The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-24
49, -----
CUPID ON 4 STEAMBOAT.
A Company That Marries You for
Nothing and Gives You $50 and a
wedding Trim.
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald
Cupid, who has been fancy free for
countless ages, and whose merry pranks
have caused thrones TO totter and fan. has
a last been enmeshed in the letters of an
e1fete civilization He is now doing bust.
ness for a steamship company whose
boats ply between the cities of Chicago
and Milwaukee. 1t is a far cry from the
love laden atmosphere of Parnassus 10 the
marts OF American trade, and Cupid. I'M
less he regards it as his maddest and mer
REST achievement must shudder in his
bondage.
But this is not telling the story. is It?
Well' 1t IS story of matrimony for the
masses. If you are inclined that way, here
IS the opportunity of lifetime Not only
wall your honeymoon trip and the minis
ter's fee be paid for you, but in addition
you VIII receive an. annual pass good for
Two on steamers plying between Chicago
ana Milwaukee, and S25 in bright shining
gold.
You can be married on shipboar1 wit,
the pale moonbeams shedding their efful
gent melloWness over the scene, or if NAL
ce-mer threatens the fair bride. the
steamboat company will land you in Mil.
Waukee, and upon presentation of the
marriage certificate at the office YOU wiz
receive all the benefits except the golden
coin. That is reserved for those who are
welded on the boat
AS the town of easy marriage" Milwau
kee 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 i'm
posed by the state of Illinois. is RESPONSE
Die Tor the situation, and local ministers
and civil officials make more from tying
couples in the double knot of connubial
bliss than they do from their salaries.
Rev. w. A. Huntsberger of the Grand
Avenue Methodist Church, otherwise
known by the sobriquet of "the marrying
parson," holds the record to date. For
several years he averaged $500 ceremonies
year ana with few exceptions they were
couples from Chicago and other Illinois
towns AT one time rivalry was so great
that runners were employed by the hust-
lers among the clergy to make the trims
ana get business on the boats.
30 much for the existing condition of
affairs Now we come to the thraldom of
Dan Cupid. Anticipating a decrease in
matrimony this summer owing to the
TACT that so many eligible young men
nave gone to the front in their country's
service, the steamboat company has en-
tered upon novel plan to stimulate mar
rage. To twenty thousand young men
mas been sent an invitation to desert sin
gle blessedness for matrimony, with spe-
clal inducements offered by the COMPANY
lures intended to be alluring and persu-
sive. The first shows Chicago. with the
sun coming up from the east; the next. the
steamer on the lake; the third Milwau-
kee; the fourth, a marriage ceremony;
the fifth, the boat steaming under low
moon and the sixth and last, Chicago
lighted by high moon. A. minister will
be on the boat ready for service at a mo-
mems notice He will carry a full supply
OF blank certificates, and guarantees to
KISS each and every bride that he marries.
Ihat the invitations will be productive of
results there is no doubt Acceptances
are reaching the offices of the company at
the rate of 500 day, and it is confidently
expected that from 1000 to 1000 couples
will be- married on the boat during the
summer. So far the replies have been en-
tirely from Chicago.
one of the letters received Is from a
typewriter, who describes herself as "26
years old. handsome, good-looking bru-
nette perfectly sound, and matrimonially
inclined. She offers the company $25 il
it will find her a suitable fellow TO tie up
to. Although this is a line of work Su-
perintendent Whtslar had not Anticipated
going into, still, as the advance agent for
cupid, ne Will not let any chance slip, and
If all persons wishing to marry girl
with all the good points stated in the de-
scrlption will forward their applications
to MIR. Whistlar, they will be turned over
to the young woman TO make a selection
Many similar letters are coming. and
by curious coincidence all of the writers
are apparently attractive in every wav
that would appeal to a man. However If
mates can be found for them,-th win he
married aboard the boat and receive the
substantial well wishes of the company.