Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-06-02
FLOATING HOTELS
MATCH MAKERS
Romantic Surroundings Blamed
for an Epidemic Of Marriages
on Arbuckle Graz.

New York, May o6.-John Arbuckle's
foating hotels at the foot of Fast 2Srd
street are to be the scene of six mar
riaEes. al at one time, within the next two
weeks. The good ships. Jacon A. STAN
Ter. where the girls live, and the Gitania.
whore the young men are waited to sleep
by ocean brcczcs, arc estir over the COM
Ing events but secrecy Is naming over
the persons involved and tho exact date
Frank u. Shelley. manager of the float
Ing hotels, said Yesterday that he hal
teen threatened with al kinds of punish
ments IF he dared mako known the names
of tho young men and women who are to
we'd
There are six couples" said My. shel-
ley, but 7 have to he careful. TWO or
.hree months ago it was planned to have
FIVE marriages O. young men Of one ves-
sci and young women of the other take
place upon the Same night.
Some reporter learned tho namos .;
the young men and women and printed a
story about them. As q result the girls
became angry and all refused to be mar
Ted ut the time arranged. All the mar
rages have since then taken place. bat I
Do not wish to spoil the pans that arc
row under way for a fine time aboard
the floating hotels"
ARBUCKiE HOST AT WEDDINGS.
Mr. Arbucltlc, the millionaire suga:
md coffee merchant. who is responsible,
Tor tho establishment Of these novel no.
tells for Young men and Young women
who work for their living, has promised
10 give fine wedding supper for the six
couples who met their fate over the tables
In the main cabin of the Starlcr, whore
Is Girls and 30 Young men meet every
evening at dinner. a dance will he held
upon the main deck. with the aid Of an
orchestra provided by Mr. Arbuckle.
At present the two floating hotels arc
ut the food tide of prosperity ana are full
filling the best hopes OF Mr.. Arbucklc.
The girls pay $50 a week for their rooms
end meals and the young men pay $3.50
They all meet at dinner In the large
cabin of the Stamlcr and after Dime:
they sit upon the hurricane dec'5. or dance
on the main deck while a smoking room
is provided for those young men who are
rhy of watching the moon rise over the
East river with the girls
Up to tho present time 1t has been tho
Iule that the young men retire to their
vessel, moored alongside the Stamlor, at
(03O In the evening, hut now that sum
ner is at hand and an orchestra plays
III evening on the recreation pier adj ioin-
Ing. Manager Shelley says he IS going to
let the young folk stay up until 1870 IL
hey wish.
I'VE are certainly having an epidemic
Of marriages" said the manager, but
how can that he helped? We have a fine
ot OF girls between the ages of lG and %
and q fine lot of men about the same age.
No married persons are allowed and no
old persons. as we figure that they would
not enjoy the same amusements as are
popular with our present boarders.
IDEAL. PLACE FOR COrRTSlIIP.
Take lot of young folks just at this
acquainted over the breakfast and dinner
table and see that they have plenty of
harmless amusements during the even
Ing, and marriages are sure to follow.
The girls are a fine. Independent lot.
Many of them earn more money than the
boys, and most of those girls who are
going to be married intend 10 mold their
Jobs, for a time at least.
A number of tents recently were erected
upon the hurricane deck. each containing
two cots. for the accommodation Of work =
ing girls who feel they would like to sleep
practically In the open air, Two pianos
have been donated SO the young men and
women may have music in the cabin or
on the open deck and scarcely a Sunday
passes that Mr.. Arbuckle does not call at
the floating hotels TO see how ever one is
getting along.
The millionaire Is said to have sided
with the girls in the wish to preserve Sc
crecy regarding tho coming marriages,
and declares that the guests of the float
Ing hotels are going to be absolutely pro-
tected in any plans they wish to make.