The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-31
BROKE THE MARRYING RECORD.
New York Alderman Welded Nine

New York Alderman Welded Nine
Is Couples in Twenty Minutes.
= 1t is on Thursdays that the clerks in the
gloomy marriage-room in the city hall
basement cock their eyes toward Center
street and watch for gayly dressed parties
Of Italians. Why Thursday is the favor
lite wedding day of the residents of the
Italian settlements the clerks do not
know. They have asked the brides and
bridesgrooms, who say that they don't
know, but II IA a fact that on every
Thursday from two to six couples from
the neighborhood of Mulberry park and
the uptown Italian quarters come to be
married, and IL for any reason an alder
man cannot be found, or the bureau is
closed there Is a serious disarrangement
of the domestic affairs of many house,
holds.
So 1t happened this week. Thanksgiving
day Is not an institution familiar to new
come Italians. Therefore number Of
couples presented themselves to Custodian
Marty Reese last Thursday to be married.
Lovers have besought Reese to marry
them for years, so that he Is able to tell
them long distance of. He is also able
to explain to them why they can't be mar
ried If the bureau Is closed or no alderman
Is at hand. which is an art said to be
possessed by no other man. He had to
explain the situation to several couples
on Thursday. So did the gray-haired po-
liceman who guards the main corridor of
the city hall. He makes the explanation
better than most men, but not as we'll as
Reese. Both OF them told the couples
who called on Thursday to come back yes
terday because the alderman would be-
busy issuing storm-door and peanut-stand
permits on Friday and wouldn't have time
to perform any weddings, Nine italian
eIt<rI Alt
maidens, each bearing romantic poly
syllable name. arrived at the city hall at
10 o'clock yesterday morning. The nine
young men wanted to marry the nine
slightly younger women. Each one of
the eighteen had brought at least one
friend along to witness the wedding. Many
had more than one, but the practiced
s'Cupids'' Of the marriage-room had no
difficulty In picking out principals from
seconds The parties crowded the narrow
entrance on the Park row side of the
building and the dim corridor within.
Some of them entered the building by the
main doors, but all made their way to
the basement, where small bronze sign
indicates the marriage-room. There they
awaited the alderman. Not one of the
couples knew any of the others, but ac-
quaintances are made easily In the mar
riage-room, and while a city hall cupid
was hustling around to get the alderman
they chatted amiably.
Alderman Wents. Of Brooklyn. was
found by a cupid and called to the mar
rage room.
do they all want to get married?"
asked the alderman with dismay, as he
looked over the 100 men and women pres
ent.
Most of 'em do" said the cupid.
Tell 'em to line up" said the alder
man.
The eighteen men and women were sort
ed out from among their friends and
formed line on the alderman's right. He
began with the first couple and married
them by the most elaborate form used in
the city hall. Then he went to the sec
ond couple and from them to the third.
He pronounced the last couple man and
wife exactly twenty minutes after the
ceremonies began. The friends of the
couples were busy congratulating them.
Alderman Wentz had broken the marriage
record of the administration He looked
around the room.
Aren't you going 20 kiss the bridesr'
asked the cupid.
''Heavensv' said the alderman. IT don't
have to, do ~"
"Well. you should" said the cupid.
well, won't" said the alderman
Nav York Sun.