The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-18

TO the marriage license window The
deputy sized the girl up as being too
young.
. You will have to bring the Young
lady's father or mother" said the dep
uty.
Hacknan Was Papa.
All right said the young man. 81
left him in the hack, not thinking it
would be necessary
The girl gave a peculiar look when
the young man said this, and presently
the Youthful lover returned with the
hack driver
DO you want to swear that this girl
is your daughter" asked the deputy
swear, said the hackman. DO I
have to sWear?''
That's what the law requires" the
deputy told him, and as the mans LID
dropped and before he could answer
the deputy told him to get out of the
once. Ihey all Went, away laughing.
nave denied applications from per
sons who appeared to be too Young"
said the deputy. and have some Of
their friends older than they come in
the next day, during a rush, and swear
that they were the persons applying,
and take out a license and the other
young folks would be married under If !"
Hardly week passes that we do
not receive letters telling US not to
issue marriage licenses if they are
applied for. One came a short time
ago from woman living In Wisconsin.
1t read:
Il am Walter Henry's mother as he
is under 10 years and is not of age T
am widow woman and Walter Is all
the support 1 have am told he is try-
ing to have license to marry. don't
1She him any License what to do"
The records show that Walter Henry
did not secure a license, and if he mar
RED 1t was at some place other than
ST. Paul.
One sees human nature at its best
and at its worst at the marriage Ii
cense office" said the deputy. "Onre
a woman and man, both more than
forty, came in with a little girl not
more than fourteen, wearing short
dresses and a pigtail. The man and
woman looked like drinkers The little
girl looked sad, and she had been cry
ing. When L was told that she was to
marry the man l was surprised The
girls chin just came to the top of the
desk. She had her bent forefinger in
her mouth"
Did Not Want to Wed.
you don't want to marry this man
do yOu?" asked the clerk.
No. sir" she said, ''but he says ]
We'll, you are not going to do so
| against your WILL" said the deputy
i will not issue a license for any such
marriage"
The three went out in the hall and
the woman cuffed the girl and she
went off sobbing. bat 1 guess that was
sooner mended than a. marriage with a
! man old enough to be her father, and
a drunkard, would have been, particu-
| larly when he was not her choice.
"A negro came la on Friday. June
10, 1902.
You amt superstitious I said.
What yo' mean, boss% he answ ered
| I don jes' understan dat word "su-
| perstitiOUs.'
:" I mean that you amt afraid to GET
married on Friday, the 18th day Of the
| month.
8, Yes. I is he said, his eyes poppinz
out; yes, is. 'Fo de Lord, done haG
no idea this was Friday, boss. Dec
dldn {. Excuse me. I'll be aroun
Saturday. No Friday in mine
| And yet l showed him the null,
| shoe up over the door.
There is another thing about the tav
that ought to be changed that I hat
almost forgotten to mention" said IN,
! deputy. THAT is the looseness Of In,
provision that permits a, license to r,
| used in any part Of the state. In Hi
nolS 1t can only be used in the county
in which it is issued That ought t,
be the law in Minnesota.
I believe that the law that forbid.
the marriage CT first cousins in Min.
| nesota should be extended to thirC
| cousins And 1 also believe that tn
| family physicians certificate should bt
required before license is issued.
The public health demands this.
have seen consumptiVes, for instance
| come in here, helped to seat ant
helped TO the desk. 1t was criminal t,
marry such person to a healthy girl
l like the effect of the habitua! criniina
| act that keeps the criminal in prison
am q great believer in heradity So
ciety has the right tc and is criminally
negligent il it does not protect itsai
against diseased heredity. I don't know
| what fathers are thinking Of to lie
| their sweet, healthy girls marry som,
| Of the wrecks OF manhood l see com.
ing in here. 1t Is pathetic and 1t il
nrirainaln