The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-10-31
MEET THERE TO MARRY.
A Wedding Center for Couples from
Entire Country.


A Wedding Center for Couples from
Entire Country.
Chicago is great marrying center.
Not only do large numbers of the out
of-town lovers whom residence in Cook
county compels to secure a marriage
license in Chicago elect to be made one
in this city, but many other lovers
from far away states and regions are
fond of Chicago as place to be mar
ried.
From Maine to California, and from
points equally distant in other direc-
tions, they come here to meet and mar
ry," said Mr.. Salmonson, who knows all
that may be known about Chicago mar
riage licenses and marriages. Chicago
is undoubtedly popular meeting place
for non-residents who wish to marry.
Some of the have relatives here, l
suppose, and some merely like the city.
About twenty per cent. of all the il
censes issued are taken out by non-res-
fdents of Chicago. About ten per cent.
of all the licenses issued go to residents
OF the small towns or suburbs of Cook
county. For the rest-they come from
almost every state in the Union, and
they meet or come here for a variety
of reason, quite too numerous to
count" ~.
The happy lovers of small towns and
suburbs who decide to become one in
Chicago frequently so decide for the
col nf
devoted attentions of their friends and
fellows; many more prefer quiet we'd
ding in Chicago to bigger wedding in
the home locality, particularly if money
is none too abundant between them, or
if they have an inclination to save.
The money question, according to Mr..
Salmonson, enters into the before mar
rage calculations Of many out-of-town
couples.
MANY people," he says, 'naye an
idea that they must pay the minister
who marries them at least $40; in Chi
eago the statutory fee of justice of
the peace is only 81. So while not a
few country couples bring their own
ministers with thenl-as we learn by
their inquiring whether or no visiting
clergyman may officiate in this manner
without special license-many more
slip around to the nearest justice court
and have the knot tied quickly and at
small expense. 4
''Then, too, the Cook county bride
groom must visit Chicago for the mar
riage license. What plan more reason
able or obvious than that the bride
come with him? With the wedding per-
n ,I1 IL. ~.
honeymoon inspection Of the sights of
Chicago. And the new furniture and
even the trousseau may be selected at
the same time. All these things CON-
bine to make Of Chicago a great and
popular marrying center. OF the 20300
licenses issued last year 20 per cent.
| made at least temporarily happy men
and women from out of town.
June, of course, is the harvest month
Of the marriage license department, but
the autumn season falls but little be-
hind 1t, and any unusual occasion or
excitement, such as the centennial
period, lengthens the list of out-of-
town lovers who are made one in
Chicago. Young men and women ar
range to get married and enjoy their
wedding holiday simultaneously. From
the first of September until the day be-
fore Thanksgiving the marriage II
cense window is besieged by prospec-
tive brides and bridegrooms, many of
them from the rural regions; then a
long lull begins, which lasts until after
the holidays.
"Then the stylish marriages begin to
come thick and close upon u.s. once
more to quote Mr.. Salmonson, "and
then, almost before we know it, there
is the second lull of Lent. During this
period there are comparatively few IL
censes applied for. Easter once over,
the rush begins anew, and continues
uninterruptedly to meet the June busy
season. And then-the years work out
lined begins all over again. y
| And since Chicago clergymen, JUS
tices, merchants and souvenir sellers
all reap a quiet harvest because Of
this marrying popularity Of the city
of their residence, while the visiting
couples have a chance to see what a
great city looks like, loyal Chicagoans
must surely be pleased.--Chicago Tri-
l. h,,na