The sun., 1901-08-11
MARRIAGES AT fHB CITY HALL /
THE BUREAU WHICH THE GRAND
JURY MAY LOOK INTO.
Why People Seek IN Alderman 70 Marry
Them italian weddings Hunt os the
Cupsds and the Aldermen for Fees
Evil Features Of Some Marriages.

Them Italian We(idlngs Hunt os the
Cupits and the Aldermen for Fees
Evil Features Of Some Marriages
II the Grand Jury ever makes thorough
investigation Of the City Han marriage
bureau they will find out a great many
queer facts about that half Official. half
unofficial annex OF the headquarters OF
The CITY goScrppsot. The atatra Of the
Duredu II mystery 20 men who SHs evefy
day. Its attendants have no place on the
roll OF the city's employees, yet they are
recognized as part Of the patronage Of
the building, and whenever there is a change
OF administration there Is q change In the
faces OF the men, known as Cupids. who
steer couples coming to be married into
the long low room that Is the session hall
OF the Aldermen. The Cupids rely on the
fees and the tips they receive for their
services as compensation. and their income
is not bad one. for many Of those who
patronize the city fathers when they want
TO be married are liberal with their money.
Some OF those who 60 TO the bureau are
anxious to conceal their marriage for one
reason or another. Some OF the reasons
are perfectly legitimate. and others will
not bear investigation. All such patrons
expect that their marriage will be cele-
brated without attracting notice. Usu-
ally this Ia the case
Most Of the weddings are between Italians.
The women In the Italian weddings are the
most picturesque visitors that the hall has,
for they dress In the brightest and most
striking colors. reds and green's, and they
Keep up a constant chatter from the time
they enter the building till they 60 away
70 the feast that Is 70 be spread for them.
Usually the couple to be married are young,
and have no hesitation about letting every
one know that they are In love. Their
endearments are In progress when they
first enter the building, and sometimes
the Alderman who performs the ceremony
has to caution them to pay attention to
tho words Of the ceremony.
Once in while couple are seen who
have plainly been induced To marry by
considerations other than affection. and
thesse have no exhibitions OF fondners to
waste on each other or on the bystanders
They come to the Hall In a huriness-like
way, the man defiant In looks. the woman
dt,to BIT downcsst cast. and they 70 through the
man 1t is all one. He will get his fee whether
there is love match or the mandate Of
q City Magistrate az the cause OF the we'd
ding. but II makes difference To the attend
ants, who do not fare well at the hands
OF an unwilling bridegroom.
The worst feature of the City Hall mar
riages Is that there can be no suitable in
yestisation Of the facts in each case, and
that many unhappy matches are made.
What has directed the attention of tho
Grand Jury to the bureau is the fact that
there have been a number Of cases In which
young foreign girls have been sold to lives
Of shame by their, husbands after mar
- n - ~ kk<<k k..- T.. - L..
which the police have found young girls in
disorderly houses the same story has been
told A well-dressed young man, who
promised marriage and lots of money to
the girl, induced her to marry him at the
City Hall and then sent her 10 some dive
where her earnings were given to him.
are caught by their doceivers when they
have been In this country only q short
time and before they have learned the
language or the usages Of the country.
Many OF them are very ignorant. and even
II they were acquainted with the laws they
would not be able, because Of fear or in
ability to make themselves understo cd,
to protest against their fate, though they
might know what was In store for them.
Besides, marriage is q business ut the City
Hall. II Is not the function Of any man
there TO inquire too closely into the facts
OF the case. There are fees TO be collected,
It may have sequel in police court, o.
IN worse place. but with that no one at the
Hall bothers himself.
Once In a while the men In the bureau
find that an effort is being made to impose
on them. When this happens they will
not permit the ceremony to be performed.
During the term Of Mayor Strong young
man and a young girl went TO the bureau
one day and asked to be married They
answered the formal questions as well as
any others that had ever applied, and they
were married. Two years Yater the same
young man with another young woman
applied for an Alderman. One OF the Gu
him. He said that he was not the man
who had been there before, but the Cupid
was positive and questioned him so closely
that at last the man admitted his identity,
and said that he was widower
Something in his actions made the men
In the bureau suspect that he was not tell
ing the truth. and 1t was suggested that
the young woman whom he.wanted to marry
should be questioned She had stood
apart and had not heard the previous con-
versafion. The man objected TO any ques-
tion being put to her, although he said that
she knew all the circumstances Of the mat
ter. Regardless of his appeals the clerk
told the woman that the man she was going
to marry had been married before She
was amazed at the information and for a
time would not believe II. When he was
compelled to acknowledge the truth be-
fore her she tainted. When she was re-
vived she hurried away from tho building,
and refused. to say anything 10 the man
she intended to marry.
He was very angry at the clerk who had
upset his plans, and before he went away,
being urged by the toe Of the boot OF one
Of the ordinance police, ii was clear that
he had intended to sell the girl 10 life Of
shame had he been successful In having
the marriage performed. Such an in
cident Is rare, for In most cases there il
no hitch in the ceremony. sqvo the delay
that ia caused by tho necessary hunt through
the Park row saloons for an Alderman
Some Of the Aldermen are not willing
TO perform the marriage ceremony at all:
others want oil the jobs that they can get |
and these hang around In the neighbor-
hood of the Hall and are on hand to do |
anything that turns up.
Mayor Van Wycl has not performed /
any wedding ceremonies since he has been /
In Office. MANY persons, some Of them /
old friends. have applied 10 him. but he |
has not broken his rule. Acting Mayor |
Guggenheincr, on the other hand. seems .
to enjoy the office, and frequently there |
are weddings when he is at the head Of
affairs Mr. Gucgcnheimer always exncts
MS reward In the shape Of n kiss from the
bride, and hc will accept no other remunera-
ion. Mr.. Guggepheiner looks upon the
married state as one not to BE- entered into
lightly, and his rendition Of the marriage
lfIice il impressive. On the other hard
he Alderr who perform the ceremony
hink that the quicker the job the better
Z will be- ard thev rush through the CrrC-
nOnV NJ silCh a rate that no ore can UNDER