Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-09-15
CAPITAL MECCA
FOR VIRGINIANS

FOR VIRGINIANS
NEARLY ELEVEN HUNDRED COUPLES
Welded THERE SO FARTHIS YEAR.
CAN GIVE oREAsoN FOR ELOPING
There is apparently no ground to
fear trace suicide" in Virginia any
time soon, as the official records of the
marriage license Office here show that
during the past twelve months 10S0
Virginia couples were issued licenses
through this office. This is an average
of about three couples per day for the
year around.
just why so many young men and
women from Virginia desire to come
to Washington for the purpose of be-
coming man and wife, has not been ex-
piained, and even the clerk who daily
issues the licenses which make them
one is unable to explain the cause. All
OF them are not runaway couples, eth
er, for it is noticeable fact that many
who present themselves are accOmpa.
MED by different members of their
families, who have come to help get
the necessary papers and to take hand
10 the other legal formalities. How
ever, while not all of those who come
do sc on account of parental objection
or other opposition, it is a fact never
theless, that many do flee from the
wrath of irate parents and seek solace
in the security of District license.
1t might be supposed that some might
desire a Washington wedding to one in
Virginia on account of the expense at
tached to the matter in Virginia, but
that does not seem to be the reason at
all. As matter of fact, it is we'll
known that if there is one time in the
life of man when dollars cut no figure,
it is in his wedding arrangements, and |
many man will 60 hungry before and |
afterward to feast On his marriage |
night.
The fact that many Virginia people
SO noticeable today in the Office of the |
clerk of the District supreme court |
that a News Leader representative ask J
ed one of the people why they came |
here in such numbers being six |
different couples in the office at that
moment-and neither this man nor |
any of the others could give any espe
cial reason for it.
While the majority of those who come
to Washington to get married are
from the adjacent counties, this does
not, however, apply in all cases. for
sometimes licenses are issued to young
men and women from places as far
away as Bristol, Roanoke and other
sections of the State. The remote
sections of Virginia are sometimes we'll
represented on the license book.
There are in close proximity to the
district building here three or four
justices of the peace, aud as many more
preacher lawyers who reap not little
benefit from the excursions of these
young people from across the river. 1t
is said that there are one or two men
here who stay in close reach of the IL
censes office during the hours when it
is open for the purpose of marrying
these couples after they have secured
their licenses and they are said to make
a considerable amount out of the bust
ness.
Washington being city of national
reputation, and the place where these
people would probably come anyhow,
they wait until arriving here before
getting married so as to make it all
little more romantic and out of the
ordinary.
Dissimilarity of ages is often apparent
in those securing licenses from the
clerk here. This was especially notice
able few days ago when one groom
gave his age at 80 and his int ended
bride at SO. There are many other
pecularities sometimes to be seen in
securing the necessary papers to make
these people one.
Today's business done by the clerk,
when be issued six licenses, was per-
haps the largest he has done for Vir-
ginians for some time. and maybe will |
be for some time to come, but there is |
no telling where the number may reach, |
when it is remembered that during |
the past year nearly l 100 licenses have
been issued by Clerk Young and his
assistants to VIrglnians alone