CUPID IN A HURRY.

Shannon News, 28 August 1925, Page 2

CUPID IN A HURRY.

BOOKINGS FOR "BRIDES' BOAT." WIVES FOR NAVAL MEN. AUCKLAND, Aug. 22. ' ; Suy. we wanna get married quick as we can ! Watta we have to do?" A youthful sailor put the question shortly after four o<'clock yesterday afternoon to a clerk at the Auckland registry'office. He was one of a party oi four—another, equally youthful sailor and two giggling, but entirely sell-possessed, young 'women. Forms were handed to each of tire prospective bridegrooms, and they' set about filling in the details required before a marriage license can be issued. With the girls at their elbows, they puzzled their way through the formidable list of questions. One of the girls was very vivacious and seemed to regard the whole affair as rather a good joke. She and her friend were Sydney girls, she said, and had come across to Auckland to marry their "boys,'' both of whom were on the flagship California. One of the girls was a dressmaker, the other a book-keeper. They were off to San Francisco' by the "brides' boat" at the end of the month, she added, and would follow the fleet until their husbands' time was up. They were both 21 years old, and the men the same age. DETAILS OF FAMILY HISTORY. Both the girls were eager to render the young men any assistance they could. One of, the latter chewed gum nonchalantly, while his younglady also chewed gum with enthusiasm. The very first question was a bit of a hurdle to her. "Full name of bridegroom!" he exclaimed. "Gee, I durmo. Whatjer name, honey?" "Honey" grinned, and wrote • it down. She took the paper from him and filled . in her own flame with a flourish, then essayed to fill in a few more details from the young man's dictation. But she did' not get any further than "birthplace of bridegroom." "Whatjer say? West Car—? What? Oh, I can't understand the way he talks ! Here, write it yourself!" The bridegroom crossed out "West Car—'' and inserted "Wisconsin," and went on to the next question. The other young couple were having an equally puzzling time. The bridegroom, who was smoking . a. cigarette, <! id ' not know the occupation of his father, who had died during his infancy. "Oh, stick in 'policeman !' That's as good as ( anything!" advised his young lady. A very attractive young lady she was, her most conspicuous feature being an enormous pair of black-rimmed goggles. Like her companion she spoke true Austral ianose, and appeared to be much intrigued over the little matrimonial adventure.

"TWENTY-FIVE 808 IN SYDNEY." At last the forms were filled in. A slight bitch occurred when brideu groom number one asked the fee fot the license ceremony. "Two pound five," replied the clerk. ,_ . The bluejacket looked somewhat dashed and felt in his pocket. ''Two pound five!" exclaimed his young, lady, vigorously. "Gee, that's stiff'. It musta gone up. It's only twentyfive bob in Sydney." The clerk painstakingly showed them how the exact sum was made up, and assured them they "couldn't have done it cheaper in a church." "Oh, well, he's got a sock full of sov'rins! That'll be all right," said the bride. "Now, will you marry us right away, please?" ■ '■ And then and there Cupid got his first set-back. It couldn't possibly be done, said the registrar. He was not permitted to perform marriages after half-past four, and it would be past that hour before the formalities were completed. A SAD ANTI-CLIMAX. It was a sad anti-climax. "But thev's only got two days' leave? Oh, voii could do it if you hurried up a bit I" wailed one of the girls. One of the bluejackets pulled a golden circlet out of his pocket and looked at it disconsolately. "Say, couldn't you manage it?" he pleaded. "We're all set—seems a pity not to go through with it right now." But the registrar was politely adamant. It was very nearly half-past four, and it would take a quarter of 'an hour to complete the entries and make out licenses and certificates. Nine o'clock in the morning was the best he could do. Would they come in then? Thev would, for sure, chorused the brides, and, with their "jack• ies'" arms around their shoulders, they pranced off, foiled, but not defeated. That was only one of the mam monial adveriturings of ' JacK ashore" that the registrar took part in yesterday.