Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-08-01
BEATING THE PARSON.
HOW IRREvERENT eRlDEoRooMs GET
OUT OF FEELING THE MINISTER.
Tho Envelope Trick Playing the Mar.
riagc-Certffcate Dodye-The Coin
in Hand-BOgus Checks-An
Exchange Of Rings
New York World

lNew York World
Here in Brooklyn" said the minister.
Sand in all large cities the marriage fees
form no mean part Of minister's income.
We receive all the way from S to 800 per
marriage generally, although in many in
stances We are beaten clean out Of the fee
In the first place. there's the envelope dodge
One night . happy, loving couple awoks 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-tal pocket, and when the brides
head was turned he surreptitiously handed
mo . well-fllsd envelope / bowed them
out, thinking had been well paid for my
trouble / hurried to my room and told my
wife she could have the now bonnet she had
been plaguing me about I tore open the
! envelope, and what do you suppose was
In It'll"
Hundred dollars or sof'
Ten sheets Of reporters copy paper
think that fellow was o member Of the
press"
Then there's the marriage-certifcate
dodge. It's q good one. I've had it played
on me and know Of number Of others who
have suffered. Hero is my case: An ap-
parently wen-to-do couple came to my house
and l married them After the consumma-
ton Of the ceremony the groom said he
wanted a handsome certificate with a costly
frame.
Let it be nice; anything below SIS will
suit Call it twenty fve,' said he. strokinR
his mustache pompously. when can I
have itf
Il told him il he'd call In in the latter part
OF tbs week I'd have a nice ono for him.
The certificate and frame cost me ST. They
were gorgeous That's the frame up there
around my grandmother, =" said the minister.
signing. The Gel tificate can 10 purchased
at cost price.
Another case Is fresh in my memory, as
1t Is Of recent date. After had married a
couple the groom jingled the contents of his
pockets and then withdrew his closed hand
As bowed him from the front door lie got
bet mo and the bride, and shaking my
hand warmly. placed a large coin in it as he
bade me = hearty goodbye. l have that
coin yet Here it is" And the dominic
produced a leaden sinker that he had been
beautifully rounded and sand-papsred to |
make it resemble $50 gold piece
Cheeks drawn on broken banks or banks |
that never had any exi tence, or banks |
whore they never heard OF the drawer, can.
ters Of our cities could furnish fine collec.
ton Of these il they were called upon to do So
Tho effrontery Of these depraved beings
always takes the form of bashfulnsss They
make believe that they are too bashfsl to
offer the money in the presence of the bride.
Whenever hear a bashful man juggling in
MS pockets, am not certain that his pocket
1oes not contain nails or keys until he pro.
iucos a coin. and am not certain Of the
Ienuinsness OF the coin until have tested
{ with my teeth. An honest, Goi-fsaring
nan comes out boldly, and in presenting
lis offering makes little joke about his
'rlde being worth it, or something OF that
lind. That makes US all happy, and there
s no need Of fracturing ones teeth.
However, l was fooled once by a man
Who did this very same thing. He had
'eglscted to provide a ring and loaned him
ne I always have on hand. After the cere.
nguy he returned it. asking me what my
.harge was. told him We made no charge,
nut il he felt inclined to remunerate
ne he could do SO. He loosely remarked
hat he guessed his bride was worth SIS,
md il she proved good he'd send me s. on
worry anniversary of tho wedding He
allied for pen and ink and filed out check
lie insisted upon my praying for their well
are before they left, and did Sd. They had
lever heard Of him at the bank where the
heck was drawn"
"And you was a prayer QUIT"
Zone minute! really felt like amending
hat petition. for it was a fervent SIS one
trust the hayward youth was benefited
y it He needed all the prayers he could
btain by false pretenses- The ring he
andei back to me was not mine When
fnlS -. =.
hanged 1t for a scent brass one l have
sed 1t ever since when occasion reot,irei