The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-14
MARRIED WITH A MEGAPHoNE.
Love Found "a Way in This Couples
Cnse.

Smith Centre. Kan, is TO the fore with
a marriage by telephone and megaphone
combined, the two contracting parties be-
ing inmates of a smallpox hospital who
stood at the window while the minister
standing on the pavement on the opposite
side of the street, with a megaphone,
asked the questions and performed the
service.
DR.. Joseph Lutz, a young and rising
physician of that place. and Miss Belle
Reed had been engaged to be married for
some time and the wedding was set for
fortnight ago. The function, it was an
ticipated, was to be one of the grandest
in the vicinity for years past. But, un-
fortunately, on the day before that set
for the wedding the young lady developed
symptoms of smailpox-and there was no
Alternative but to send her to the hos
pital set apart for victims of that dis
ease. Or. Lutz, her nancCe, says the
Cleveland Plaindealer." instantly ar
ranged to have another physician take
charge OF his practice and accompanied
his bctrothod TO the hospital-where,
somewhat strangely to think Cf-he
showed the very identical symptoms on
the following day. and instead of being
an attending physician became a patient
himself.
In both cases the disease developed very
mildly ana neither was in danger at any
time. BUT Judge tlCeu. 1aInCr OF the
young lady, announced that the wedding
would have to he indefinitely postponed,
as he had no idea OF just how soon the
young couple would be entirely recovered
and when they would be released from
quarantine. AS soon as the report of the
physicians to their favorable condition
was received all anxiety on the part of
friends of the young couple was allayed.
The young folks. however, sick though
they were. were indisposed to submit to
any lengthy postponement of their nup-
tials. At first, of course, nothing could
be done for they were both PROSTATE
with illness. But when they got better
and began considering the deferred we'd
ding, they chafed in unison at the delay
and decided that smallpox or no smallpox
they would get married at once.
So, with the assent of the physicians at
the hospital DIR. Lutz telephone to Rev.
Meredltn, who had been engaged to Off
ciate at the, time originally set for the
wedding. asking him if he could marry
them by telephone. To this Mr. Meredith
replied in the negative, saying he must
see them and ask the necessary questions
them to delay the Wedding until they
should have left the hospital
There was some further discussion. and
ii was decided. as the only alternative.
that the marriage should he performed
by megaphone. Mr.. Meredith with Judge
Heed, the brides father, repaired to a
house opposite The hospital and stationed
themselves in one of the upper windows
DR. l.utz and Miss Reed stood in one of
the windows of the hospital. The minister
had megaphone in his hand and DR.
Lutz had one in his, and thus the cere-
mony was performed. the questions and
answers being shouted across the inter-
Yening street
When the ceremony was over the doctor
offered to drop so bill out of the WIN
dow as fee. But Mr.. Meredith laugh
ingly replied that he was in no hurry for
MS money and would wait until the newly |
married couple were released from deten- |
ton and the currency had been properly !