Omaha daily bee., 1911-03-19
BUSINESS END OF MARRIAGE
Tennessee Parson Gleefully Chsses
Elopers and Their Coin.
PLANTS SHOP NEAR STATE BORDER
Operations Of Gretna green that
Has Aroused Much Indignation
Among Brothers OF the
CIoth.

citation OF Bristol. Tenn. in pledging IT.
nlembers-more than twenty in number
10 refuse hereafter to marry clipping couples
on Tennessee soil contrary to the Law Of
the state from which either or both OF the
contracting parties come, and memorable
ing the Tennessee legislature TO put a stop
20 the hundreds OF "hasty and Indecent
marriages performed annually at the Brls-
tol mecca by statutory enactment, will
have the effect if the ministers are sue
cessful in their efforts, O: dspriving one
minister OF an unusual livelihood and de-
priving the world Of another Of its few
Gretna Greens
The resolution Is aimed particularly at
the Rev Alfred Harrison Burroughs. known
over four states In particular and through
out the United States in general as the
Marrying parson who has himself united
more than 1000 counples who have come
10 him from commemorative where the laws
prohibit the marriage Of persons under q
years Of age without parental consent.
Mr.. Burroughs has devoted himself to this
occupation for twenty years having re-
slnRned active duties in the Baptist minis
try in order to engage IN II. His Gretna
Green has long since gained wide renown.
The EIopers' Hotel.
Mr.. Burroughs is proprietor Of one Of the
oldest hotels in the world II was designed
and erected expressly for the convenience
Of eioplng couples. Every room in It is
bridal chamber II IL situated squRrely
upon the dividing line between Virginia
and Tennessee To strategic location Of
the house one half OF which is in one state
and the other half in a neighboring state.
Is apparent at once in the execution Of the
purpose for which it was built. Scarcely
a day passes that Mr.. Burroughs 10 not
called upon to entertain a number Of elop-
ing couples
Mr. Burroughs has performed marriage
ceremonies under almost every conceivable
circumstance-one time in carriage racing
through the streets at night, with an irate
mother in full pursuit; and on another oc-
casion with the couple standing in the mid
die Of q moving street car. the tracks of
which lie in different states. He has been
the friend OF lovelorn lads and lassies long
enough to marry the children OF the couple
who first came to him. He believes he
holds the worlds record for the number Of
couples united in marriage by = single
individual.
SPRAYING across the boundary line OF two
states and within a stones throw Of two
other states. the city OF Bristol has long
been the goal OF those young persons who
are forced to flee in order to achieve their
desires. The invisible line dividing the two
states has for more than fifty years been
q breeder OF strange situations. The trouble
some boundary splits the electric railway
for the entire distance along one OF the
main thoroughfares. 1t is possible for COM
panions travelling within a foot Of each
other TO be amenable to the laws Of diff
ferent states
EStabllshiRE the Business.
Mr.. Burroughs many years ago conceived
the scheme OF taking advantage OF the To-
cation of Bristol for matrimonial purposes.
The hotel became a necessity I'm order that
he might better take care Of the ever in
creasing number OF his guests. The house
was built upon plans drawn by Mr. Bur
roughs himself He had already been de-
voting himself exclusively to this business
for a number OF years. Couples who are
not runaways in the strictest sense now
come 10 Bristol 10 be married in order to
spend few days at the matrimonial hotel.
Mr.. Burroughs business is made possible
by the stringent matrimonial laws of Nir-
ginia and West Virginia. Fully 80 per cent
H. IL believed. Of the couples he has mar
ried have been clippers. The laws OF Vir-
ginia and West Virginia require that APP
piicants for marriage licenses shall be q
years old unless they have the written con,
sent Of parents or guardians. While the
laws OF these states were the basis for the
establishment OF the Gretna Green, the
marriages contracted at Bristol have not
been confined to Virginia and West Vir.
Einia clippers alone Fleeing couples from
various states. including Kentucky, the
Caroiinas, Georgia, Alabama, New York
New Jersey, Michigan. Ohio. Indiana Penn
sylvania, Arkansas and California have
sought peace and suTcease from the troubles
OF clippers at Mr.. Burroughs haven.
Matrimony for revenue as interpreted b,
Parson Burroughs has proved a lucrativ,
avocation He has amassed a comfortabl,
fortune out OF his unusual calling Mr.
Burroughs is now 70 years old. So ex
tensive has become his practice that It no
lnfrequently happens that he marries frou
two TO four couples at one time-one cere
mony and one blessing answering for all
Only recently he was called upon to MARI,
five couples with a single ceremony. II,
had barely ended this service when tw,
more young couples were ushered into thu
reception room, requesting the services
OF the man who had been dubbed "th
Strenuous Uniter OF Young Lives"
Coaching the Kids,
All Of the clipping couples arrive at tn
Union passenger station. which is within
the boundary OF Virginia. but within 10
feet OF the state line and Tennessee sol
MIR. Burroughs meets all trains upon thei
arrival. and II is more the exception tina
the rule that he Is disappointed In seourin
y couple In many instances the parent
Of the clippers telegraph the Bristol eva
police to arrest the parties upon their az
rival In such cases Mr.. Burroughs usual
hurries the couple across the line into Ten
nesee, where they are SAGE from molestatioT
Always alert, when Mr., Burroughs sees a
officer watching q train his suspicious ar
aroused. Invariably he uses his best effort
90 get 60 the couple first Experience ha
taught him how TO size up possible eioper
from the mass Of people leaving the train
He has the sympathy OF the police, too.
his undertaking they having frequentl
been charged with not exercising due dill
Eenoe In the apprehension Of clippers.
Mr. Burroughs has few scruples agains
disparity Of age between bride and bride
groom. lie says the matter Of age Is a ques
tion 10 be settled between the prospect,
hrf nd