histories down to date. There is a ru-
nor that testimony was even demanded
Is to the number Of times certain rela-
ives had been vaccinated and the sue
cess of the operation. The young wom-
ms father had died when away from
home, and it was rather difficult to sat
sly German authorities as to the man
Ter of his taking off. Finally all the
papers arrived, and tho couple repaired
1ne day with their friends and witnesses
20 the Office of the legal functionary in
whose hands their happiness reposed.
The legal functionary, of course, had
witnesses ON his side The Germans
never transact any business except in
the presence of witnesses. If you quar-
rel with the guard ON railway train,
he Immediately summons another guard,
not to settle the dispute, but to witness
it. They put their two solemn heads to-
gether, shake them at each other and at
you, make copious notes of the facts
and finally take themselves off. This
bridal couple and friends were silently
surveyed by the band of witnesses
Then the bride was placed in one chair
and the bridegroom in another at n re-
, spectful distance. The papers were pro-
) duced. The bride told all about herself,
and the bridegroom told all about him
self, and the friends and witnesses told
all about both of them. The mother oil
! the bride assured the assembled COM
pany that this man was not insidlously
defrauding her of her daughter. The
company began to breathe more freely.
The bridegroom heaved sigh OF RELIEF.
: The tired bride moved in her char
YEARLY. But the legal functionary was
not going to let them off so easily. lie
shook his head over the papers, pursed
] up his lips and then turned on the
| whole crowd and asked them tiercely Tor
0 their passports. OF course no one had
such thing about him, so the 1aded
bridegroom had to rush off in drosky
to secure as many as We're necessary.
Meantime German couple appeared.
; Their papers, of course, were all right
r The German bridegroom took possession
of the American bridegroom's vacant
chair and the American bride, who by
g this time, was almost in tears, yielded
/. her seat to the German bride. by th'
4 time they had been safely launched upol
: the sea of married life the passports ha'
: been found, and the Americans agali
' took the chairs and were finally mad'
g man and wife, to the satisfaction OF TN
legal functionary, themselves and thel
friends.
That wasn't all, of course. They ha'
n to rush off, after the legal functionary
Q fee had been paid, to do honor to Tn
= ordinary convent Qualities, array them
: selves in festal robes and be married
again by a minister who spoke the Eng
!, lish tonpue. shake hands with their 90