Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-01-13
INCREASE
TN MARRIAGES
Nineteen Hundred Shows a Substan
tiaI Increase Over the Preeed-
in Year.
DECEMBER FAvoRlTE MONTH
Most Weddings Occur in the Last
Month Of the Year-lawsuits
On the Increase.

That cupid has been doing effective
work in Fergus county is proven by
4 glimpse into the marriage license
book in the office of Clerk OF the Dis
tlict Court Edmund Wright. During
the year 1903, seventy.6ve men, both
Young and old, have led seventy-ive
women, young and old, but always
pretty. down the violet sprayed path
way of love, under the roseate arch
way of Hymel into that fairer land
Of matrimonial felicity, where soul
goes out TO soul through lips in rap
ture pressed" All of which means
that s%eventy.five couples have been
married in Fergus county during the
year. This is a gain of five marriages
over 1902, which is an encouraging
showing.
December seems to be the fayorite
month for the elimination OF roman,
ces in Fergus county, as In 1908 there
we're fourteen licenses issued in the
last month OF the year. Nine OF the
seventy issued during 1902 were In
December. Whether this is a mere
chance or whether there is a senti'
mental reason, such as wishing to be-
gin the new year together, underlying
these December weddings is a mat.
Ter of conjecture. January is just an
average month, there having been sew.
en- certificates issued last year and
five the year before. There have been
tut two thus far this year and unless
the ladies rush their leap year pro
%posals, there is likely to be a short
age in January marriages in 1904.
Other figures found in this office
throw some light on the ways of liti
cation in this county. Fergus county
evidently is not approaching very raj
idly that golden age when all mon
shall be brothers and peace and good
will shall reign supreme. In 1906
there were ninety-six civil cases filed
in the county, while in 1903 there
we're $50, an increase Of almost l0'
per cent. But while the people In
The Judith Basin and vicinity show
IN increasing tendency to invok" Tho
sid of the lawyers and courts to set
lie their disputes. they are showing {
commendable improvement in theil
general conduct. Either they are get
ting so they have a greater respe
.or the law OF they are not beinl
caught in their meanness. as in 1870:
there were only sixteen crimina
cases filed. whereas there We're TWEEN
ty-two in 1902. The probate business
.hows about the normal increase, thu
cases in 1902 numbering twenty. ant
OF 1903 twenty-five.
In the matter of naturaliZatiOns l9O'
was a very poor year, only t~hirty.si,
itizCns of other lands transferring
their allegiance during the twely,
nonths. This. compared to seventy
iCur, the number naturalized in 1902
shows the difference between an cleo
lion year and an off year In the natur
Glization of foreigners. This 5einl
presidential election year there vii
likely be another large increase |:
the number of American citizens from
{ cause other than the stork.
BY a queer" coincidence. the mum
! or of insane sent to the asylum from
this county during the years of 1870
end 1903 are the same, seven peopl'
faying been SO unfortunate as to hav'
TO be confined in the Warm Spring
institution each year.