The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
WHY KENTUCKIANS ELOPE.
All the Pleasures OF Romance Besides
Solves Question OF Expense.

In the country districts of Kentucky n
girl in an old maid at rs, at 30 she is passe
and relegated to teacups. cats and knitting
Corkscrew curls are hers. and on her hands
when she goes to church are half lace mitts.
not kids All this. writes a Shelbyvlle cor
respondent OF the Henderson journal. makes
the race to conjusal happiness one of almost
maddening haste in Kentucky, Twenty
seven elopements in two days is the record
OF one backwoods county this season.
In common with all the other States OF tho
Union. Kentucky has more poor families
than rich ones, and it follows that tho pre-
ponderanco of marriages Is among tho for
iner whose purses are not always equal
TO heavy outlays for elaborate wedding
ceremonies. Hence 1t is that the most eco
nomicals scheme ofeopement is highly popular
with the added advantage Of the spirit Of
romance that surrounds the idea OF running
away and being pursued by alleged irate
parents. who it should be noted never sue
coed in coming up with the clippers until the
knot has been tied The whole ai1air is
pleasing Illusion. and may II always be so.
The old people. however. raise perennial
objections they always do. The old people
are matchmakers who follow all the traditions
OF the South. and the girl who is ambitious
20 dodge the implication Of being called an
old maid will take no risks. Down here in
Kentucky there IL no dearth OF suitors. md
the average Blue Grass belle does not have
TO wait long She has sweethearts before
she is out Of short skirts, and IL is no I'M
common thing for her 10 be engaged while
she still wears her hair in long plat down
her back and tops her curls with jaunty
tam-o' shanter
Here ia Shelbyvile clipping couples find
a mecca 1t ia quiet little place, with lots
OF churches und no end Of obliging ministers
The town is a stop for all trains. but the
eIopers do not take the railroad route If they
nre in fear OF being di-cuvrrOd-uot in Ken
lucky These young Lochinvars take the
best high-stepper from the stable and start
down the pike In good rig. They then feel
assured that they Will clear all pursuers
and get the knot tied before the father can
interrupt their plans by appearing on the
scene with bootjack. gun or glad hand.
In some counties IN Kentucky last fan
the number of elopements is said 10 have been
as great as that OF ordinary unromantc
prernedii ated marriages. There are instances
where three girls and three Young men have
formed party and eloped together The
method OF procedure sometimes IL unique
The belle wants none OF the traditions Lack
inx-not in Kentucky. Her wardrobe may
be slight. because she IL in a hurry. but she
Is sure 10 take along
Something old. something new,
Something borrowed and something blue
A Lawrenceburg farmer heard that his
daughter was clearing out with the son OF I
neighbor There was no very strenuous
objection und the father bou ght some we'd
ding presents and with some OF has friends
started out in pursuit. They arrived in
town about an hour after tho ceremony and
were told that the happy pair had gone to
the hotel for dinner The whole party.
headed By the new brides father. rushed
into the dining room and formally presented
the gifts. arefward buying tickets for a
honeymoon trip 10 Cincinnati
Several marriages have been perform Ell
on railroad trains. and one couple sought
refuge by taking their minister on board a
boat which was plying on the Kentucky
River below Frankfort.