Evening star., 1909-04-12

equal number Of worried, embarrassed
looking men arrived in Washington today
from Richmond and other Virginia points
to be married. BY 1 o'clock two couples
had attained their object and were of
on their honeymoon. During the after
noon others made visits to the license
clerk.
All the prospective brides and BRIDE
grooms came here on the Cupid special,
the name given the train which brings to
this city excursionists from Richmond
in charge of Mrs. James r. Gill, matron
OF the Male Orphan Asylum of Richmond.
Mrs. Gill, rosy and happy-looking, was
among the first to step of the train when
it rolled into the Union station at 1925
o'clock. She was answering all sorts OF
questions from dozens of the 45 persons
who accompanied her. and was as busy
as Il she were actually conducting q mat
rimonial bureau.
Not as Many as Usual.
Brides and bridegrooms?" she
counter-questioned, in response to a
question by Star reporter. "Oh yes.
we have some this trip, but not as
many as usual. There are only seven
couples At least that is all I have
heard of, although you never can tell
about these Easter trips. Some demure
little girl is apt to come all the way
man on the train and the first thing
you know after you get in Washington
is that she Is married. They don't all
tell me their secrets, but 1 don't think
there are any elopements this trip. AS
near as I can figure out, there are
seven couples.
You know I run this excursion for
the benefit of my asylum, but since 1t
has become the custom for young per-
sons who want to avoid the bother Of q
Cd 1iv,<r OF 70 70 ndv TO sNf
it, am more interested in 1t than ever
This makes the fifteenth l have run,
and as l am SO strongly In favor OF
matrimony, am glad to help the boys
and girls out"
Members of Mrs. Gilrs party are stop
ping In various hotels. She is at the
American House.
First Applicant for License.
The first man to land in the clerks
Office after the train arrived was Will
liam M. Evans, widower. fifty-three
years old, who asked for license for
himself and Miss Mary F. Hope Miss
Hopes age. as set down in the license
book is nobody's business but her own.
Anyhow, she Is not nearly as old as her
husband. Both are from Richmond.
Hardly had Mr.. Evans left when in
walked a tall, handsome, broad-shoul-
dered young man.. wearing black suit
and happy smile AS soon as he got
his bearings he walked straight to the
clerk and told what he wanted.
He said his name is William T. Stanley
and that of the young woman in the case
Mary Duval. Neither had been married
before. He is twenty-six and she twenty
one years old. Like Mr.. Evans, Mr. STAN
ley said he was to be married by Rev.
J. B. Mclaughlin. As soon as he got his
license he went out and joined a pretty
young woman who was waiting in a car
riaRo Thew were driven ia OF
to the Century building, where Rev. Mr..
Mclaughlin has his office. BY some mis-
hap he beat Mr.. Evans and the future
Mrs. Evans into the office by about two
jumps. Consequently they were married
first.
Two Williams; Two Marys.
Mr.. Evans and Miss Hope sat by and
saw 1t well done. Then came their turn.
BY a curious coincidence the given names
of both the men and both the women
were the same. 1t was a case Of "Wil-
liam and Mary" in each instance.
In performing the marriage ceremony.
which he declares. as part of the cere-
mony. he does under the authority given
me by the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict of Columbia and the Methodist
Church." Rev. Mr.. Mclaughlin employs
no dilatory tactics. According to a dollar
stop watch held by Star reporter. the
minister tied the Evans-HoDe knot in
three minutes.
Sealed with q Kiss.
At the close OF each ceremony he di-
rected:
Now, William, kiss Mary"
And each William kissed his Mary as
though he were used to it and found 1t
mighty pleasant.
Neither William could be blamed, for
each Mary was uncommonly good look
ing. with her fresh complexion made radi-
ant by the bridal blush.
Earlier in the day Mr.. MCLAUGHLIN Of
ficiated for a couple of couples from Pc
tersburg. Va. who took an early train
and beat the Gill special into town. They
were Joseph d. Kirkland and Bessie AL
ley and Leroy Heath and Annie ROYAL.
The officiating CLERGYMAN said both