The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-07-08
CUPID ON A
Marries You and Gives a Wedding
Trip for Nothing.

LupiG, VINO has been fancy free Tor
countless ages, and whose merry pranks
have caused thrones to rorter and fail,
has at last been enmeshed in the fe,-
tiers % an sfsIe civilization. He is now
doing business for a steamship compa-
ny whose boats ply between the cities
OF Chicago and Milwaukee. It is a far
cry from h love laden atmosphere OF
P~arnassus to the marts of American
trade, and Cupid, unless he regards ii
as his maddest and merriesc achieve
menr, shudder in his bondage.
But this is not telling the story, is it,
Well, 1t is a story Of marrinlony for
the masses. If you are inclined tina.
way. here is the opportunity OF a life
time. Not only will your honeymoon
IT lp andthe ministers fee be paid for
YOU, but in addition you will receive
an annual "a good for two and the
steamers plying between Chicago and
Milwaukee and s25 in bright shining
gold.
bride, the steamboat company will land
you in Milwaukee. and upon presenta-
ton OF the marriage certificate at the
Office you will receive all the benefits
except the golden coin. That is re-
served for those who are welded on
the boat.
AS I town OF Easy marriage" Mil
Wauaee is known far and wide. and
during the summer Chicago couples
are married there in big punches. The
absence OF a license law in Wisconsin,
a condition which is imposed by the
state OF Illinois. is responsible for the
situation, and local ministers and civil
officers make more from tying copies
in the double knot Of connubial bliss
thar they do from their salaries.
Rev. W. A H~unsberger, Of the Grand
avenue Methodist church, otherwise
known by the sobriquer of the mar
rying parson," holds the record to date.
Fol several years he averaged $500
ceremonies pei year. and with few ex-
ceptions they were couples from Chi
cago n other Illinois towns. AT one
time rivalry was SO great that run
ners were employed by the hustlers
among the clergy to make the trips and
get business on the boats.
So much for the existing condition Of
affairs. Now We come to the thraldom
Of Dan Cupid. Anticipating a decrease
in matTimony this summer, owing to
the fact that so many eligible young
men have gone to the front in their
country's service, the steamboat CON-
pany has entered upon a move plan to
stimulate marriage. To twenty thou,
sand young men has been sent an in
vitation TO desert single blessedness
for matrimony, with special induce
ments offered by the company.
The invitations are embellished with
pictures intended to be alluring and
persuasive. The first shows Chicago,
with the sun coming up in the east; the
next, the steamer on the lake; the third,
Milwaukee,; the fourth, a marriage GER
emony; the fifth, the BOAT steaming
under a low moon, and the sixth and
last, Chicago lighted by a high moon.
A minister will be on the boat ready for
service at a moments notice. He will
carry a full supply of blank certificates
and guarantees TO kiss each and every
bride that he marries.
That the invitations will be produc-
tive of results there is nc doubt. Ac-
c%eptances are reaching the offices Of
the company at the rate Of five hundred
a day, and it is confidently expected
that from one to w thousand couples
will be married on the boat during the
summer. So far the replies have been
entirely from Chicago.
One of the letters received is from a
typewriter. who describes herself as
"twenty-six years old, handsome, good
looking. brunette, perfectly sound and
matrimonially inclined" She offers the
company s25 if it will find her a suit
able fellow to tie up to. Although this
is a line of work Superintendent Whits-
lar had not anticipated going into, still,
as the advance agent OF CUPID, ne Will
not let any chances slip, and if all per-
sons wishing to marry a girl with all
the good points state in the descrip-
ton will forward their applications to
Mr.. Whitslar, they will be turned over
to the young woman to make a selec-
ton. y
Many similar letters are coming, and,
by a curious coincidence, all of the
writer's are apparently attractive in
every way that would appeal to a man.
However, if mates can be found for
them, they will be married aboard the
BOAT and receive the substantial we'll
wishes of the company.