New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14

o. town visitors 10 the City Hall are often
hGseS comment on the group of Ioiterers
a6ke1 front doors. With apparently nothing
tsfeo. sitting atilt in wide armed chairs, or
Leaning at various angles against the wall,
smoking. forever smoking. and only moving
from their loUnging places 10 spit with varying
success at distant cuspidor, these gentlemen
OF leisure offer striking contrast to the hurry
scurry Of the crowds outside. Some of them
are employees Of the city, paid good salaries out
Of the city's treasury to gossip at their ease
about petty politics or the news of the ring or
turf Others are friends of City Hall clerks
who seem to have more time their hands
than they know what to do with.
Yet these men are not exactly idle. They
have a purpose in lettering about the corridor
and by those who know them best they are
called 'Cupids" Although not dressed in the
light marching costume of their NEUROLOGICAL
nenesake. nevertheless they are just as quick
10 act when The time comes. These apparent
lounEers make a business Of arranging for the
numerous civil marriages that are held in the
City Hall, and they take as fat tips as they can
get for bringing in an Alderman TO perform the
ceremony. They know that man just about
20 be married is likely to give away money
freely. It is said that these "Cupids"
Go not keep all the money they get, and that
some OF il goes higher up" However true this
may be- it is nevertheless a fact that they re
gard matrimony in a different way from the
boy god Of poetry. They do not shoot their
victims through the heart, but through the
pockctbook.
The eyes Of the City Hall "Cupids" are con-
stantly on the move. They scan every new
conner attentively, and should some stranger
appear with a young woman on his arm, look
ing nervously about as if at a loss TO know
what he is there for, the "Cupids" suddenly be-
come alert The talk about what happened in
the fourth round IS Immediately cut short
and like cabmen who have been lying in wait
for fare they suddenly pounce down on the
bewildered visitor. AS d rule they do not mis-
take their man. and when they ask in chorus or
the bashful youth: Want to get married
young feller?" he is pretty sure Of answering:
"Ye-ye-yes"
Now that Easter has passed. the City Hall
marriage makers appear far more cheerful
The open season for weddings is on again"
as one Of them expressed it. During Lent their
pickings were lean. but from now on they eN-
pect to capture from fifty to one hundred couples
q week Tgvo-thirds of these are Italians. who,
according TO the laws OF their native land. are
required TO have a civil as well a religious
marriage. Many City Hall brides and bride
grooms also are of opposite faiths. and in order
not 70 clash on a subject on which they cannot
agree they have only a civil marriage. Not
few persons come from out Of the State, being
too young to marry at home. yet within the age
limit here.
The majority who appear are content to have
an alderman marry them. and the "Cupids" &C
cordngly send for some city father who may be
in the building or one who has office near by.
For the reason that Aldermen Marks and Har-
burger have Offices just across Park Row, they
are saore frequently summoned than any Of their