davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

they can wake up justice of the peace,
or get minister and get married?"
mused.
'Often the ceremony is performed right
here in the probate judges office" said
Mr. Morrow in fact there isn't day
that passes that Judge stiles doesn't per-
form ceremony, and in his absence
often do it,"
"Of course June exceeds all other
months in popularity for marriages." l
suggested.
THAT is a generally accepted theory,
said Mr. Morrow, but we issue almost
twice as many license in December as We
do during any other month of the year.
Especially do the darkeys get married in
Deccmber-neas Christmas time With the
smart set June is the fashionable month,
but with the masses December is the most
popular"
II suppose prosperous business years
have lot to do with booming the mar
riage license business | suggested.
when man is making money he Just
must marry somebody, | suppose. Is pres
ioontial year an off year in the marriage
game?"
Not especially said Mr.. Morrow. "The
most popular days of the week in the
marriage office business are Mondays and
Saturdays Friday is hangmans day, and
is generally considered unlucky."
What do you do when people OF differ
ent nationalities apply for a marriage Ii
cense?" | asked But that's a useless
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29
SUN AND MAIL BUT
ONCE EVERY YEAR

From the New York Evening Post
The sun Is eomns The mail is conf
ing These are the two events of the
year we look forward to- and they both
come in January" So say residents of
Upper Alaska, according to an American
woman, Mrs. Samuel r. Sprggs, who has
lived eight years at Point Barrow, among
the Eskimo Indians, in the most north
ern Inhabited point. 500 miles within the
Arctce Circle
But three times year, now, since ways
of communication have been improved
the mail reaches Point Barrow In Jan
uary comes the first-class MALL in April
1t comes again and In August first and
second-class mail arrives 1t is all
brought over from Nome by dog trains
and reindeer. Once year 1t is then the
newspapers from home are delivered at
the door
Tourists can go to Nome from June to
October. but no tourists visit Point Bar
row One revenue cutter goes there an
nually, and a supply vessel, with sup
plies for missionaries and others, visits
1t once year. Perhaps three steam
whalers touch the Point in 12 months.
The Government has school and fine
ly equipped building there which has
stnCut lVJ pupils. The Presbyterian Mis-
sionary society has school for both
boys and girls. and well. established
church that was organized about 20 years
ago. The people trap and fish. The
white fox is the principal fur-bearing ami
mai. and lynx and polar bears are also
taken.
When asked about the homes of the
people, Mrs Spriggs said: Their houses
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

Had one very recently" said he smil-
ing, but l couldn't say she roped him in"
II read the other day about a man who
went into the marriage license office to get
wouldn't let him get one on the INSTALL
ment plan, as she called it, but demanded
an until death do-us-part kind" | OBJ
served.
They'd have to get that kind as we
don't do an nstalment plan business" "
said Mr.. Morrow.
Does the marrige license office ever
have a holiday?" l asked.
Never said Mr. Morrow, except on
sundays
"Of course you have Christmas and
Thanksgiving Day." | urged.
mo. indeed" said Mr.. Morrow, Christ
mas is great marrying time with the
darkeys. We come down always on
Christmas morning, because we know if
we don't we'll be called later. It's the
same way on Thanksgiving Day"
What are the office hours?' | asked.
From to o'clock" said Mr. Morrow
But suppose some one decides TO marry
in haste and repent at leisure-one of
those romantic, midnight marriages We
read about-how do they manage" 7
queried.
I'VE are aroused out of bed frequently
for that sort of thing" said Mr.. Nor
row. "and we are always accommodating,
or try to be- and come and issue the Ii
cense Why I've often come down here
at 2:3o in the morning.
And then after they get the license
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

