The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-05-16
LoNDon 4 GKETNA GREEN.
Runaway Couples From Germany Go
There to Wed.

bnGtS 10 vVCO
Except that 1t is a little more diff
cult or expensive to reach, the British
Capital occupies today precisely the
same position in relation to the Faith
erland as did Gretna Green to the Il
gions this side of the Tweed in the
days of our great-grandfather ana
great-grandmothers says London
Truth. The cases that have get in
to the newspapers are only stray eX
anples of a practice which is Scins
on regularly, and they have only got
there by accident, because the brides
Or bridegrooms happen to be dis
tinguished personages, or because 9TH
er circumstances connected with their
marriages have attracted public at
tention in Germany and England
There are in London a number Of
enterprising individuals of German
nationality or birth whose principals.
Teutonic youths and maidens to this
country and marry them off in ac-
cordance with the English law when
ever just cause or impeachment
makes it difficult for them to get join
ed together in holy matrimony in
their own country.
These agents advertise regularly IN
the German newspapers, calling the
attention of the amorous TeutOn to
the facilities which exist in England
or. f4y-ire = oil I'm ~
Iv and on reasonable terms. Some OF
them have their agents in Germany to
push the business and catch custom
ers on commission, much like the
parties who "touted for licenses" at
the entrance to Doctors Commons III
the days when Mr. Weller, senior, was
captured for the second time.
They issue books, pamphlets anu
leaflets describing, more or less ac-
rurately, the English law, and explain
ng fully all the formalities in con
lection with an English marriage. To
show how carefully every detail is
thought out, there is among the stock
in trade Of one of the most active
of these firms leafiet giving in
English and German the fateful ques-
tons which the Book of Common
Prayer requires the priest to put to
the parties before joining their hands
irrevocably together with the proper
responses.
The reason of all this is easy'to I'M
derstand The tying of the matrimon-
ia. knot in Germany is much more
lengthy and troublesome business
than in England, and to do it sure
ptitiously is very much more diff
cult I am told that from tie first
official notification to the completion
of the ceremony the usual time con-
sumed in going through the necessary
legal formalities is about six weeks,
and may be anything from that up to
twelve The mere statements OF the
parties are not sufficient but have to
be supported by Identification papers
snd other documents which are care
fully looked into.
i The only Formally that presents
any difficulty at all to a foreign bride
and bridegroom coming to England to
be married is fifteen days residence
in the district prior to the ceremony,
but it is not much of a difficulty III
reality, there being little risk in max
ing az false statement on the point,
while it can always be got over by a
special license when the parties are
anxious that everything shall be done
regularly and do not grudge the nee
essary expenditure.
am told that it is becoming a
common occurrence for pair of &c,
man lovers to disappear for a week
and return to their delighted friends
at the end of that time with the an
nounoement that they have been mar
ried in London, and no one who sees
the frequency of the agents advertise
ments in the German papers will hes
itate to believe it.