The sun., 1901-04-28
ELLIS ISLAND WEDDINGS.
I LOT or ROMAyCKs AMONG THE I'M.
MIGRANTS EVERY YEAR.

sOxy-otrN hnnt EoAOW lueir L0vers 10
81 Aassica--A Scotch Dssdsnona--soms
=" SAD Love Anairs-ltaliAa Matches.
No matrimonial bureau in New York does
such work for Hymen as the Bureau OF Immi-
grafton. Mrs. stuotlin and Miss Taylor.
uatrons on Ellis Island. engineer international
marriages with expedition and despatch.
The missionaries on the island the Board Of
Special Inquiry. and various minor of1oials
who conduct matrimonially inclined couples
TO the ON CO Of a Justice Of the Peace help on
the good work. Occasionally even the Com
missioner takes hand.
More than 200 weddings are arranged on
Ellis Island every year and the romance back
OF those 200 cases would keep the family story
papers Of the country supplied with copy
OF a most thrilling sort There are a few
smiles and q great deal " true love In the
stories. Perhaps there are more tears and
heartache
Fully one-fourth OF the marriages are COM
pulsory The lovers have left the old country
together. and the womsn's state Of health 10
such that. were she deserted IN q strange
country. she would he unable to work and
would become public charge Even II hsr
lover has money there is no guarantee that
he would Be true to hor and provide for her;
and In any event the Government could not
recognize and encourage unlawful relation.
90 neither the man nor the woman can land.
unless with marrisg % certificate
Ordinarily, they are quito willing TO COM
ply with the condition. Ninety per cent
OF the cases involve folly. ignorance. poverty,
rather than wilfl sin. The lovers have
been too poor TO marry. or family ausrrels
have prevented. Then there Is the old pitiful
story OF the woman's shame apd the two
have Ned TO q new country, intending to
6nd work here. and marry. as soon as the
man can make enough money 70 support
them. OF the bar that the immigration
Bureau presents they seem 10 have had no
warning. and they would gladly marry. II
the officials suggest 1t. But even marriage
ceremony will not open the doors OF the
promised land TO them. unless some friend
OF relative will come forward and agree to
look out for them. until the man can find
work and get upon his feet.
The law seems hard. at times but II 10 rot
always easy for even u strong. willing man
10 find work. and the womans illness is a
forgone conclusion. and New NoIk's hospitals
aud charitable institutions are already over
crowded So the woman cries and the man
sets his teeth. after the fashion Of men who
are playing a losing game, and the return
steamer carries the couple back to work
out their salvation in the old country
Another variation OF the same story often
occurs The man has come 10 America
alone. 10 find work Perhaps he has sent
for the girl Perhaps she has followed him.
because II was no longer possible 10 hide
her folly frons her home folks and she could
not endure the shame In the nrst case.
the lover IL at the pier 10 meet her; or. II he
lives at a distance. he has notified the immi-
grafton officials that he expects her He
must. however. send an affidavit Of his inten-
tion to marry the girl. before she can go on
Ia him; and. even then. the authorities us
ually arrange with some responsible per-
son, in the town where the man lives, to see
that the wedding takes place
When the woman has come without the
mans knowledge the problem II more puz-
cling. Sometimes the man IL willing and
glad TO marry the girl when notified that
che Ia at Ellis Island but unluckily, mas
culine constancy. which does not thrive over
well on land. seldom seems proof against
a sea voyage Tho oficias have found by
experience, that when the girl writes TO her
lover he seldom answers. and that an official
letter fares no better. Moreover, the man 10 |
likely TO disappear altogether and leave no |
address.
A. result OF this state Of things II has |
been found advisable TO have some represen- |
tatives Of the bureau look the lover up and |
notify him. by word Of mouth that he Is !
wanted on Fills Island Even then he may |
refuse 10 come. but the foreigners innate |
respect for of1cialdom. and the officials
clearly expressed opinion on the subject.
very often have the desired effect
Thera in Itttla rirl in thu lat.ptIo, nan