| question, because you could understand
even a deaf and dumb man about a thing
of that sort, couldn't your
"Of course we have an Interpreter" said
MIR. Morrow" but I've gotten SO accus-
toned to taem now that | can almost tell
who they are Lots of them-both for
eigners and natives-are SO ignorant some-
and so poor they have to borrow the
money to get a license"
suppose the parties change their minds
do you refund the money or issue another
license?' / asked.
THE marriage license office Is one place
whore parties never have their money re-
funded" said Mr.. Morrow. Sometimes
the license is cancelled-whe they change
their minds-but they don't get their
money back
Isn't it funny that so many women get
married." | mused They change their
minds so often
Il gave a darlley once rs out of my
own pocket said Mr., Morrow, 'just be-
cause Fed gotten license to marry a
girl that / recalled issuing a license to
a few days before lie insisted she was
not the same girl. He found she was and
he said he was going to whip the niger
that had married her and took her ava Y
from him. ! approved his sentiments and
gave him H75 cancelled the license and
told him to so for the other fellow"
Sloughs and sloughs of people were pass
ing to and from in the offices and as
thought I'd found out just about all there
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

der the age of is if girl marries she must
have the consent of her parents No mar
riage is legal under IA years of age for a
girl and 15 for boy
II suppose there's no age liimt at the
other end-they never get too old to mar
ry, as there's no fool like an old fool,'
| laughingly suggested.
Certainly not" said Mr. Morrow with
merry twinkle in his eye, Il issued a
marriage license to man of 70 recently.
What is the age of the Oldest man
you've ever issued a license to?' | asked.
"Eighty-two." replied Mr.. Morrow
What is the age when they marry
most?" | asked.
Between 21 and 80 for the men, and IS
and q for the women said Mr.. Morrow
IF man passes 30 without getting mar
ried he is a pretty safe proposition until
he gets to be 40, then he becomes romantic
again and seems determined to get a
young bride if he can"
And the man of 50-when he marries
he's usually looking for a good house
keeper soft cushions and an open fire and
good dinners, | suppose.
I'm all probability" said Mr. Morrow,
'but you have no. idea how tickled they
are when they get the license. Why they
are so happy they just have to talk to
somebody about it, and they generally
choose me-"
Maybe 1t Is not so much happiness but
a practical idea that two can live cheaper
than one-and the crusty old bachelor is
generally something of a tight wad,"
suggested.
'Perhars," said Mr.. Morrow. you can
never tell what prompts people to get
ma rried. That's a mystery as puzzing as
the Sphinx. l only know they do-that s
all. But in any case the same sort of
love doesn't send the man OF 80 to the
marriage license window that sends the
young swain of 21 Still they go on and
love and marry-sll ages and kinds
"The case of Mr.. December you were
! telling me about-the S2-year-old groom,
| | reverted did he have very May-like
bride"
| NO. strange to say. she was very
| nearly his own age and size said Mr.
! Morrow laughingly. Il had one widower
recently who had been married five times
and he told me he was looking for No
| g. He wanted a round half dozen wives
before he died"
Hes outdoing Nat Goodwin and De-
| Wolf Hopper" / remarked fippantly
| Does person have to tell how many
times they've been married when they
are getting a lcense?'
"Oh, yes,' said Mr.. Morrow. That
must be done
"And the ar-boarder-and-h -hls-land-
lady romance" | suggested, where the
world says she's roped him in'-do you
ever see any of that kind?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29
ELECTRIC LIGHTS ARE THE
CAUSE OF PECULIAR FATIGUE

Yellow light viii not penetrate as deeply,
but the ultra violent and infra red rays
will and do actually penetrate into the
/ body and hence their action upon the It's
sues gives to the city dweller his unnat-
ural fatigue and peculiar weariness
There is nothing to become really
alarmed about II this matter. Mankind
has been adapting itself to changes for a
great many Thousand years. and we shall
undoubtedly become adapted to these
powerful electric light rays In few gen
erations. or some change in artificial
light may be made meanwhile that will
do away with the fatigue making proper
ties.
Sometimes 1t Is wondered that man
kind has been able to live at all when
the constant changes in the condition
of life are considered and in nothing
has the change been greater than In
artificial light. Man, as man, has prob
ably been on earth 100000 years The
animal ancestors from which man fin
ally evolved. have been on our planet
for 100000 years or more. During
that time nearly all the adjustm ents
of life have been related to that par
ticular section of light rays which pro-
ceed from the sun and are not held back
by the earth's atmosphere. We are
children of the sun.
Reckoning the thousands OF years
man has lived on earth in practically
his present form, it is only recently
that he has been using artificial light.
The earliest of men used fire only for
cooking, and later when the fambeau
or torch was used. it's light was so
weak that 1t really had little effect
upon man.
But as civilization advanced man be-
gan to use more and more artificial
light. Fats being used, then OIL then
gas and now electricity. With the ex-
lights were yellow and did not have
the power of penetrating to any great
extent. Yellow is the middle of. the
color scale, and the most harmful rays
Of light are those that are on the
ends of the color scale. known as the
Ultraviolet and the infra-red.
These are the sort of rays that the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

