The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
Boys Clothing for Holiday Gifts

mopial experience In case she is above the
eligible age.
So slttI.ful have some OF the clerks he
come that they are able TO size up tAH
aspirant for the matrimonial alliance al
glance.
Different from the methods in vogue at
tn" lnuTtuaTy Office, there is no means of
asCertInirg whether tn" contracting pair
have had matrimonial experiences. They
ar" required 10 swear That there Is no i'm
pediiLcnt to their marriage. AMI that IS 10
Ear as the law goes.
On this account tn" mon behind the
desks find ii Il pleasing diversion To gam
uc on the game Of uair!mony almost con
stduty going ON before their eyes OWING
to 4 partition between their Office and
that Of the license clerk. th@r" is little
opportunity for cIaniri: n"Cks. but the in
giant there is aSy excitement in the IL
ccnse Office thH big office of the Recorder
of Deeds becomes deserted. and most Of
IT." men find excuses for securing some ice
water from the parsons "anCtum.
1'h" parsuu is the Reverend William
Pierce. Z negro clergyman, who is general
iy on hand when persons OF his race wish
10 h. wedder! without leaving the building.
Tho parsOn graciousiy extends them the
courtcsies Of his office. and Will" the
Bridegroom fixes his mustachc and brushes
hia coat and the bride criTnrs her hair. tho
pdrsou has the place ready for tie Ccrc-
mony.
DISTINGUISHED APPLICANTS.
Perhaps the most distinguished appli-
cant Of the Exposition season wis Gen
erai Pict Andreas Cronjc. who came TO
Cfe City Hall one sunny day lear the close
Of June, in his high hat. with Mrs. Jo-
hanna St-rtze. of Johannesburg. leaning
on his arm. He went TO the chief CLERK
ot tho Recorder OF Deeds. Mr.. LiShtholG-
eT, With his Interpreter and asked FOR his
certificate.
Mr.. L;ghtholder politely led the re-
nowned warrior through the marriage
clerks office into Parson Pierc.'s rooms.
The bride. unable TO speak English, quiet
" listened TO the words of her dIstiu-
euished tance as interpreted by his aide.
and when called on TO sign her naint to
the document for til" oftic" record. she
nnh"EiiatnE complied. while III" Gen
'raf. fingers wcr" noticed to trernb" con-
SlccIaDIE as ne tric"d a nam" W hiCh Has
On the lips Of all C'hfist"ndom one.
In fact. this is on" OF tho ways " wlcl
thN clerks haN" OF discovering the prcvi-
"uS experience OF the applicant. II hers
much hesitation and trembling. Il is an
Indication to Tie clerks thar th. CXrnri-
'nrc iS fresh. and so tho interest is ey-
Cit"'i' but in case the eligible deliberately
autograph with a flourish. the clerks take
1t as sign tina; tho applicant Is no
stranger TO the requirements OF the 1.Lw
In this respect.
Tor license Is refused unless there arc
legal t'np"dincrtr. For instance. some
TIN" ago II chiuarnan and 81 white girl
appeared tisior" 'ccrk NCpermott and
ashet! Tor the necessary papers They were
f.iusei- The report <oon spread through
the Office and IT. was not long before the
corrIGors were thronged with q force nf
clerks, who threatened TO take the China
man down III tho cellar and put him
through the degrees. He escaped, how
ever and next day an account Of his mar
rage - n" cir! In F>ast St Louis ap-
peared III the papers.