The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-08-07
BUSYGRETNA GREEN
BRISTOL WEDDINGS.

Marriage as al Industry in Thai Southern CParSOn Burroughs
and His Hotel Where He Has United 5G5 Couple in Years
Chattanooga may be the center of the mining industry
of the South and Atlanta may be the center OF manufac
turing industry but Bristol may boast of Being the center
of its marriage industry Several localities IN this town
have something boast of along that line, but the Nick
els house claims preemnence which there is none to dis
pute 1t is low two-story brick structure with broad
cool porhes extending clear around those sides OF that
visible from the streets. On these porches there is
profusion of trailing vines and bright blooming pOted
flowers. Altogether it is rather homeke place, as, m
deed ought to be- for few places have witnessed the
tabIishing of more homes than has this one Down
the middle of the front of it the state line
between Tennessee and Virginia; not fifty yards away
the depot of of the four railroads that enter the town
and hundred yards OFT the depot OF the
third the landlord of the hotel minister of the gospel
Whar favorable combination could be asked to make
the house the Gretna Green OF the entire south! -
The landlord the Rev. a. II. Burroughs OF the Mis-
sionary Baptist church He pleasant old gentleman
rather under medium height with mild blue eyes and
beard that beginning to be streaked with gray He was
born at Lynchburg Va, probably about 90 years ago
For the last seven years he has been keeping the Nckes
house and during this time he has married exactly 900
couples
1t must not for oment be supposed that this figure
represents the of the marriage industry OF the town
during that time Such supposition would do Bristol a
gross Injustice Every preacher in town and every civil
magistrate has done his quota of the good work More
over these principally of outsiders, who came to
Bristol to take advantage of differences IN state laws and
in town Of 15 600 people there's naturally large amount
of local marrying of the pain odfashored unromantlc
variety Mr.. Burroughs is not monopolst IN MS hne'
but merely the most successful among numerous comp3
tors Perhaps one why he is the most successful
that he frankly tells the people what he here for and
works that end while others are content to take that
business which chance may send them
Parson Burroughs, called as he by everyone meets
in person every train that comes into BRISTOL Long eX-
peence has hapened his natural powers OF observation
until he can tell almost uneTingy when couple has fled
from an angry parent from state law that looks u
iavoraby upon early marriages IL would be interesting
to know the characteristics by which ne recognizes sch
couples but all that he will say the question Is i've
learned to size EN- up-thets al. ,.. !.
different states form the basis OF the marriage industry nc
matter where it fourishes In Virginia marriage car
take place unless both and woman are Il years OF
age or unless the parent OF the party GHer aye m
ed no such cruetes on youthful loves In that state
the gentleman has reached the dignity of 6 and the
lady the maturity OF IA they may snap ther nger al
forbddng parents or guardians
Tennessee draws the line at the free coinage OF marriage
licenses These cost $3.50 each If obtained at Bristol o
which sum 81 goes the state 81 to the county, 81 TO th
corporaton and 80 cents to the deputy clerk issuing the
license By going to Blountvlle, the county seat oVe
eight miles of the most execrabe mountain ROAD on earh
you may the 81 that goes 10 tne corporauol MANY
couples are more abundanty supplied with time than WIFI
money and hence use this method of economzng.
Besides paving the license fee the prospective groom
required to give security in the OF 81 200 that there
is nothing unlawful about the marriage ms IS sup
posed to secure the state against the awful calamity OF
mlns marrying his own grandmother or ms o.er eoa h
law or some other mans wife As matter OF TACT thl
bond amounts rather less than the proverbla hll
BEANS If no objection is raised the clerk generally re
ceives the of any man who is willing to make tn
physical exerton necessary to ahiX his signature or eV
enters his name asSecurlty. however, IL an rdE
parent with the proper kind of influence manages to reac
the place before the eopng couple this matter OF Secur
be used to prevent marriages that could not othefW
be prevented. -
Marriages at the Nckels house performed in tn
parlor comfortably furnished room about lSx25 teet
contains square piano and Brussels carpet, sngnt
worn AS one stands in this room where l30 peopl
within the last seven years have taken the plunge for BET
ter or for worse one may draw sigh of relief and Zee
that in spite of the modern discussion as to whether maj