was to ascertain the price of license"
Zone dollar and seventy-fve cents" said
Mr. Morrow, in answer to my query, THE
price used to be sl50 but the legislature
raised the price to s1.75-varying to 81, ac-
cording to whether one of the parties has
to make an affidavit before a notary pub
lie as to age. The extra quarter defrays
that expense
rs that the regular price, or sort of an
after he-holiday reduction" | queried
''or special June sale. a sort of come
early void-the-rush bargain occa-
sion?"
THE same price obtains the year
round" smiled Mr.. Morrow, "Its a per-
manent, fixed prlce-no discount for any
thing or anybody"
think so awfully well of marrying and
giving in marriage, else they woudn' t
have raised the price" | suggested
Though must say it's cheap enough. AL
most as cheap as getting weighed on a
slot machine"
After being certain as to the price for
the marriage license, l proceeded to ask
Mr.. Morrow who gets married most, the
rich or the poor. to which he replied
The poor, far more than the rich'' said
Mr.. Morrow. Marriage. like death, is no
respector of persons, and lots of people
who do not look as If they could buy a
pair of shoes, dig down into their pockets
for the s1.75 for a marriage license, and
go away looking at least as If they are
going to live happily ever afterward."
How is it that SO many people speak
of a marriage license as a set of license?'
l asked curiously.
1.-The darkeys call it a pair of license,
Mr. Morrow said. II suppose they get the
idea from the fact that they are pairing
off. don't you? The real reason, perha ps,
is that a marriage license comes in two
parts-one to be signed by the parties to
be married and the other part to be re-
turned by the minister who performs the
ceremony. great many ministers by the
way. do not understand and pay little at
tention to the Importance of the latter.
1t is very necessary to us in our work to
have this certificate returned. 1t is the
only way the records can be kept cor
rectly. We have calls every day for rec
ords of marriages performed years ago.
rye often heard | remarked, ''of very
important legal matters being involved
which could only be settled or proved by
marriage certificate. and when it was
not recorded at the marriage license office
things couldn't be adjusted
That is often the case said Mr.. Nor
row. MANY points of law may hinge upon
ii. Ages are also established and
do people tell the truth about their
ages when they marryg' | interrupted
quickly. Especially women?''
women, l can assure you are no worse
than men," Mr.. Morrow said seriously.
you have no idea how many men try to
dodge telling their age. It's ridiculous the
way they try to hedge"
How old must girl be to get married
in this state?" ! asked.
Eighteen is the legal age for women
and q for men," said Mr.. Morrow. I'm
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

