The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-17
International
SundaySchoolLesson

BIZ WILLIAM T. ELLIS,

so much radical literature on the abo-
lition of holy matrimony. az well rs
the latest divorce statistics, it ia a
shock to find go many people still
doing it-getting married. that is, not
reading. The shock may be pleasant.
or it may be disagreeable, according to
your own cherished convictions, but it
is a shock.
Instead of losing prestige by the
heavy accumulation of evidence against
it, matrimony appears to be rapidly
gaining in popularity. Last year was
a banner year for 1t mere in New York
Over forty thousand couples obtained
marriage licenses from the marriage
bureau in the City hall, which was an
before. and of these some. fourteen
thousand did not even stop to think
the matter over after obtaining the
license. but were married right there
in the marriage chapel. And this, in
spite of the ia ut that New York throws
few more difficulties in the way of
marriage-at least for the women
than most places.
There is the matter of the license.
! for instance. In most towns the
would-be groom can buy a marriage
license with greater ease than he can
buy one for his automobile. All he
has to do is to ask for it, pay the
to be busy, his father or prospective
father-in-law can rush into the clerks
office at the last moment and get it
for him, or the bride may even phone
down and have the license mailed to
her or sent out by special messenger.
But in New York it is different.
Here both parties to the fateful IL not
fatal deed must appear in person, to-
gether fill out an application blank
requiring a. lot of information, and to-
gether swear that the statements
written down are true. No candidate
for the welded state, be he rich or
poor, good, bad, or Indifferent, can
| escape this bit of red tape. A Fifth
avenue heiress must appear and make
out her half of the application the
same as the bride from Mott street
Another difficulty In the path of
matrimony in New York is the city
clerk, Mr.. P. N. Scully. If there is
anything the least bit suspicious in
your application, or If you are fortu-
are whisked into Mr.. Scully's office,
where you are carefully Intercepted
| by him. How old are you? Where
| do you come from, and why? are some
Of the questions Mr. Scully asks, and
such is his ferocious mien that you
invariably tell the truth. Mr.. scully
can hold up your license IL he wishes.
| and prevent you from getting married
in New York.
But fortunately for the already very
much frightened and subdued pill
| grims of matrimony who come to the
| bureau, Mr.. Scully rarely takes ad-
| vantage of this awful power. In spite
of his somewhat baleful authoritative
stare he is a genial. friendly soul. who
likes being married himself, ana en-
| joys sending so many other persons on
their matrimonial way.
The other day a troubled BRIDE
groom and his trim, calm little bride
4 were brought into Mr.. Scully's office
as suspicious characters. They stood
| forlornly by the door while Mr. SculIy
perused many licenses, and 1t is doubt
full if he would ever have known they
were there had not a clerk come and
whispered something in his ear. I'M
| mediately, Mr.. Scully lifted his head
AND fixed the couple with his pene-
| trating gaze.
How old are your" he demanded
Of the extremely youthful-looking
bride.
She Is twenty" interposed the
bridegroom quickly.
Wasn't talking to you" said Mr..
Scully. Tell your correct age, young
lady, nobody was ever hurt by telling
the truth
81 was twenty last July" declared
the bride.
Hmm, YOU look pretty young for
!
your mother know about this?"
/ Yes my mother knows all about
it," the girl faltered nervously. HE
has been staying at our house, and she
knows all about it. Now he is going
west, and 1 am going with him"
A tear trembled on the brides
cheek, and Mr.. Scully's manner inn
mediately underwent a tremendous
change. He came forward and mar
ried them right there in his office,
and escorted them rega1ly to the door.
Now, take good care of her." he
admonished the bridegroom. ''She's
leaving her home and putting all her
trust in you. Take good care of her"
Going west with him." he eS-
planned sentimentally, as he came
back to his desk. as If everybody in
the room had not heard all about it
and knew where they were going.
A few minutes later, another sus-
picious couple were brought into his
office, their case too obvious to need
! even a whispered explanation from
the clerk. The man was collarless
his hat was gone. and his hair rum
pied; the woman wore good clothes
but her walk wars unsteady. 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 H.
censes in Mr.. Scully's office, and, ac-
cording to him, they seldom CONS
back. Licenses are also withheld from
Cinnamon appearing with white girl:
until the police have made an in
vestigation of the case. Another mat
ter over which there is occasionally