The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-02
MARRIED MANY COUPLES.
some Were Young, Some Were Old
Some He Married Years Ago Are
Divorced, Some Are Dcasi--Bap-

As the years are added TO the ages and
the hour glass of time is reversed again
TO let the sands run cut. there is, as per-
ennial as the snow drops and the yioleIs.
white haired old gentleman who is Gu
pids a5lest ally, who, as December sips
into the past, presents q record that has
earned for him the proud tlsle OF the
marrying parson OF me Pacific coast; q
record that Is held up as q challenge to
al comers. The Rev. John f. Damon, OF
Seattle, is the most unique figure in the
marriages are the hsppisst and that his
henediction IS as sure 20 bring content
nent and peace as though angels presid-
ed at the hymeneai functions that have
made him celebrated.
Since the autumn OF 1869 he has Joined
In marriage i,455 couples. From Janu-
airy l, 1850. 10 December 81, 1897, he mar
ried 1,oe1 couples. Somewhere up at the
court house there Is discrepancy OF
two licenses issued TO we'd. but this fact
does no. affect the Individual record OF
Mr.. Damon, 10 whom "a credited nearly
% per cent. OF all OF the knots tied In
King county that are supposed 10 unite
men and women for life. In 1894 there
were issued gle licenses; In 1895, esq: 1876.
sas. and In 1885,. SIS. In these years MIR.
Damon performed the marriage ceremony
as follows: 1894. $50 couples: 1895 1is
couples: 1896, Isl couples: 1881. IA couples.
or a total for four years OF 5si couples.
There is much 10 be proud OF il all OF this
and IL Mr.. Damon refers 10 his diaries
with some show OF satisfaction he is not
to be blamed fer as a dispenser OF matri-
uoaial bliss he stands head and shoulders
above al contemporaries on the Pacific
coast.
The Oldest Groom.
During the past year. the canvss-cov-
cred and red-sdged little book reveals
that the Oldest groom WAS SO years OF age
and the youngest -. The oldest bride
was IS years and the youngest Is. All OF
which goes TO show that Cupid's pfanks
are not confined 20 that period alluded
20 in Shake speare's seven Ages" as that
Of the lover. signing like a furnace. with
4 woefGl ballad made 10 his mistress
eyebrows" but that his darts find lodge
ment n the bubbfing hearts OF childhood
and the scared and toughened vital parts
Of lettering old age.
Mr.. Damon was IN a reminiscent mood
yesterday and remarked upon the differ
ence that marks the marriages of his ear
~ experience In splicing and tying knots
in the HAS aneotty days and that measure
Of elegance that now frequently obtains
among this worlds elect. What happened
long ago was something that he partici-
retei in heavily and his efforts 70 scatter
the gladstone sunshine % welded Joy wer.
more marked when re hai a church but
later the temple IN which love has pIlghtei
It's IL. has bean within the quiet home
where the ola gentleman. with the frosts
cf age brushed back from his kindly fore
had, has hvsd out the best years os his
fife. He spoke yesterday ~ the twentv-
three years spent In the uttle. Old. ar
painted three-rocnn house that was given
BIN ara his wife ss 4 Christmas present
~ his Port Gamble eonCrega tor, located
on the lots where his present residence now
stands. and % re times when pear'a used
- come and disturb his sleep and ront
h'm eat Of bed that he might make
them man and wife. TIE front room.
where these quaint cerenon!aIs were con-
Quoted was a rarlDr. sitting room. bed
room ana study. and while the prospec-
tive bride ard groom remained either out-
SIDE Gf the weather rsrriittsa} or IN me
dark. the pastor ard ria wife dressed and
prepared for the wedding.
Fees Sometimes Missing
Then Ire lamps would be lighted ara
he words said, ard sometimes there was
Zee ard sometimes not, but happiness
reiE-e1 IN the LITTLE house and some OF Z,
wss carried asav. TIE tights would 20
cut again ard the affair passed with the
hours, and then others came. T. u no.
strange thai :he cottage on the hsI ba-
caE2e sort cf fsTetna Green and thai the
loVs-s.eH turned tHelr eyes that way or
course & was not al that happened in tie
NttIe house that SHAPED dsxtiulns. ard ree-
PIE lived cot their lives just as though
fhsre were - the influences CO love
brea;he6 int0 lam Win the soIe-rn n
functtcns 90 tha ritual Some were IL
Torce6, sra ttese who were married there
Lived 0Bt what fate hsf written In their
horoscopes with re same rs zStIrcs OF con-
;entgueEt that marked TIE Others. ru- NJ.
Damon has kept rack o. many II those
wao Aave departed with bis bleset7x and
r. says thsre Save rcr ben many zepara-
tons. Those whals be has married have
brought thesE children 10 him FOR bzpstsYi
ard ~ the endless procession toward the
horizon 90 Bfe there a4vs beer many over
who~. coesns - has rad re requiem
Besides marrying IA couples IN tra pas.
y@ar. Mr. DaEon haz preached xs!r@tT-zfx
funeral s@rraeas and car+stene1 sixteen
children ard n relation 20 children re nas
some IDEAS tat re WAITS 20 see pat Izto
execution ard leezlEzeo by legislative ep-
sctnents. Mr.. psruoz tasGks sha. there
saouId De state law compelling tns reg
fs-ra.son os births which would gssgl- IN
fns fsez @rasios % children with families
= tAe cities the boards - healta make
satisfies fSr records. bat there tAe regis