The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-31
COSTS MONEY TO
BE A GRETNA GREEN
Bellows Falls Investigator Finds That
Town Paid $500 for the Question
able Distinction.
Especial to The Bcformer)
BELLOWS FALLS. Jan. 81.


BELLOWS FALLS, Jan. 81
Dear Ed
This is the last day shall be here for
some time 50 lust few words in this let
ter. II my education had not been neg
lcctcd in certain departments would say
regarding my first little item, Tell it not
in the streets of Ascalon' Honestly, II
don't know whether on not that came from
tie Bible. / cribhed it from a Chambers
novel. Tell it not in the streets OF Asca-
lon" II sounds enhancing, and if were
a real ncvspapcman | would have opened
TINS letter with il.
/ told il today to few men who have
been cheering for Gretna Green marriages
and they had Il change Of heart that would
have sent Billy Sunday dancing around on
his hands if it had happened in a taber-
naclc. They never knew before that the
taxpayers of Vermont have to pay for
Gretna Green marriages and | doubt if
many people, outside the town clerks, the
town treasurers and few others, know it.
One may always find interesting reading in
the Vermont statutes If he but looks for it,
When a taxpayer finds he has to help set
t'e Tor these marriages il seems to strike
chord that hitherto was unresponsive
town of Rockingham about $500 during the
year which has inst passed. This was be
cause the law stlpulates that the town
shall pay the town clerk Is cents for every
copy OF a wedding license he sends to a
town or city clerk outside the state, or
town. and 10 cents for each one he sends
To- the state board of health. tie also gets
~ cents for the notice Of each birth. mar
4 a. lta . ri
tQt health. The law requires it, and the
town pays the bill Last years vital sta
'tistics cost the town of Rockingham in the
vicinity st $500 If there hadn't been so
lmany Grptna Green weddings the bill
Iveuld have been smaller. That is why a
/ Taxpayer OF two held his breath this after
moon.
! vt that, haven't any reason to believe
the town clerk Is making more money than
Charlie Chaplin Eliminating the Grctna
Green marriage licenses here, the job is
worth about 20 cents. more on less When
hunting and fishing license time comes
Iaround Vermont town clerks pick up a
dollar or two. Dog licenses also help
some believe they set ~ cents each for
issuing these licenses. During the remain.
der ot the year. ii the clerk has an assist.
ing 10 figures have seen. 70 be perfectly
honest about it. a reporter gets more than
90 town clerk And that's going some
The athletic club spoke of last even
ing is developing The question now j,
1 whether IL will engage Union hall, next t.
the largest floor space in town, in order t.
accommodate the athletes or TO take 4
smaller space and work the members IL
'.If los. I.
'thrtShcd out shall leave town preyiou
to the arrival of the medicine ball an,
boxing gloves, and anticipate that on m,
next visit ! shall arrive heavily disguised
Tho Thompson fund. under which
s &nol nurse is working in town, is still
: being used here They tell me some %
the youngsters have returned home iron
school with gard. announcing they hav
something the matter with their ewes
,ars, NOSES or threats, and advising visi
to physician. Vi the Bellows Falls do,
tors adopt the Bruttleboro late-list. pul
. lshcd in your invaluable paper last even
, ing, | believe the cards are due to becom
10 weighted with dust before action is taker
Is 10 Use parliamentary term. slight
p. pauphrased. they will he laid on til
Il kitchen mautel / believe know ON
Il booked that way. don't think he'll nee
his throat much anyway. Today "A ma
needs his nerve more than anything els,
% With Dr.. Tucker calling attention to tn
v vaccination needs Of the statc-adding a
If clause to make it Interestingly mn,
," make Christian Science mamas and pap,
some pleased TO have boy or girl
" school.
m J guess that will be about all