The wedding ring business has cer-
tainly been looming up in Birmingham
during the delectable month of June.
Not that the jewelers. are doing 'land
I, office" business in solitaires, but the senti-
ment for which solitaire stands, is being
very much used
With the dawn of tomorrow the mar
riage license man" announces the third
and last CALI for this years June brides.
This being the case it behooves your
''humble scribe to look into the matter
and see just what sort of statistics were
accredited to Birmingham in the mar
sriage license line during this month.
E Accordingly
~ l spent most delightful and entertain
Ing hour in the office of Probate Judge
Stiles. over at the courthouse few days
ago, chatting with Mr.. j. Woolsey Nor
row-the man who gets you into all the
kroube.
4 d Mr.. Morrow was interesting to talk to-,
because he came very near being a June
bridegroom himself. since he's only IA
few weeks old married man." his mar
rriage to the lovely Miss Ethel Martin
being one of the notable events of the
smonth of May. thereby defying supersti-
ton. choosing as he did, which proves
j econclusively that there can't be much In
that old idea, since Mr.. Morrow decided
on the month of May from all the 12 in
the calendar, knowing as he does, more
sabout marrying and giving in marriage
than any other man in Jefferson county,
to be sure.
q For
{ Doesn't he stand first, when 1t comes to
everybody going to him, regardless of
color or race, before the nuptial knot can
! be tied, and shouldn't his word have more
] weight than anybody's else?
!. The corridors of the courthouse were
! lined with people on the bright June day
I that went interviewing
The offices of the probate judge and the
marriage license man were crowded
and MIR. Morrow was the busiest person
lin town.
After he and | had our little joke about
how cheap a marriage license is-iust %
cents more, If you please, than a perfect
ily good dog license Uhe latter costing
i only Sl.50)-he announced himself ready to
answer whatever questions might be put
to him.
Mr.. Morrow is an awfuliy nice man to
talk to, let me say incidentally: he has
a very keen sense of humor. a very broad
knowledge of human nature and very
sympathetic. kind heart toward humanity
in general and Is a most likeable gentle
man. with a distinct aversion to talking
about himself although he was delighted
to talk about the marriage license bus
iness and so we went merrily on. and the
first question that popped into my head
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29
japanese Writer Puts Blame
For Feeling on United States

From the New York Sun.
A New Yorker has just received let
ter from his brother, who is in Japan. in
closing a copy Of the Japan Advertiser.
an English paper published in Toxic, con-
tainin gan article translated from the
Osuka Mainichi of April 26, which has
a large circulation in southern Japan. The
letter says that the Japanese are greatly
stirred up over the California anti-alien
land bill, but that his party had met with
uniform courtesy wherever they have
Travelled. "Other papers are milder," the
letter says, but they certainly do talk
war in both news columns and editorials"
"The American Talk of an Americana
Japanese War is the caption of the ar
ticle in the Osaka Mainichi.
"The Japanese do not want war;" 1t
says, but they are always ready to pro-
tect themselves against unjust oppression
and insulting agitation. If there is any
cause for actual war between the two
nations, it lies in America, not in Japan. .
The article takes up former war talk
between the two countries and its causes,
saving that Captain Hobson is being
looked upon as the leader of the cry. 1t
saws that there have been two paramount
rea sons in the past; the Joint propa-
ganda of self-seeking American manu-
facturers and naval expansionists, the
former desiring to make improper profits
and the latter seeking popularity and
''the American fear that as Americans
have often offended Japanese feelings in
the past there may arise acute tension
between the two nations which may
finally develop into actual war" The ar
ticle says that present war talk probably
comes from agitation and fears of a sim
liar nature.
The japanese may seek an appeal to
stature not modify it's attitude toward
the Japanese" the article continues. 1T
amply shows that the Americans are at
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

politically but in commercial, Industrial,
educational and all other relations. All
clouds of war Will then be cleared away
and the Americans need not have their
peace of mind disturbed by the bad dream
of an American-Japanese war.
"On the contrary. il the Americans do
not reconsider their attitude, but con-
tinue TO look down upon the Japanese as
mere animals or "A despised people-to in
suit the Japanese by discriminatory
treatment in favor of Europeans-they
are the enemies of humanity and must
be attacked by the upholders of justice
and equality"
The American army and navy are char
acterized as making fine appearance
but lacking spirit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

are half sunken in the ground and are
built of driftwood, sodded over They
are entered through a tunnel made III
the ground. The part of the house that
it above ground has one window in it,
and this window Is covered with skin
sewed in strips together. The Esquimaux
have small families, averaging only three.
Hair seal is the staple article of diet,
though, through leaders, the natives are
learning to use our products. The traders
teacn them how To prepare them
In discussing life in Alaska Mrs
Spriggs mentioned no hardships and dis
claimed any thought of heroism but a
tourist in the headquarters of the Nom-
ans Home Mission board said of Mrs.
Spriggs and her co-workers:
Explorers think that the Arctic night
twice in succession is more than can be
endured, but our missionaries calmly face
it year after year. In some years landing
is impossible. as it was at Point Barrow
in 1903. That means another year must
pass without mails
Next to the want of companions, that
which our missionaries find the hardest
to endure is the long winter night and
the awful silence of the Northland. In
that volceless country even the windH
make no sound
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29
The Modern Daughter

