The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-05-06
FATED FRIDAY.

Prejudice and Marriage CEREMONY
An Ungsscky Dag to Embark on the
Matrimonial Voyage - What the
Statistics SbOeO- No Race, Age or
Greed Exempt from AUersioqs to Fri
dGy-SUpegStitSOtIs Sailors - What
Czergynsea Sag about 1T.
From the Philadelphia Press.
A visit to the Offices of the Registry
of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and
an inspection of the voluminous rec
ords there so carefully kept, presents
many features of interest and some
facts unknown to the people at large.
One Of the most interesting volumes
which the office contains is the mar
riage register, and two hours exam
ination of this was made by a Press
reporter. The primary object of the
investigation was to ascertain how far
the superstitious prejudice against
starting OH a journey, beginning an
important task, as getting married.
the last by the way, embraces the two
first mentioned on Friday, prevails
among certain class largely repre-
sented in every community. That
lingering trace of this old time preju-
dice remains was to have been expect.
ed even in this practical age; but that
the superstitiOus diversions to getting
married on Friday pervades not only
the ignorant but also the educated
classes, that it influences alike Ameri-
can and foreign born citizens; that
Jew and Gentle are both apparently
believers in the evil result of any Fri
day inaugurated scheme. and that
Protestant and Catholic, Presbyterian
and Baptist, Quaker and Methodist, all
alike, avoid Friday as the day on which
to begin married life, was hardly to be
expected. It is, nevertheless. true.
SOME OF THE STATISTICS.
One month will serve as a fair cri-
terion for the records of the year, and
the register for January shows 54S
marriages. OF the entire number on
ly % were celebrated on Fridays.
Tuesday seems to be the most popu-
lar day Of the week, the month show
ing that ISL marriages occurred on
that day. Thursday follows next in
order, with los. and Saturday is on the
roll, with 80. Monday and Wednesday
are nearly alike, the former scoring "A
and the latter 50, while Sunday appears
to have been chosen as the day by 80.
Now, as showing how far this preju-
dice influences both native and adopt
ed citizens, and also affects the various
religious sects, nationalities and ages,
some further figures will be found not
uninterestiug. The total number of
marriages WAS 6,147 during the year,
and Of these 3,64S were celebrated
where both parties were natives of the
United States; 1861 marriages where
both parties were OF foreign birth
were recorded, and 154 marriages
where the nativity of both parties was
unknown; 1892 men, natives of the
United States, married, and 1917 wo-
men ,also natives of this country, became
wives. Age apparently had no inAu
ence in the Friday business. There
were ISL men and 1929 women of from
20 to 25 years married. Under 90,
i,11S women and 81 men are recorded
as having had the nuptial knot tied,
while one woman, whose age is regis
tered as from 70 to so, and one man
who hovers between so and 90 had ev-
identity, on due reflection, abjured lives
of single blessedness.
THE RELIGIOUS OBSERyANCES.
Some curious reflections are awaken
ed by the religious statistics. OF the
total number of marriages celebrated
GLAD. the Catholic ceremony was per-
formed in the largest number, 1885, or
nearly One-fourth of the whole num-
Der. The Methodists follow closely
with 1926. and then there is a consid-
cradle gap. The Presbyterians score
1874, and the Episcopalians $50. The
Lutheran church records 400 to it's
credit, while the Alderman" church.
or purely civil marriages, foot up $50.
The German reformed ceremony was
used in 54S cases, and the Hebrew in
l85. The Mayor officiated 81 times and
the Evangelical Association was the
means OF bringing twice % hearts to
beat as one. The Dutch Reformed.
the Congregational and the Moravian
churches record respectively Is. Is and
10. The Universalists and Friends
have 8 each; s were cemented by the
Church Of the New Jerusalem; Z by
the Unitarian. The Second Advent
and the Church of Christ both have 6
to their credit, and there were 4 Chris
tian and 3 Mormon marriages. Two
were married by what is termed the
French Church, while the Judge of
Common Pleas, the Swedenborgians
and the Bible Christians are credited
with one each. April was the favor
ite marrying month, and records the
largest number during the year, 625,
while March, with 375, is the lowest.
The average number of marriages per
month was 512, per week lis, and per
day Is. From the above figures it will
be seen that the prejudice against mar
riage on Friday is widely spread, and
the popular opinion of the unlucky
day" is not much different now from
what If WAC cnnturioc aro