The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1897-04-17
MARRYING IN SCOTLAND.
Some Odd Details of Scottish Lift.

Dundee letter.
The marriage market for 1896 has
been more than unusually busy. This,
doubtless, is owing to the extra work
which has prevailed during the year.
According to one registrar, marriages
fuctuate to a very large extent with
trade. Christmas and the New Year
season are invariably associated with
marriages. During the latter season
many Of the poorer working classes en-
ter into the bonds of marriage with as
little concern as they would change
their lodgings. The serious aspect Of
the contract and its responsibilities
never seen to trouble their heads. In
many cases 1t is all a matter Of con-
yenience. Indeed. a city registrar de-
clares that seven out of every ten mar
riages, in his opinion, have little TO do
with love. In his long experience he
had met with many cases where
couples got Spilled" and not only had
no home to go to. but had barely
enough to get their supper. This 10
specially so among young couples, and,
by-the-way, it may here be stated thai
boy and girl marriages in towns arr
on the increase. During the year nov
closing a considerable number d
youths from eighteen, and even young
er, have been married. Before many
months were over-in some instances
IL was but a few weeks-they were ap.
y,1foo ne 70 r. u, C1,nnfI %.
ciety for Improving the Condition Of
the Poor for help. A couple appeared
at one OF the Offices to have theiI
fourth child registered, and neither ot
them was over twenty-one.
1t is surprising to find, in these dayf
Of education, how ignorant many peo-
pie are when they visit the registrar,
Not a few are unable to sign theiI
names. Some are unable to give the
name or hour OF birth of the child they
riage schedules some ludicrous answer
are given. For instance. a couple WA
asked IL they were related, ane
answered: Yes. we live up the samI
close" A Highlander who was asked
il his father was living said: 'Ho, she
lives in ia Heelans."
One day q well-known musician pre-
scented himself at an office and regis
tered his wife's death, and. to the sur
prise of the registrar, turned up next
morning seeking the requisite form ia
marry another woman. This sort OF
thing happens more frequently thar
most people think.
The ages OF brides and bridegrooms
form a curious and interesting study.
The average in several offices for the
fair sex runs from twenty-one, while
the average for the sterner sex runs
from twenty-five. The average OF elder
brides and bridegrooms runs about
forty and seventy. Some of the latter
have been married three and four
times. II has often been said that .
girl gives up hope at thirty, but IL the
registers of marriages prove anything
they show that spinsters of thirty and
upward are much sought after. Marry
in May and rue for aye" seems still
to hold good This month is the dull
est in the season, but with the advent
of June the business begins again.
Fashionable marriages have greatly
increased in number and display. At a
marriage between the daughter Of Q
Glasgow distiller and a city brewer
there were more cabs than were ever
seen at any general assembly sitting In
the same neighborhood. The custom
of getting married at the manse is
growing In favor. During the year
well nigh 300 marriages were csle-
brated at the ministers One clergy
man, the Rev. T. Coehrane, who is
credited with marrying large portion
Of the city, married nearly half the
above number. His record is some
] thig like 400. Marriages at the manss
are not without incidents. An ex-mod-
orator tells how he had agreed to
buckle" a couple. and only the man"
and best man" turned up at the manse
After several hours waiting they left,
the worried groom assuring the divine
that he would duly punish the hem
pie" when he found her. Next night
they were all forward in good time,
and on the minister asking the bride
why she failed to put in an appearance
on the previous evening she exclaimed
with q laugh: Hoo dae ye think I
could come when he'd to gaung a mes
sage wi this lassie?' pointing to her
best maid.