The independent-reporter., 1910-09-15
ODD WEDDING PLACES.
Nuptial Knots Tied on Trapeze, In
Balloon, and In Lions Cage.

Although the vast majority Of brides
and bridegrooms are quite content to
have the nuptial knot tied in church.
there are few who prefer 1t fast
ened in an odd environment, says the
London Globe. To be spilled on a
swinging trapeze would not be every
ones choice, yet that was the scene
selected on one occasion BY two cou-
Piles of circus performers. The con
tracing parties. gorgeously arrayed,
climbed onto two aerial perches, one
on each side of the ring, while the
officiating magistrate stood on pyra-
mid in the center and conducted the
service. In 1897 a wedding occurred
in a still more curious and danger
Gus place-in a lions cage at the
Boston Zoo Something like 1000
people witnessed the event, Metho-
dist clergyman conducting it. The
reverend gentleman, however, stood
outside the cage and at the proper
moment the bride and bridegroom
followed the keeper into the cage,
which contained two large lions and
the steel barred door was closed be
hind them The whole thing was
over in five minutes, but it must
have seemed years to the couple, con-
sidering that the lions walked round
the cage staring at the unusual sight
and then laid down, roaring and
yawning alternately On another
occasion couple had the romantic
idea of being married inside the head
of the colossal figure of the Goddess
of Liberty which stands in New York
harbor The head being a hollow
chamber the feat was made feasible
and was duly carried out, after the
bridal party had mounted the 5000
feet of narrow stairs to reach their
destination.
Marriages have now and again ta-
ken place on horseback, one such
being between an eloping couple some
years back While a service was in
progress in a village church the noise
of Gathering hoofs was heard. An
official going to the entrance found
man and woman mounted on palpitat-
ing animals. After some persuasion,
as the pair were armed with the ne
cessary authority, the clergyman
promptly married them, the lovers
not dsmounting during the process.
AS soon as it was ended they put
spurs to their horses and galloped
away into the darkness.
So far, it would seem, marriages
have not been performed in motor
cars or flying machines. although one
may rest assured that they will soon
be utilized for such purposes. Be-
fore now the clouds have witnessed
wedding ceremonies. Some years ago
a balloon was turned into a church
and a happy though nervous couple
made husband and wife therein. Dur
ing the Chicago Worlds Fair some
years ago, the Ferris wheel, of which
the big wheel at Earl's Court WAS a
near relative, was one of the chief at
fractions. and an enterprising couple
elected to to be married in it. Accord
ingly they were united 250 feet above
the heads of the gaping and interested
crowd. And, as there is no account
ing for tastes, it is not surprising to
learn that even the bowels of the
earth have been chosen for a we'd
ding Such an event in coal mine
would be a matter-of-fact affair in
comparison with marriage in the
Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, whose
wonders and creepiness have been
pictured by many pens until the read
er has been made almost nervous by
the descriptions. Nevertheless, this
eerie cave was the scene of knot ty-
ing. 1t was performed by the light
of torches, which made the darkness
of the case if anything more in
tense, the spot selected being some
thing like nine miles from the en-
trance to the cave and only reached
by crossing Styx-like waters and
crawling on hands and knees.