The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-01-19
RAPID COURTING
BY ENGLISH SOLDIER
By P. NJ. sarle

LONDON, Dec. 2s (By Mail to New
York k)-Hustling m sthods were ex-
pected from the members of the Can
madam contingent row completing
their training on Salisbury Plain, but
even his comrades admit that Private
Victor Albert Baker was going
some" in providing himself with
wife in six weeks. The more so that
the bride is Belgian refugee, whose
very slight knowledge of English was
acquired in that period, while Baker
still has no French.
. Baker, who is % years of age, was
an engineer on the Canadian Pacific
sailway, and threw up his job to join
the Canadian army at the outbreak of
the war His father is also a member
of the contingent. Six weeks ago an
other Canadian soldier introduced
young Baker to his cousin, a Belgian
girl of twenty who had been compell-
ed to flee Antwerp, when the city was
besieged by the Germans.
Bertha Vendon Bosch had been a
clerk in one of the big rotels, and
when she came to England she was
practically penniless. That didn't wor
ry Baker, who prides himself on being
able TO pick out a sound reliable arti
| Gle on sight. Nor did the language
question worry him, though that was
serious difficulty, for he knew no
French and Bertha $ English was of
the most primitive kind.
At their second meeting after the in
PRODUCTION Baker proposed marriage,
and the Belgian girl, who had already
begun to entertain kindly feelings for
the handsome young soldier, though
surprised by his impetuous avowai,
consented to accept the engagement
ring with which he had already pro-
vided himnelf Baker had his military
duties to perform, so they saw each
other only twice after that.
Then, the other day, he got thirty
six hours leave from camp, and armed
with a marriage license, he and Bertha
proceeded to Undergone church, in
the south London district of Gambler
well, where the latter changed her
name to Baker The honeymoon was
limited to one day, which was spent in
the neighboring district of Peckham,
most of it at movie palaces.
The unconventional wedding was at
tended by Bakers father, in khaki
like the bridegroom, and the bride
uncle and aunt, both of whom are Bel
gian refugees. Bertha g father and mo-
/ ther are stranded somewhere on the
continent, so know nothing of their
daughter s romance.
The mayoress of Camberwell attend
ed the wedding breakfast, at which
one of the guests offered the bride and
bridegroom some amusing advice: eff
you don Z learn each others language,
Won will be the happiest man and wife
in the world
her husband IS parents in Canada, to
await his return from the war.
"A' Division, Metropolitan Police,
which formerly had the exclusive priv
ilege of guarding the royal palaces
Buckingham Palace in particular-has
lost its monopoly, for, somewhat to the
disgust of ''Bobby,' the CIRCULARS
have been reinforced by a strong de-
tachment of Especial constables. ("
These "specials' are no ordinary vol
unteer police, for they include peers of
the realm, members cf the House of
Commons, and over 200 barristers, doc
tors, actors, stockholders, etc.
Lord Gland Hamilton, NJ. p, is in
command, and the Headquarters De
tachment of the Metropolitan Constab-
ulary" muster 500 strong. The mem
bers perform police duties voluntarily,
and give a certain number of hours
each week They wear ordinary civil
ian clothes, with an armlet, and carry
truncheon and whistle. No revolvers
are allowed
When the Especial police' were
first enrolled Headquarters de
tachment was formed and the mer
proved themselves so useful that the
majority were taken over by the Ad-
mralty, to work the searchlights and
anti-airship guns which were mounted
in various parts of London, while 9th
ers were attached to the detective
force For the new body Just formed
for palace guard and other important
work of a highly confidential nature,
only 500 We're needed, but there were
over 1000 volunteers. Two hundred
and thirty of the disappointed ones
were given commissions in the army
and the navy.