The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-20
WEDDINGS WITHOUT STYLE
Ceremonies Performed by Wash
ingtOn Justices of the Peace.
Hundreds of Couples United Annu-
ally In Quiet, transformations
Way Here-SOme of the Partici-
pants Save Money-Avoid NOtoriefy

ally In Il Quiet. transformations
Way Here-SOme of the Partici-
pants Save Money-AvOid Notoriefy
a Washington justice court with its
gloomy surroundings, would seem to
many persons a most unattractive place
in which to get married. Notwithstand-
ing this. marriages before justices Of the
peace are exceedingly numerous in this
city. While some of the local justices
have but little to do in this line of work,
those whose offices are in the vicinity
Of the City Hall building, where the
license must be procured, viii average
from three to four weddings a week, it
is said.
Persons married by justices of the
peace come from every possible grade
and rank of society
The poorer class of people head the
list of those who are united in the bonds
Of rnatrimouy by justices Of the peace.
The low figure which can be made TO
cover the entire cost of the nuptials
is an attraction to many couples to whom
the matter of d few dollars IS great
consideration
Runaway couples also find the Justice
court attractive. for the reason that the
chances of publicity are exceedingly
small
\ large proportion Of the weddings sol
I emnized in Justice courts in this city
unite couples who have either eiOPed
from Maryland or Virginia, or, who being
too bashful to face the trying ordeal in
/ the presence of the home folks, have
/ come to Washington 10 have the ceremo-
ny quietly performed.
To the prospective bridegroom who
! trenbIes at the idea of being scruunized
: gT,1.r TlTg
/ Iimina-y is just about as formidable as
/ a battle at sea, and he generally seeks
I simple wedding ceremony performed. as
/ a rule, by a justice of the peace
/ Persons with no special church ties or
! affiliations. as well as those of decidedly
anti-reIigious or atheistic tendencies, seek
/ the aid of a justice Of the peace in the
/ natural order of events; sOcialistic and
/ INTERCHANGEABLE thinkers often feel that
such a wedding ceremony, is most fitting
Men and women who entertain a grudge
against society. those who desire to keep
their movement hid or VINO desire to be
/ lost sight of by friends or relatives; those
/ those who are attracted by Bohemian
! ism or those whose desire fer novelty
| prefer justice court marriages for many
reasons.
Finally. q large number of persons come
/ to Washington as the Mecca Of their
/ existence and are married in justice
/ courts for reasons known only to them
selves. ard absolutely undiscoverable by
( the world at large. They frequently Sc
lect GER ain justices In preference 20 9th
ers, for reasons equally personal, not to
say trivial.
The story is told of certain popular
/ Washington justice that ne exuited for
week recently because a TemaTka bly,
-frYF
! inspection of his personal appearance, de-
cided that he was the only man in al
the world she would permit to marry her
to her fance.
There is another among the legal fra
tt-rnity to the effect that a justice, less
literally endowed with personal attrac-
tons. was selected to perform a wedding
ceremony for the opposite reason
Sure, an felly wants ter look as da-
clint as he can on his weddin' day the
prospective bridegroom is reported TO
have remarked TO the justice, who is said
to be fond OF telling the story. an we're
the only mon in all Washington that's
uglier than meseIf"
Another amusing story is told Of a man
in whose behalf a certain justice perform
81 no less than seven wedding ceremonies
in as many consecutive years.
Interrogated subsequent TO the perform
ance Of the last ceremony as to his rea-
SONS for returning to that particular JUS
tees court so many times. the man said
ne was a creature Of habit. and that, nav
I ing got used to- the court and the man
man before him. he hated to change"
There is nothing. perhaps, which can
more efectuaIIv clog the wheels of law
( in a Washington justice court than the
appearance of a wedding party No soon
Ct does the leader Of such party appear
( than the prospect of a wedding IS detect
ed and preparations are made accordingly.
But the preparations, like the ceremony
which follows, are as simple and unpre-
tentious as can well be imagined. The
marriage license. duly produced and in
spected, the couple are instructed TO stand
before the justice, sometimes in open
court, more often in the little private
room attached to the court for the use
/ Of witnesses or visitors
The justice looks serious. and loses no
| time in the commencement of the cere-
| mOny-
In three minutes or less one more mar
ried couple is added to the list With a
/ haStg word of COngratuIatiOn the Justice
} POCKETS his fee, shakes hands with them
| heartily, and is back upon the bench. If
/ the ceremony calls for a little more eIab-
I Grafton than ordinarily. il the justice is
I at all well read or scholarly. he winds I'D
{ author. OF a few words Of personal adj
/ vice by way of benediction-
/ Flowers, wedding wells, and such
/ things the women get along without east
y. to Judge from appearances. said a
down town justice today, but a ring she
( must have. The ring really seems to be
the principal feature of the wedding to a
great number OF them: without II, as they