Jasper Weekly Courier, Volume 50, Number 47, Jasper, Dubois County, 7 August 1908 — Page 1

Vol. 50. Jasper, 1 ndiana, Friday, August 7, 1908.. No- 47.

BUSY GRETNA GREEN BRISTOL WEDDINGS.

Marriage as art industry in That Southern City-Parson Burroughs anä Iiis Hotel Where He Has United 565 Gouple in 7 Years Chattanooga may be the center of the mining industry of the South and Atlanta may be the center of it manufacturing industry, but Bristol may boast of being the center nf its mnrrinirn inrlnsh'v. Several localities in this town

have something to boast of along that line, but the Nicki i i ...i.:i. .i : Air,

eis nouse claims a pre-eminence wiucu uieru is nunc iu uinnhp. It. is ;i low. two-storv brick structure, with broad.

cool porches extending clear around those sides of it that are visible from the streets. On these porches there is a

profusion of trailing vines and bright-blooming potted flowers. Altogether it is rather a homelike place, as, indeed, it ought to be, for few places have witnessed the establishing of more homes than has this one. Down the middle of the street in front of it runs the state line between Tennesee and Virginia; not fifty yards away is . the depot of two of the four railroads that enter the town and not over one hundred yards off is the depot of the third; the landlord of the hotel is a minister of the gospel ( What more favorable combination could be asked to make the house the Gretna Green of the entire south? The landlord is the Rev. A. H. Burroughs of the Missionary Baptist church. Pie is a pleasant old gentleman, rather under medium height, with mild blue eyes and a beard that is beginning to be streaked with gray. He was born at Lynchburg, Va., probably about 65 years ago. For the last seven years he has been keeping the Nickels house and during this time he has married exactly 565 couples. It must not for a n'oment be supposed that this figure ronwBonfQ tht pvfpnt nf the marriatre industry of the town

during that time. Such a supposition would do Bristol a

gross injustice. Hivery preaciiei m wwh mu cvu,y um mnoish-ate has done his auota of the good work. More-

fttmi. fViöcö woro nrinpinnllv nf outsiders, who came to

.RrJcfnl fn fnV nHvnntatrG of differences in state laws and

in r tftwn nf 15.000 nponle there is naturally a larere amount

of local marrying of the plain, old-fashioned, unromantic

variety, lur. .ourrougns is nuu a muuupuuoi, m mo nuc, hu nwplv thp most successful amoncr numerous compati-

tors. Perhaps one reason why he is the most successful is

that he irankiy tens tne peopie wnat i& mus xui aim works to that end, while others are content to take that business which chance may send them. 'Parson' Burroughs, called as he is by everyone, meets

in person every train that comes into Bristol. Long experience has sharpened his natural powers of observation

until he can ten anmosi unerringly wncu a usupic uu new frnm an ontrmr nnrpnt. nr from a state law that looks un

favorably upon earlv marriages. It would be interesting

to know the characteristics oy- wnicn ne recognize öuc couples, but all that he will say on the question is: "1 ve lrtnvnorl fn ci7P Vm 1111-th?t's 311."

nf nnnreo th rlifferpnws between the marriage laws in

different states form the basis of the marriage industry, no lYinftm. whan if- flourishes. In Virginia no marriage can

fnL- ninio unless hnth man and woman are 21 years of

age or unless the parent of the party under age gives Ins Tn TVmnesee the legislators have mflict-

wiwviin -- - --- - u . . oIh'ps nn vnnthful loves. In that state u

hns reached the dicmity of 16 years and the

nf 14 thev mav snan their fincrers at

1 :iUJ 1.11 ijiuvuhvj - y o i -rKiMflinn- nii-fint5 or fTimrdians.

T.,r.nö rivoMrc fVfi linA nh t.hfi free comae of marriasfe

licenses. These cost $3.50 each, if obtained at Bristol, of

which sum 1 goes to the state, $1 to tne county, $i lo uie coraoration and 50 cents to the deputy clerk issuing the

i; n-nino- fn Rlniintvi e. the county seat, over

litcuac. xj vinfc, ----7 " , , , ,-nrV.f -.iioc nf flip most execrable mountain road on earth,

wn covn fho fii Mint, ernes to the cornoration. Many

couples are more abundantly supplied with time than with Hn's method of economiziiief.

