Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-31
MAYORS BUREAU
BRINGS RESULTS
HAPPY COUPLE MARRIED IN
CITY HALL
Harper, at the Last Minute, Finds He
Cannot officiate and Sends for
His Brother, Who Is
Preacher

Under the big tower in the city hall,
with Mayor Arthur c. Harper present
and his minister-brother officiating,
young couple joined hands in wedlock
last night-the first marriage following
the announcement that Mayor Harper
had formed a municipal marriage bu-
reau.
Frank Bernard Hopkins of South
Pasadena and Miss Rose Marion Col
lier of Los Angeles were the contract
ing parties, the bride bearing Easter
lilies befitting the fact that it was
Easter eve.
Up to the time of their arrival in
, the mayors sanctum the young people
and a few friends were of the opinion
that Mayor Harper would tie the knot
Such was their wish. The mayor also
expected to perform the ceremony.
Upon consultation, however, he found
that the generally expressed opinion
that he had right to solemnize a
marriage was not correct, and in his
embarrassment he telephoned Rev. Mr..
Harper, his brother, pastor of Knox
Presbyterian church, telling him of his
predicament. The latter not only con-
sented to serve instead, but brought
his wife with him to help make up
a pleasant little gathering.
The mayors office looked resplend-
ent with the chandelier clusters ablaze
and vases of flowers making the desks
attractive. The new furniture, rugs
and furnishings formed a picturesque
setting.
Have Civil Ceremony
When the bridal party entered the
mayor was in waiting and he welcomed
all. Briefly he explained that he re-
gretted that he was to be cheated of
the pleasure of officiating and said he
had in the emergency telephoned for a
minister. However, he left the de-
cision with the principals whether they
wished to be married by another. He
said the law did not clothe him with
the power to marry.
The young folks held a brief consul
tation. 1t afterward developed that
the groom-elect was a Catholic and the
bride-elect a Protestant, and civil
ceremony was preferred. At that mo-
ment Rev. Mr.. Harper came, and when
he learned the circumstances agreed
to serve and to read the civil cere-
mony.
In the mayors private office were
grouped Mayor Harper, Rev. Mr.. Har-
per and wife, C. B. Chittendon of
New York, ]. H. Stumpf of Chicago,
S. K. Bland and Hugh X. Hartung
of Los Angeles, friends of the young
man; also Mr.. Chittenden's two chill
dren, Miss Henrietta and Master Daniel
Gano Chittenden.
Mayor Kisses Bride
Promptly at o'clock the brief cere-
mony was read, and at its conclusion
Mr. Hopkins gave his wife a fervent
kiss.
There was a unanimous request that
the mayor kiss the bride, and he did
so gallantly,
~ am glad to welcome you here, to
wish you joy and to give you the free
dom of the CITY," said the mayor
The Chittenden children then sang
and recited appropriate numbers and
the happy pair departed with the con-
gratulations of all present.
Both the young people remarked that
they had read of the mayors bureau,
and what they read had inspired them
with a desire to meet Mayor Harper.
In this spirit Mr.. Hopkins telephoned
the mayor shortly before the ceremony,
mentioned his Forthcoming nuptials,
and the mayor promptly invited him
to be married at the city hall Though
the city hall Is closed at noon Satur-
days the mayor remained all day to
transact municipal business.
Courtship Brief
Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins met casually
seven months ago but not till last
Sunday did Cupid lay successful siege
to their hearts.
The young woman, who Is just 10
years old, comes of a musical family
and is mistress of several brass instru-
ments, including the cOrnet, tuba, |
French horn, trombone and euphon- |
ium She has done solo work in lead
ing theaters in the east and since liv-
ing i'm Los Angeles has been connected |
with the Venice and other Orchestras.
Since the death of her mother, Mrs. |
Hattie Elizabeth Collier two years
ago, she has lived here with her faith
er, Robert M. Collier, a railway mail
clerk at 1928 Kingsley street. Mrs. |
Collier was noted musician and vocal
teacher, having been graduated from
the Boston Conservatory Of Music. The
family formerly lived in Milwaukee
and Michigan.