The Press., 1885-07-16
BEATING THE PARSOy.

Here ID bfOOKlyn, SalQ the munster, ssand in all large cities the marriage fees form no mean part of a minister's income. We receive all the way from $B5 to $1OO per marriage generally, although in many in- stances we are beaten clean ont of the fee. In the first place, there's the en- velope dodge. One night 8 happy, loving couple awoke me in the middle of the night and wanted me to marry them. | arose, dressed myself and performed the ceremony. As the parties turned to leave the groom hunted through his coat-tall pocket, and when the brides head was turned. he surreptitiously handed me a well-flled envelope. | bowed them ont, thinking had been well pad for my trou ble. I hurried to my room and told my wife she could have the new bonnet she had been plaguing me about. tore open the envelope, and what do yon suppose was in it?'
 "Hnndred dollars or SO ?''
 ''Ten sheets of reporters copy paper. think that fellow was | member of tht press
 ssThen there's the marriage certificate dodge. Its good one. I've had it play ed on me, and know of number of oth CTS who have suffered. Here is my case An apparently well-to-do couple came te my house and married them. After tho l consummation of the ceremong the groom said he wanted a handsome certificate witt costly frame.
 Let it be nice; anything below $2t will suit. Call it twenty-five, said he stroking his mustache pompously. sWher can I have it?'
 s'I told him if he'd call in in the latter part of the week I'd have a nice one fol him. The certificate and frame cost me $17. They were gorgeous. That's the frame up there around my grandmother, '' ! said the minister, signing. ''The certif. cate can be purchased at cost price. tAnother case is fresh in my memory as it is of recent date. After had mar red couple the groom jingled the con tents of his pockets and then withdrew his closed hand. As bowed him from the front door he got between me and the bride, and shaking my hand warmly placed large coin in it as he bade me { hearty goodbye. I have that coin yet Here it is. And the dominic produced { leaden sinker that had been beautifully rounded and nd-papered to make it re semble $20 gold piece.
 'Checks drawn on broken banks ol banks that never had any existence, ol banks where they never heard of the draw CT, cannot be chased under that head The ministers of our cities could furnish !, fine collection of these if they were called upon to do so. The efrontery of thes. depraved beings always takes the form O bashfulness. They make believe that they are too bashful to offer the money in thu a bashful man jingling in his pockets, | o oo,.3osn %1rot Sooo1/okc <lr,x,s, ,,o contain nails or keys until he produces , coin, and am not certain of the genuine ness of the coin until I have tested it witt my teeth: An honest, God-fearing mar comes out boldly, and in presenting hi offering makes little joke about his bride | being worth it, or something of that kind That makes us all happy, and there is nc need of fracturing onc's teeth.
 However, was fooled once by mar who did this very same thing. He haG neglected to provide ring, and loaned him one I always have on hand. Aftel the ceremony he returned it, asking me what my charge was. I told him we made no charge, but if he felt inclined to re mnnerate me he could do 90. He jocosely remarked that he guessed his bride wal worth 1925, and if she proved good he'd send me $s25 on every anniversary of the wedding. He called for pen and ink and filled out check. He insisted upon my praying for their welfare before they left and did so. They had never heard oi him at the bank where the check was drawn"
 "And you was prayer out ?'
 "One minute! really felt like amend ing that petition, for it was fervent $2s one. I trust the wayward youth was ben eitted by it. He needed all the prayers he could obtain by false pretenses. The ring he handed back to me was not mine. When he felt into his pocket for the check he exchanged it for a fve-cent brass one have used it ever since when occasion re- quired."