Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-04-18
DAKOTA COUNTY, NEB. A RIVAL OF
GRE1MA GREEN OF OLD ENGLAND

Gretna Green, the old convenient spot
of coaching days iii Scotland. where
English couples could halt and have
a wedding ceremony performed without
fear of detection, has been outdone
by the little old country village OF Da-
kota city, just opposite Sioux City. and
on the Nebraska side of the Missouri
river.
Nevermore cal. the immortal novel;
list of Abbotsford claim Scotland as the
only land of IA true Gretna Green.
where romance, like Ivy. covers the his
tOrio ruins with Il mantle OF protection,
carrsses 1t with countless clinging fling
ers and tenderly conceals the ravages
of tim and man.
Nebraska boasts OF a Gretna Green.
and while the little halting spot on the
Scottish border land, claimed only to
be a place where runaway couples may
eVade the English marriage act, which
required the consent of parents and
guardians, publication OF bans and
presence of a priest. Dakota City re-
quires nome OF these. The only require
ment is the presence of Judge J. j.
Eimcrs. a Rooseveltian young magis-
trate. who issues all the licenses, col
leuts all the fees. performs the cere-
mony-and then-most of all. keeps still
shout it.
Keeps Marriages Secret.
When Judge Eimers mounted the
bench of Dakota county. several years
ago, he decided OH a policy of strict
secrecy of marriages.. when the party
of the first and of the second part, de-
sired that nothing he said about the
wedding and to keep this information
from the public and make it more On
veiiieni for all concerned. he has prac-
tlcaIlN fHnlONpl The. ma rfla Ro license
bureau from the court house at Dakota
city To his cottage AT South Sioux City.
There he has been prepared to issue the
license and perform the ceremony for
many Il couple needing such speedy
service.
II Is 10 he home of Judge Eimers at
South Sioux t~ity-just one block from
the car line-that Sioux City young
couples go to have weddings which ARE
Easy and which are guarded by a judge
OF long experience. from curious eyes.
In keeping the weddings quiet. Judge
EimerS has been eminently successful.
Quiet for Six Weeks.
During his career as a friend of the
young people Judge F.itners is not with
out experiences. 1t has only been "A
few weeks ago since he performed the
ceremony and issued The license To IA
couple from Sioux city. who desired the
wedding kept absolutely on the @. T."
Special arrangements were made for
this particular wedding. The young
couple went to Dakota City. the county
seat. whore they learned that the rouln-
ty judge was at his home In South
Sioux city. 1t WAS three miles away.
They t~elephoned The judge. Yes, he
was AT holne and would he there all
evening. He could arrange to get them
a license.
With this assurance the young peo-
n1n 1rn,-a n. Sa,,th iA,y fsifx. I,J,,A
Eimers produced a marriage license and
performed the ceremony. 1t WAS kept
quiet Just six weeks. On other occa-
sions the judge has been more Sticcesa-
fui. Usually when The judge says it
will he kept quiet. his may
depend on it.
Groom Waite for Change.
And. for all this secrecy. Judge
Niners has received SOM curious and
not over generous fees Tne Ne
braska law allows him So. but AS that
is supposed 10 cover the license. with
out the ceremoni. the judge general.
expects and is entitled to u "pl.acSer's
Tip" oyer and aboN. his fee.
1t was after issuing !. license and per-
forming Il ceremony for a wealthy
youn man and blustiug girl recently
that Judge i.imcrs promised secrer,.
and was handed a $40 bill. This lochcl
like s. TO the good. but TO the surprise
Vi lI1t county jug - Oi kftktgt 'ffi.litN,
the young man demanded ihe change.
and waited 70. a ~ bin TO be re1nl.scd
to MN.
Bride Dug in Stocking.
More pathetic than anything Wi;cn
has happened in the career of Tie
pastor OF G:orna Green" as Judge
Eli,,ers is fGnGly called. Was a recent
fee. which he received. AboU n yeir
ago 4 young couple applied 10 the judge
70. a marriage iironSe. He issued it il,
regular form. The young man placed
81 before the judge. He Informed him
that it cost 81 10 80 mp agains; his
game. The bride produced anoth-,.
dollar, after digging deep into IL white
stocking. After inc ceremony was per
formed. the judge WAS hanke cor
daily and the groom told him that as
soon as they got Il start. they would
remember the Judge.
Judge Eimers supposed they would.
az the couple looked very happy.
Last week he received "A small mack
age In the mails. He tore it omen ex-
peeting it to be a picture of IA ba by. a
common fee for Judge Timers. But il
was the picture of AN old log at Lake
Crystal on which the judge has found
= soft seat while fishing many a day.
In IA wOman's hand beneath the picture
were the words: THE place where W..
We're engaged"
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