Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-09
Eccentric Bridegr00ms.
London Society.

one of the bridesmaids expressed wish
to see that mystic document, a we'd
ding license, which she had never be-
held IN her lifetime The request
occasioned a fearful discovery. The
clergyman had quite forgotten to ask
for license; the bridegroom had left
it to his 'best man. to procure it, and
this the best man had forgotten to do
OF course the marriage was no legal
marriage at all. The wedding party
broke up in dismay, and the ceremony
was performed again next day. The
poor clergyman, however. never got
over the effect of his blunder.
''Oa another occasion clergyman
got himself into considerable trouble.
He was of the type known as RituaI~
istlc, and persuaded worthy couple
who had been married ar non-con-
formist chapel that they had not been
eccl cleslastically married at all and that
it was necessary that they should be
married over again at the parish
church. This was very much resent
ed by the non~c0nformist interest,
and the clergyman was put upon his
trial at the Oxford Assizes. The
Judge took a very lenient view, and
said that, as the parties had been
legally married, any futher services
was illusory and mere child's play
and that ''he might just as well have
read Chevy Chase over them"
Ia one of his novels Charles Reade
makes his hero, a clergyman, Won
der whether he might not legally
marry himself to the heroine, es-
pecially as they were both cast upon
desolate island. 1t may be as well
that novelists and novel readers
should be aware that for clergyman
to oficiate at his own marriage is
utterly illegal.
One day an elderly gentleman met
young one. 81 have had a hard
/ days work" said the young Levite.
Il began at o'clock this morning by
, marrying a young couple" ALLOW
me to inform you," said his senior,
: that a marriage at that time of day,
according to English law, is no mar
| riage st all Moreover to the best of
my belief. you have made yourself
| liable to seven years penal servitude.
Betwe2n eight and twelve is the pres
7 cribed time. You had better 60 back
as soon as you can and marry them
over again"
, 7 have known brides, when the
grooms have failed to make the prop
er responses, prompt them immediate.
5 y ana with the greatest facility. As
for the men, they commit all kinds of
blUnders and bungiings.. I have
known a man, at that very nervous
and trying moment follow the cler>
gyman within the communion rail
and prepare to take a place opposite
him. Ihave known man, when the
minister stretched out his hand to
unite those OF the couple, take 1t Wig
orously in his own and give it a hearty
sh AXE. Sometimes more serious diff
culties occur. Some ladies have had
: an almost unconquerable reluctance
to use the word ''obey;" one or two,
if their own statements are to be ac>
copied, have ingenlously construed
the word ''nobey," The word, how
. ever, has still to be formally admitted
into the language. There was one
girl, who was being married by very
kind old clergyman, who absolutely
refused to utter the 'Hobey." The
minister suggested that, if she was
unwilling to utter the word aloud she
should whisper it to him; but The
young lady refused even this kind of
! compromise. Further, however, than
: this the clergyman refused to accom-
modate her; but when he was forced
, to dismiss them all without proceeding
: any further, the recalcltrant young
person consented to ''obey"
, The difficulty, however, is not al
ways made on the side of the lady.
On one occasion the bridegroom wish
ed 10 deliver a little Grafton qualify
ing his vow, and describing IN what
sense and 10 what extent he was using
the words Of the formula. He was, of
nothing OF this kiud could be per
mltted. There was one man who ac-
companied the formula with soto
voice remarks, which must have been
exceedingly disagreeable to the
officiating minister. He interpolated
remarks after the fashion of Bur-
chells ''Fudgep With this ring thee
wed; that's superstition. "With my
body thee worship; that's idolatry."
with all my worldly goods [ thee
endoW; that's lie." It is q wonder
that such being was not conducted
OUT OF the cnurch OV the Deaoly.
| This puts one IN mind of an anecdote
that is told of a man who In his time
was Cabinet Minister. There was a
great discussion On the question
whether man can marry on $500
year. "AlI can say" said the great
man, ''is that when said: With
| all my worldly goods thee endow,'
so far from having $500, question
whether, when all my debts were
| paid, l had 800 pence eyes, my
love, said his wife, but then you
mad your splendid intellect" Il
didn't endow you with that, ma'am, "
sharply retorted the right honorable
husband.
When the bridegroom has returned
thanks, after the parsons speech, in
these days of feminine oratory, there
is sometimes tendency on the part
Of the bride 40 r,,olvo q 1i4fIo Sroooob Of