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HAS A UNIQUE RECORD. The Champion Marrying Parson of the United States. REev. Dr. George C. Baldwin, of Troy, I. Y., Has United Six Thousand Persons in Wedlock, and Is Still at It. The champion marrying minister of the United States is the patriarchal Rev. Dr. George C. Baldwin, of Troy, N. Y. Dr. Baldwin is nearly 80 years old, but he is as young in mind at least as most men of 50. His eyes are piercingly keen, his smile bright and cheery, and his voice stentorian. Ills handshake IS strong and hearty. For more than a half century he has been marrying couples, and to-day the list has reached the enormous number of 3,000. Six thousand persons united in wed lock by one minister. Everybody in Troy and vicinity knows Dr. Baldwin. Young people who want to get married go to the venerable pas tor, knowing that they, will always re ceive a kind greeting andia hearty "God bless you" when departing. They like him because his cheerful ness is so spontaneous, so contagious and so quick to dispel any embarrass ment they may feel. Dr. Baldwinisen shrined in the hearts of thousands. He has wedded the children and the grandchildren of those who first came to him. He has seen many of "his chil dren," as he loves to call them, become old and pass away. He has seen their children grow up to manhood and womanhood, and he has seen many of them cross the great divide. "I performed my first marriage more than half a century ago," said the ven erable pastor to a New York Journal re porter, "and since then thousands of young people have come to me. For years I have ministered to the spiritual wants of a great body of people who be long to no church. While I was pastor of the Third Street Baptist church, and REV. GEORGE C. BALDWIN. (The Champion Miarrying Parson of the United States.) even before that, they came to me. I have married many of them and I have officiated as the funerals of many of them. I have seen many of them grow old; I have married many of their chili dren. I marry several couples a week now when times are good, but when times are bad there arefewermarriages. Commercial eonditions sway the matri monial straws with great accuracy. "I asuppose that one reason why I marry so many people is because I and so well known. I marry a couple; they know another young couple who also .. wish to wed. They tell them of Dr. Baldwin, and so, of course, they come to me. I predict that the wave of pros perity which is now slowly spreading all over the United States will cause many marriages" i "Doyou have many queer experi oe, dbotor?" p . gas so miap that I can't baggga to recount them. But I recall one in, particular. Not very lon'g ago a man from Albany came to me and said he wished to be married, and' I obliged him by wedding him to the woman of his choice. He was an elderly man. Before he left he called me aside and said: 'Doctor, I want to tell you something. You are the man who married me 50 years ago. I don't suppose you recol lect the event?' Of course I didn't re member him, but I was very glad to meet him again. It is not the privilege of every minister to marry the same man twice, especially when those wed= d'lngs are half a century apart." "As to the financial aspect of theques tion, doctor?" "WXell," replied the venerable marry. ing dominic, "I believe that the mar riage state is less expensive than cel ibacy. Of course care and prudence must be exercised. It should be so in everything. Marriage is not a mere question of expense. It is a great vent ture, and when two people are happily and properly mated their lot is indeed an enviable one. Matrimony broadens, their mentality, fits them for better things, and makes life brighter. I am speaking, of course, of perfect, or near ly perfect marriages. Oh, yes, they are to be found. There are thousands of happy marriages. They are the happi est features of our civilization. If more people took the right view of matri mony there would be fewer jails. and' penitentiaries. I believe it is the duty of people to marry; let them obey the Biblical injunction." Men Who Get Drunk on Clay. The habit of clay-eating exists among the Indians in Paraguay and is looked( upon by the natives in much the same light as inebriation by liquor in this country. The clay eaten is of a dirty white color and has a peculiar appear ance and does not cruantble, but becomes sticky when'moistened. It is held in the mouth until it dissolves and is swal lowed in small quantities. Married People Live Longest. Married people live longer than the un married, the temperate and indus trious longer than the gluttonous and le, and civilized nations longer than the uncivilized. Tall persons enjoy a areater lonszevity than short ones. - - THE - American People ARE Wide-Awake and Discriminating. They are great readers of newspapers and will have . . . . . . . Only the Best. Hence the large andt increasing circula tion of . THE TIMES-DEMOCRAT If you are not now a subscriber, order the paper at once. Great events are happening daily, and you owe it to yourself to Keep Posted. Dai:." an 1 S :aynv.........$12 ou a year :;cani-weekl,. , issulc . Tues da ".; an l F:.day... .... I.oo a year Sunday only .......... ... 2.00 a year Samples copics furnihed free. Tl-I TIMES- DEMOCRAT, NEW ' )RLEANS, LA. 'N'loga1 istan-a 1i3cit C. 1 t1,. High Grade Repairing alsHigh o. epirin.". 203 Milam Street. All ka s of cones, axles, caps, etc., mixd to order. Rubber vulcanizing. R-e ni ng, all colors. \Ve are the auth rized Repiir depot for Morgan & Wrigi re. T im., express, andmon.!y saved by sen:ling them to us. The m complete Sun Iries and Cycle Nov.lties in th. city. Country orders will ha . : al attention. Write for catalogue. Emile Kaliski, mgr. MERCHANTS 8 FARMERS BANK 126 TEXAS STREET. --*PAID UP CAPITAL $150,000,*-- L. M. CARTER, President, E. B. RAND, Cashier ALL BUSINWESS TRANSACTI'ED WITH PROM ETN ESS AND DISPATCH. -'-+A SAVINGS DEPARTMENT.+.- In Which Interest is Paid on Depeilt is Connected With the anl. Decd. Don't give your work Lowes Prices Prompt Service. to small boys, , , . Superior Workmanship When in need of a Plumber, secure the services of Byland, Cotter & Co. The Licensed Plumbers. We stood the city examination, which guarantees our work. No. 213 MILAM STREET. J.D.PACE Successor to B. H, Gardner, MANUFACTURER AND DEALER IN Heart Cypress and Pine Cistern Old Cisterns remodelled on short notice and at prices to suit the timnes See hi~u for all kinds of House Finish and save money. The boss plaee for Sc -- --- - -rs, etc. Phone Connections. J. D. PACED, 710 and 712 Marshe ,revepoit,L