The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-05-07

something, and the request goes. Such
an entry means that the press, the
great expounder of news, has been
subsidized. II means that the mouth
Of the reporter has been closed by the
insertion Of two-for-five cigar OF
orther trivial bribe. II means that the
arm of the press has been paralyzed by
nicotine poison. And all this to sat.
isfy the modesty or secretiveness of the
average Alliance swain or love-lorn
maiden-at least the prospective groom
thinks he has fixed things.
Wise men from the east, soothsayers
from the south. astrologers from the
north pole and dreamers from the trop-
les have been beseeched for reason in
vain. From other parts of the country
people who come in for marriage Ii
censes do so In the broad open light
OF day. They come in pairs, wear
ing kid gloves and look of heavenly
anticipation on their faces. They go
into the probate office holding hands
while the electric current of love cir
culates from heart to heart. When
reporter appears they smile In an
ticipation of the fact that the then
great event will be heralded on tho
streets before they get out of town
They get the license and carry 1t
around as something to be proud of.
But not so with the Alliance mar,
He comes in looking like fellow who
had visited sheep fold the night be-
fore; who had gone I'm by some other
way than by the gate, as the Scripture
says: He looks furtiyely around to SEQ
10 L.,
takes the probate judge or his deputy
OIL In corner and whispers to him
that he wants a license, but for heavens
sake don't let 1t get into the papers
1T will take cigars for the reporters
and then won't promise they will keep
1t out" says Judge Aungst.
rs that all? Here's a quarter"
The entry then goes on with tho
addendum, "see A." and the reporter
sees Aungst and gets his poison. Or
II 1t is "see r. Bear is the fellow who
circulates the cabbage leaf. Then the
reporter goes out and does as he likes
about 1t, no promise having been exact
ed by anyone.
The great question remains unsolyed
why is matrimony thing to be
ashamed Of in that city? Why, the
very name of the town contemplaCes
such unions.
One theory is that as soon as man
is married, the lawyers go after his
wife to induce her to secure divorce
and 1t Is in the hopes of living a few
weeks undisturbed by petitions that
this secrecy is observed. This theory
Is verified to some extent by the mum.
Der OF divorce cases that come from
that city. But this is hardly sufficient
to satisfy the seeker after the real
truth
The ante-millennial time when seven
women shall pursue one man is said to
have reached Alliance several decades
ahead of the rest of the world. Shs
always was leader. To escape the
wrath of the other six may be the mo-
tive that prompts these strange actions
Yet, while this might be the cause in
many cases, it would not account for
the custom universal.
Sighted lovers. irate mothers-in-law
tin-pan bellers, shortage of cash to
treat the boys, and hundred and one
other things have been advanced to
try to ferret ou. the true reason. All
these things exist in other communi.
ties, yet people marry and strut around
like peacocks for weeks after. But in
Alliance, the heavens look dull after a
marriage, the preachers are silenccd
and there Is no feasting, TO marriage
bells. All is gloom and foreboding.
Why is 1t thus?
Echo answers--"Why|