The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-03-19
Alternative Profession that
Flourishes in Covington
An Accommodating Gentleman
Waiting for Each Couple Swears
To age and Hunts Preacher.

might Rider Territory" ana tne
'eMoonshine District" is the town oi
Covington, KY, and in tais village q
profession never before heard OF In
the history of the world nas sprung
up with mushroom growth.
Marriage touting' is now a profes-
sion a business and a trust. A man
must have several qualifications .
become a first-class marriage tout
In - first place, he must hay, the
cast-iron, bullet-proof nerve of the
newspaper reporter; ne must have tine
gentleness of Baptist preacher and
must be as mum" as an employe OF
the Standard Oil Company. He m lst
be built like an Olympian hammer
thrower yet must conduct himself like
a murderer on trial for his life.
More marriages are performed In
Covington than in any other city OF 1t
size in the world. 1t is easier to get
the nuptial knot tied and launch your
self on the matrimonial seas In Coving
ton than in any other city known. 1t
do sn't make any difference II your
hair is done up" in plaits down your
lack and the bottom OF your skirts
dangle about your knees or whether you
carry a primer under your arm and
have a jumping jack In your trousers,
you can get married in Covington.
All you need is the money for the
license and the fee youpay the mar
riage tout"-he who pilots you to the
minister.
Years ago it was not so easy to get
married in Covington. The greater
part of the couples are from other
cities VINO take advantage of the lax
laws in Kentucky and 1t was not
easy to find an obliging minister
or Squire. But times have changed.
The opening for the marriage tout
was shown and the advantage has been
taken with a vengeance.
Now if you happen to stroll about
the Covington City Hall-that's where
they issue the licenses-you will see
at least 20 husky individuals ON your
trail. They wacth your movements and
step like a divorce detective" and
II the lady with you is of your color
you are tackled"
Want to get a license?"
Eyes. Where's the Clerks Officer"
Come right along I'll get you the
license and we'll have the whole bus
mess over in 'jiffy'."
The gentleman is so obliging you
can't resist. He sticks right to your
side, goes with you to the Clerk, in
PRODUCES you to "the guy wot ands out
the pooipers," and you are on your
way to the preacher" in no time. OF
course you don't know that the tout
gets half of the fee paid by you to the
minister or you would not have given
him the substantial tip for his serv-
ices; but he was such an obliging
gentleman, of course You ought to pay
MIN something. 1t wouldn't be right
If you didn't pay MIN for ne was so
very kind in showing you TO the min
ister."
The Marriage tout" accepts tire tip
with a gracious nod of thanks-if you
ever want to get married in Coving-
ton again he will watch for you.
An incfIant rsfourrad In
1908, in which the quick work on
the part of the tout" is shown. "A
young couple barely out of their teen
stepped off a car in front of tine
Covington City Hall and we're besieg-
ed by the small army of "touts." Two
of the pests LANDED" the couple. The
license was procured and In some man
ner the marriage pilots threw the cou
pie before they arrived at the home of
the minister
An hour later a crying bride and a
shy groom appeared at the Covington
police headquarters and asked for
transportation to their home in Tren-
ton, OHIO. The "touts" had manag-
ed to get every cent from the groom
for their alleged aid, and they had no
money TO return nome and surprise
their relatives. The police had no
jurisdiction in the case.
Tie business had enlarged to usch
scale that a miniature trust has been
organized. the wages of the "touts"
are kept at a certain standard, and
turns are taken at couples as they
apear at the City Hall. If the "touts"
gets a dead one"-probably a broth
er and sister going to have the will
OF their dead father probated--he loses
his chance. He has to wait mis- turn,
while the next tout" may land a
fat fee. Then again certain ministers
are patronized two Of whom nave not |
preached a sermon In Is years but are |
waxing fat from the marriage tout"
work. Often as high as 10 couples are