Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-01
MUCH SPEED, NO PRIVACY,
IN ELKTON MARRIAGE MILL
With 5000 Persons a Year
to Be Married, the Par
sons Perform Ceremony
in Record-breaking Time.
nv a NAN REpoRTER

by MAN hbTOHlbh
The highest marriage rate per capita
IN these United states is attained in
Elkton, Md, a town Of 1000 inhabitants,
where 5000 persons are married each
year. sociologically speaking, "oan you
beat it2"
This little place, just south of the
Mason and Dixon line. holds time
record for accomplishing the rite of
matrlmony. The average interim for
making out marriage license is two
minutes Cyou have for II the word OF
| Major Purnell who Issues em), and the
! normal time for performing the ceremony
is three minutes Qor which there is the
| evidence of the reporters IngelsolD.
| Miss Woman Reporter and the mere
Man Reporter found out about the Elk
ton marriage market by riding the bumpy
road with dozen couples who were pas
sengers on the Honeymoon Express one
fine, cold day. In cor.mon with the
elopers, we were charivaried by train
tul OF fellow passengers when we left
the car. We stammered "yes" when n
chaufeur, waiting on the platform to
grab us, asked precipltatedlyi Want a
marriage license?" In common with the
real honest-to-goodnes betrothed folk
we were hustled into a waiting automo-
bile. Our captor led us through gaunt-
let OF rival jehus who had not been quick
enough and cried, They're mine"
(meaning us) when the others tried to
seize us.
CIAUFFEUR'S KINDLY ADVICE.
The lady don't have to get out when
we get to the Office" the chauffeur ex-
planned as he jolted us in his car to the
old brown Cecil County Court House. Ar
rived there, the men were lined up before
ran fnt
onds after they had sworn to tell the |
truth a dozen licenses were in the pockets |
OF dozen proud but nervous mon.
a moment later we were on the way to |
a clergyman. Coin to Quiggs?" querled |
the man who sat beside me. I take it |
that he expected to be married by the |
Kew. Howard T. Quiggs, but II he did he |
was disappointed, for the cabman did not |
ask our preference. He conveyed us to
the Rev. John McElmoyle, who greeted
us an unctiously as we entered How are
you this morning?" he asked and when |
the first couple handed him n license he
peamed, This is very important docu-
ment.' TIC Miss w. Reporter and myself
ne said pleasantly, Your time will be in
Just moment"
ao1,tsI1 When our time came We quIzzed the
dominic bit and learned the EIkton
philosophy of marriage. ANY law that
restricts marriage is a bad law. Early
marriages are best. for they give a mar
rled couple chance to grow up to-
gether'' That Is the gist of Elkton's
ideas on the subject
NUISANCE FOR THE CLERK.
The County Clerk thinks differently.
however. because It is a nuisance to have
to act as secretary to Cupid every time
a train pulls in. For while the benedict
pays 81 for a license and a Federal war
TAX M OF III cents, the clerk does not benefit
me annoyance of making out endless
licenses is the reason Delaware passed n
new law two years ago. the Major said
requiring four days residence and send
South. -"' I''et
We Cleaned from the records that .Tune
marriages are not especially numerous i'm
the Maryland town. There were 255 we'd
dlhgs there last June. but October boasted
10, lour more Ihe winds OF March brought
the minimum figure for the year, 1853. The |
month Just past gave time for 200 we'd ,
dlngs in its % marrying days Twenty /
seven licenses one Saturday, is the record ,
for a days work :
A lull Is encountered after a couple ,
nave been welded and transported hack :
to the centre of the town, where they aro :
slVen more than a sangy "once over"
The benedicts look about for refreshnent
W e FOUND hotel opposite the railroad !
Itation' and little oyster restaurant !
" '''i 'itSo HlbH StOOlS at lunch bar. In | I
ne latter we were scrutinlzed bv the =
itoveside observers and smiled genially =
Nhen Dickens type of fat boy poked his :
lead In the door to say, "They're iust I
married. We bought sandwiches, fruit '
md crackers and ate them sitting on n
WISE ~
Then we fled two by two. into the 9
tation waiting-room. In the centre of J
ne room stands stove and round about I
a Meet OF rocking chairs. Having been :
married. In much haste you have ample q
ime to repent while waiting for the c
rain. We surmlsed that the sentiments
onowing marriage are too soft and dulcet t
or utterance. Certain it is that 70 couples h
at utterly speechless while they waited h
wo hours for the 2:27 train. They stared 1
{ the floor at the ceiling and into space c
Finally, the train came and we boarded Ii
amid smokers and whispered comments,
'Hr ears burned all the way home. -
now, we've been to Elkton and been Il
one by the Elktonites. We're ready 10 -
sstlty that II is the quick lunch counter :,
l matrimonial epicureanism. -