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
He was an old fashioned father. which
explains why he said to the young man:
Are you sure you're able to give my
daughter the comforts and luxuries to
which she is accustomed at homer"
To which the young man prompt,v re-
piled:
AS your daughters salary has paid
the rent and bought most of the clothes
and food for your family, think we can
worry along"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29
A NOTRE DAME LADY'S
APPEAL

To all knowing sufferers Of rheumatism. whether
muscular Of the JOINTS sciatics. lumbasos back
ache pains in the kidneys neuralgia palms. to write
to her for q home treatment which has repeatedly
cured all Of these fortunes She feels II her duty to
send It to all sufferers FREE. You yourself at
home ~ thousands Will teetify--no change Of climate
being necessary. This simple discovery banshes uric
acd from the blood. oosens the stiffened joints pur
ies the blood and brishtens the swing elasticity
and tone TO the whole system II the above interests
Mn n sunmers Boz h. Notrs Dame Ind
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29
Photos by Covell.

is to know about the marriage license
man and his business l made my
"adeux."
As | passed through the corridor of the
courthouse | noticed all sorts and condi-
tions of people-especially men-but
didn't think many of them were on their
way to invest their hard earned cash in
"a pair OF marriage licenses
No
| didn't think sol
Because
Most of them looked to be past 80, and
Mr.. Morrow said that usually they were
pretty safe then, until they reached the
50th milestone-nor were they in the
charmed circle of romance centering
about q!
But
Presently | noticed a couple that caught
my attention-a boy and girl-foreigners
they were-1talians as near as | could
guess as to nationality.
The girl was a beautiful, soft-lipped,
starry-eyed creature, with luxuriant black
hair like a ravens wing, and the boy was
viVd-cheel1ed and 1.-THE, with the impetus
osity of youth strong within him.
They were in deep conversation over
subject that couldn't have been anything
but matrimony I felt sure.
1t must have been money.
| knew they were on their way to the
marriage license window
II hope they've got the price," I unused.
as | stepped out into the melting rays OF
a radiant June day sun. Mustn't it be
awful to be In love and not have the price
the $1.75 for the license?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29
The Difficulty

From the Washington Evening Star
Il put my faith in the wisdom of the
plain people" said the complacent ora.
tor.
That's easy" replied Senator Sor.
ehum. The real job is to get them ia
reciprocate."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

- ~nR nPcV TREATED. Quick relief,
hey 0Ae0A - swelling, short breath
soon removed. often tire reliefin Is to
~ ?S days. Trial treatment sent 70 ~
"s'ts ". II IL efseas SER. ~ o, Miasts. G,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29

Soughs and sloughs of people were pass
ing to and from in the offices and as |
thought I'd found out just about all there
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-10-25

Most Of our testimonials are old
acquaintances- That is to say, we
v been in correspondence with
them ten or fifteen years.
MI. Shanks, however, is a new
conner. He is an old friend Of Pc
Tuna, but he never called our atten-
ton to the fact until very lately. We
welcome him to the host of users and
believers in Peruna. His ear
speaks for Itself, and his letter reads:
1t affords me great pleasure to in
form you OF the good results 1 have
derived from the use Of your excel
lent remedy, PeTuna. T had catarrh
or the stomach and bowels for twelve
years n tried many remedies with
only temporary relief. I was induced
to try Peruna, and after taking six
bottles | was completely relieved. l
had taken almost three bottles before
l could see that I was receiving any
benefit but when I had taken the six
bottles l was completely relieved, and
l feel very grateful to Peruna, and
] have recommended it to quite a
number of my friends. I still take
a bottle every spring. My wife has
used 1t with good results. You can
use this or any part Of it If you
sec fit.
Il enclose photo; also photo Of my
house. Yours, w. H. Shanks.'
Mr.. Shanks' story is very similar to
many others. A long siege Of chronic
catarrh. A long list Of failures in