IIIKJLIM CltlU. J , Besides paying the license fee, the prospective groom is required to give security in the sum of $1,200 that there

is nothing uniawiui uuuut mc uuunöv. v.r posed to secure the state against the awful calamity of a liic mvn rrand mother, or his mother-m

in Alio imui v iti v.... ö , .i . law, or some other man's wife. As a matter of fact, this .1 i i1 - 1. 1 -v tiAittlMn! Kill rvr

bond amounts to rather less Liian uiu iwuvwuwi i beans. If no objection is raised, the clerk generally receives the name of any man who is willing to make the physical exertion necessary to affix his signature, or even enters his own name astfsecurity. However, if an irate parent with the proper kind of influence manages to reach the place before the eloping couple, this matter of security can be used to prevent marriages that could not otherwise

be prevented. . . Y : i- fVirt "MinL-ölc? Virmcn nvp nnrrnvmfifl in the

parlor, acomfortablj furnished room about 13x25 feet. It contains a square piano and a Brussels carpet, slightly !

WOrn. iiS One Stanus? m una luuui, . ' i1 i. inef emmn vp!is huvp fnkon the nluncre for bet-

ter or for worse, one may draw a sigh of reliet and teei,

that in spile of the modern discussion as to wneuier nun-

riage is or is not a failure, there is at any rate no immediate danger of the ancient institution dying out. Pnrsnn RnvrnnoTis hns nn nlmosf. inevnansbible fund of

janecdotes at his command. He tells of brides old enough to be the mothers of their grooms and of grooms old c l- i. 1. 1.1- 4.u:.. t.t f-llr.i

oyiougn to ue tne grauuiaLiitJib ui uitiu unues. axc tuuo lfew bridal couples come in on the train, on horses that cary double and on foot. He tells of ceremonies perforated at every hour within the range of the whole

.LwenoKriour. ne tens ui iut;b rungni cm uiu wa,y uum from themeek and lowly "Thank you, sir," to the lordly :sio hill .

Hp hns spen some vorv mnrl neonle in his time, but less

'actual violence than one would expect, considering all the 'circumstances. If the bride's father raises .any forcible

objections, the groom may maul his newly acquired fntViPr-in-law and then sannt across the street into Virginia

'where nothing short of a governor's requisition may reach I him. The greatest show of violence which Parson BurI .. i i l .l 1 1.1. ?l-U

rougas ever witnessed was one aarK nignt, wnen tue iuoner and several brothers of a bride rode their ponies up on i -it ii 1.1 i. i

a iront porch and demanded oi tne onciegroom tnau hü come down and show himself. Amid the wailing of the

bride and the protests ot the attaches oi tne notei tne

the groom rashly complied. Everybody about the buiidinir waited to hear the shootiner begin, but the following

dialogue was all they heard: . n

"You double-dashed young idiot, you re reauy raarneu,

are your

"Yes. "WpII pninp hnme tn mv house tomorrow like a man

and bring your wifevith you; blank dash you ! Whilp fhp wnPv wns ehnttinp- with Mr. BuiTOUgllS the

only other occupant of the office was a smooth-faced young gentleman, very tall and slenxleY, whose interesting occu-

pation consistea in swanowing nugu uites uj. icu atiiv umrhr Hp int. rnrlnrPfl himseif ns Mr. Boardvine.

"Say, parson," exclaimed Mr. uoardvine aoout tne time the candy gave out, did you marry a widow name Vermil

ion to a fellow named smith anout tnree weens ago: ..... 1 r 1"V 1

"1 did," answered Mr. Jurrougns. ! "Well, did vou notice whether she was wearing a gold

ring with a big, sorter black stone sot in it? !

"1 don't remember. -MrBoard vine sighed - - " H "TVip vpnsnn T nslr is. that rinfr belongs to me. It COSt

$13. About two months ago 1 went to church with the

wiciaer one nignu ana sne jesL imcuuiany uiv uiai mi off'n my finger and put it on her'n. I didn't care then, but I want it back now." . .

