Evening star., 1939-07-20

Leland OFT is one of me most active
and at his side is Clayton Ellison.
These two lurked near the court
house all day, siding a little fur
lively up to the newcomers. Long
experience. Mr. OFT says, has enabled
him to spot prospective brides and
bridegrooms at 20 PAGES.
Fortnight Approach. .
| He is a jolly soul. although a few
years on an Elkton street corner
may have left him a little cynical
about romance, and his approach to
prospects is frank and fortnight.
Some of the solicitors act nervous,
but not Mr. OFT.
He will guide the couple into the
Office of the clerk of the court where
they make application for their mar
riage license. The clerk tells them
| the hour. two days later, when they
may pick up the licenses.
Still, the couple remains in the So
licitor's hands. He guides them to
the parson. The Rev. G. T. Baker
seems to be the man who handles
Mr. Otis business. He wears dark
suit. black bow tie and conducts
his conversation with an oratorical
| f1uiditv.
Mr.. Baker is one of the three par
sons generally believed to be still
making a decent living out of the
business. He talks to the prospects,
takes 50 from them to pay for the
license, sends one of his men down
to pick it up two days later and per-
forms the ceremony.
L don't want my name used in
any way. shape or FORM he said
when interviewed. I'm we'll enough
known already"
What do you think of the new
law?" he was asked.
New Law "a Sim
1T is terrible, it is SIM" he said.
II believe that young people have
the right to get married when and
where they want to. The Bible
urges young people to marry. 1t
doesn't say anything about putting
restrictions in their way This law
is terrible"
The Rev. Mr. Minor lives a few
doors from the Rev. Mr.. Baker. He
is happy parson who has married
39,893 couples and who now is en-
Joying the sunset of life with the
proceeds.
This town is dead" he says hap
pily. Il hardly ever see any mar
ryin' done any more. I saw this
coming. I spent $1,000 remodeling
some buildings owned and 1 have
a lot of apartments now"
The sl1 900. he said, was part of
the money he earned as a MARVIN
parson. He misses the income, but
he gets along all right. He claims
that $4,000 year was an easy
amount for parson to make. 1t
Is a matter OF record that his busi-
ness was so good that he called on
his nephew, the Rev. Howard Minor
to assist him.
Inquiry at other houses where
marryin' parsons signs are displayed
revealed the absence of many IA
miliar figure. The Rev. R. J. Stur-
gill, for example. got job in
Perry Point hospital when the bot
tom fell out of his trade. He now
does a little marrying at night and
on holidays.
The Rev. p K. Lambert is out
OF town, but is expected back "any
day. Many of the hundred or more
signs that labeled Elkton have come
down and the men behind them have
turned to less frivolous occupations.
Generally regarded, along with
the Rev. Mr.. Baker as the biggest
marryers in town are the Rev. M. E.
Wheatley and the Rev. Alfred E.
Thomas, both of whom have
churches in Elkton.
Business Means.
The business men of the town
complain bitterly against the law.
They gnash their teeth for the same
reason that Washington business
men would If all tourists were barred
from the Capital.
Mr.. Lewis operates combination
hotel, restaurant and movie house.
He says he feels it worst in the
movie and next in the restaurant.
The money left by the newlyweds,
you see, went into the pockets of
all the towns citizens.
Florists business suffered a stag
gering blow, as did the jewelers..
One jeweler, Mr.. Minister, became
semi-apoplectic when this reporter