Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-01-16

change. he came forward ard
married them right there n his Of
ice, and escorted them regally 20
the door.
Now, take good care Of her, be
admonished the bridegroom She's
leaving her home and putting all
her trust In you. Take good care
OF her.
sGoing west with him. be ex-
planned sentimentzily. As he came
back to his desk. As II everybody n
the room had heard all about Il
and knew where they were going.
A few minutes later, another sus-
picious couple was brought into
his office, their case too obvious to
need even . whispered explanation
from the clerk. The man was coll
larless, his hat was gone, and hts
hair was rumpled; the woman wore
good clothes, but her walk was nm
steady. Mr.. Scully took one look
at them.
Come back when you're sober"
was all he said to the bridegroom.
Many such couples are refused
licenses in Mr.. Scully's ONCE, and.
according to him, they seldom come
back. Licenses are also withheld
from Cinnamon appearing with
white girls until the police have
made an investigation OF the case.
Another matter over which there is
occasionally trouble Is that OF d.
vorce DEGREES. Some DEGREES
which are good in other states are
not good in New York, and SO the
question has to be referred to the
corporation counsel. Mr.. Scully's
fayorite story is of one very good
looking bride, who brought five diff
ferent divorce DEGREES with her
when she appeared with her sixth
bridegroom.
"She did not seem to be the least
bit perturbed," says Mr.. Scully,
"and as she left the ONCE she told
me flippantly that she might see me
again sometime"
The great majority of couples,
however, are handed their licenses
without question in an atmosphere
a. hospitable as the city can make
it. As the prospective bride and
, groom enter the municipal build
ing. they behold large gilt arrow
on the marble wall of the corridor.
and beneath it in gilt letters. "To
the Marriage License Bureau-One
Flight" To get married it 10 not
even necessary to take an ele-
vator. Broad marble stairs lead to
matrimony. On the second floor they
| enter a quiet, businesslike room,
containing many tables and chairs
and a series of Widowed parti-
tions, such as they have in banks.
The two make out their applica-
ton at one of the tables, and swear
to its truth before a clerk on the
! other side Of one Of the windows.
There are attendants to answer
questions, and, since at least so per
cent Of the couples are foreigners,
i interpreters for their benefit.
Upon receiving the license, many
of them slip quietly out and take
the elevator to the third floor.
Here they sit on Q long bench in a
rather dreary room. waiting their
turn to be married in the cityys
marriage chapel. Every imaginable
! type OF. human being is found here
everybody from successful
h,,s - 60
worker.
The marriage chapel itself is a
little more pleasing, with a gayly
decorated ceiling. a red-carpeted
platform in place of a pulpit, and
several potted plants and palms to
give the place festive air. 1t Is
doubtful IL the couples notice this
mild grandeur, however. SO fright
ened and self-conscious are they,
many Of the brides weeping cop
iously throughout the ceremony,
and all of the grooms appearing
uncomfortable and depressed.
Mr.. Cruise, who does most of the
marrying, is the same sort of q
genial soul as Mt. Scully, and US
uaily he is able to migrate the ter
rible sobriety Of the occasion by a
jest. Occasionally, he is surprised
to find groom who also enters into
the afftir in merry frame OF mind.
| "Is this the first timer" asked
Mr.. Cruise Of one such the other
day; to which the groom replied,
'"fhe first time today, sir"
In this marriage chapel. New
York provides one Of the cheapest
weddings that can be had in this
country, which may account for its
great and enduring popularity.
The whole ceremony, including the
license and everything, costs only
So. This explains why so many
| people come to New York to- be
married. It is the most economical
way. 1t may even explain why SO
many get married at all. So few
people can resist . bargain.