The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-09-05
MATES ARE CHOSEN
BY LOVERS UNION
SPINSTERS AND BACHELORS,
WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS
SIGN QUESTIONNAIRES

Hundreds of lonesome widows and
widowers, maidens young and old,
bachelors bald and youths OF promise
are eagerly awaiting the decisions OF
the '1ove court" held at Hammonton
N. J., the first court under the aus
pieces of the Lovers COOPERATIVE
Union.
The union came about because two
widowers OF the town lunched to-
gether not long ago in restaurant 5
unromantiC atmosphere. LOUIS ,.
Conlev. head of leading department
store, expressed his views to Thomas
B. Delkar, editor of a Hammonton
paper, asserting it was a shame that
the widows and widowers OF the town
were leading lonely lives. He sug-
pested the names OF the widows be
placed in one box, the names OF the
widowers in another and then
drawing held to match them up.
All Candidates Admitted
Mr.. Dclkar was struck by the idea,
and then and there the union was
started, with Mr.. Conley as its presl-
dent and the editor as secretary. The
story was sent to metropolitan papers,
and Immediately a flood OF letters was
received from lonely persons through
out the United States and Canada
The first thought was to contlne the
unions patronage to widows and wid-
overs. but as the mail increased and
youth took its pen in hand to describe
unbelievable loneliness the two wild
overs relented. They decided to take
in all entries and give every one an
equal chance.
Must Return QUESTIONABLE
The original plan was just to place /!
the names OF the men in one box and |
the women in another, draw and make !
it a CatCh-as-Catch-Ca affair. But /
that was too much like a lottery, so |
Mr.. Delkar decided to issue a regular
QUESTIONABLE and make the service /
selective and almost of a eugenic pro- |
posal.
The applicants are asked many !
questions, including age and physical |
condition, previous experience in the /
marital mart, preference as to loca-
ton OF future home, financial status, /
religion occupation, talents, and edu- !
cational qualifications. Each candi- /
date must give two references, one, |
if possible, from a pastor or priest. /
They must outline their own person
alities, and also give their idea of
the kind OF a person they would like
to marry.
Woman the Deciding Judge
Mr.. Conley and Mr. Delkar will go
over the list carefully and match up
the couples from the information con-
tanned in the QUESTIONABLE. These lists
will then be presented to the courts,
consisting OF three men and three wo-
men The Judge" is Mrs Helen
Rodgers, and III case OF a dispute she
casts the deciding vote. If she rules
that the couple is mismated a new
selection will have to be made
After the names have been paired
off the applicants will be notified OF
the results and will be given six
months for courtship, either in per-
son or by correspondence. If no mar
riage bells are heard within that time
the applicant is at liberty to return
for a chance to be mated with some
one else.
Thousands Are Enrolled
1t is estimated that at least 5000 APP
plications were received before the
first session OF the court" Other
sessions will be held frequently, as
it was impossible to pass on more
than few at the first session.