Next to the Nickels house the place in Bristol that has uritnpssprl the mnst werldinp- ceremonies is doubtless on

the Tennesee side of Main street, opposite its intersection with James street. The southern methodist parsonage is

nn .Tnmes street, nne hi nek from Main, on the Virginia

side. When the preacher is called upon to perform a cer-

emony unaer a lennesee license ne meiei.y ucs auwo Main street to the place in question and there ties the knot. There is an electric light on the corner and it burns ii i.i r li I.. 1.1. .u 1 1 --P 4-Vrv

ail nignt long, iviany a time in uie biium uuuia uic night an anxious couple is made one while standing on the brick sidewalk under its friendly gleam. Such scenes have occurred not only in summer but in the dead of winter as

v w i

About 3 o'clock one cold January night several years , . . . l i i i i

ago the methodist pastor was arousea Dy a proiongeu nailooing at his door. Investigation showed that it was a middle-aged man on horseback, with a girl about 15 years of age behind him. They had been riding all V . . . ". .. n . 1 -XT' ' ' 1 A

hi.An.rh tho ennure At t up vii'frinin mn nm ns. s

the man had procured a license the day before nothing

11GW remained DUt to C109S lviam stieet miu nave tue jhuitn. n;roi- TliP hi'ifln wns thinlv clad, having her feet in

cased in the thinnest of cloth shoes. When she dismount

ed it was found that her feet were frost bitten and that eh umc: f-nn irmnh hennmhpfl to stand during the ceremony

Nothing daunted, the groom made his way to an all-night

restauarant and saioon, wnere ne uuuuueu öuumianta, tiio nirl nf wlnVh the hnVle succeeded in standing up long

enough to have the ceremony performed. Then, after

warming for a few moments at the restaurant, in spite oi

the preachers invitation to remain,, tne coupie suuieu

För performing this ceremony the minister received as

his iee a zo-cent piece ana a mucu uatteieu duvci uhh. He has hot always been so fortunate on similar occasions.

i.A. AAjStAA-AAAjStAAA;

EvansviHe

Brewery Sued

S'Jliivan Merchants Claim Damages

For Misrepresentation. Rnlliv.m. Ind. Suit was filed

here this morning against the Evansville Brewing company by Mark Wood and Sylvester Anderson for 5,OO0 damages. The allegation is nudo that Wie company's agent represented a

beverage as non-nuoxitHLuiy unu under that representation the hovicrht. Ther sold it

at their store here and were raid

ed last March. No other mtoxi-

irur linuors were found there

hut on a iurv trial in the circuit

court each man was fined $200

nnd KPiiLonced to 90 davs m lan.

President Henry Wimberg of the Evansville Brewing association stated last night, in response

fo a niierv n bout -t ne auove (us-

i,:itf li. that ho rememhoued noth

ing about the Sullivan sales lie said that the brewery makes a non-intoxicating drink similar to the so-called temperance beverages on the market. - Evansville Courier. The value of your salvation is on account of what it cost Christ and its worth to the world depends on what it costs you.

The Baloy's Cent. I There are many old tales and traditions ? Of credible sort or untrue P

Of glories that lingered a moment, Then faded and passed out of view; There are stories of vanishing riches, Of treasure ships lost in the sea, But the saddest of such like adventures Is that Paul announces to me. He tells it with infinite detail, But uses a language that's queer, So mamma is called to interpret And then it is perfectly clear; She gave me the fullest translation, Its purpose and scope and intent And stricken with grief then I gather: "The baby has losted his cent." O Paradise wrested from Adam! 0 pirate gold buried by Kiddl O mines of the Mexican mountains Where vast Zuni treasure is hid! O island of Cisco, whose glamor Leads coast men to death in the deep;

How trifling now seemeth your questing How trivial, tawdry and cheap! j Surpassing all fabled bereavements And all that the novelists write, This tangible loss of my baby's Is a mountain of woe in our sight. It fires my whole being to action Away with my conning of news; I start on my quest for that penny, Assisted by infantile "goos." We hunt through the jungle of parlor, We seek it in kitchen and hall, And under the dining room table, And under the desk by the wall, And back of the book-case and sofa, And hither and thither and yon Till at last I decide it is hopeless The fortune forever is gone. Then I break the news, gently and sadly, And I promise a substitute cent, But Paul is a child of insistence And opens his mouth to lament.

j Now who would suspect such a swindle, jj Such fraud from a being so young? j That penny, on safety deposit, ; Is nestling close up to his tongue!

p ;yt 7f fwtx rN 't 'tN 't 'I r

i ATTRACTIVE!!

We try to make your advertisement 4 Attractive. You see this. Give us 1t your order and we will print an advertisement that will be different from the "other fellars." We know how. All you have to do is to say tt

so, and we want you to say so.

N

Courier Printorium, I JASPER, INDIANA. if