The morning call., 1893-08-06
MILLIONS IN MARRIAGE.
Cupid's Franks Considered From /,
Novel Financial Standpoint.

lNOVCl f'ludASl0t 0l0uOPOlllVs
London Tid-Bits.
Last year there were. according to the re-
| turns Of The registrar. general. 226.922 mar.
riages in England and Wales. The returns
from Scotland and Ireland bring 1t up to a
total Of more than 275.OOO for the United
Kingdom.
Just consider the amount Of money that must
be spent In connection with 275, 900 marriages,
and the conclusions that follow have suggested
a new train of thought TO contributor. 1t
means, in the first place, as many courtships.
What is the usual length Of a cOurtship? That
depends-like many other Things. But, seeking
happy medium, we may fairly take eighteen
months as an average.
Say half of our sweethe arting couples are so
situated that letter-writing becomes a neces.
sity. Say they correspond with each other
only once a fortnight, a calculation which must
be lar below the mark; put them on the mod
crate allowance OF no more than two sheets OF
note paper, and we shalt see the dainty cOllec-
ton OF sweet nothing. amounting in the mass
to postal revenue Of 500, 900, aud a yearly
But these are very small items to think about
The jeweler will como IN for heavier share Of
the profits. There will be 275,00O wedding
rings at guinea apiece, and engagement rings
which we shall be well within the line In as
Sessing at the same price. Then there are the
presents which the lover will naturally bestOw
! upon the lady Of his choice. ranging from the
$4,000 bracelet OF The duke 10 the shiil-
| ing brooch OF the coster. II we put them down
with the rings at guinea in each case and
| credit them to the jeweler again We shall have
an account of nearly S1,00O.00O.
Then come railway companies. They must
| surely reap golden harvest out of counting.
| With the inevitable trips and the travelling of
| separated sweethearts TO see one another We
may safely strike an average Of Sic for each
cOurtShip. which will give us a round sum OF
tbree-quarters OF million.
But all these are only preliminares. The
| greatest expenditure will come with the wed.
| ding day. There Is the rousseau (more or less
costly, according 10 clrcumstances) for the
bride, and at least new suit for the BRIDE
| groom 1t can be done cheapy enough. good
ness knows, when bridal dresses are TO be
| bought secondhand and top hats are obtain
| able '0n the hire systeM." But most folk like
! to do a wedding TO the best OF their ability.
| ana In the upper and middle classes, at any
| one. Taking only the moderate sum OF $50 10
each case will give US total of nearly three
| millions.
Then there were wedding cakes and mar
| riaee breakfasts. Reckon these expenses OF
| social entertainment at only $40 head, and
| we get another half million; 275 900 wedding
fees, licenses and clereyman's charges will
| crowns 10 pew-opener Will tot up TO 81 900
more, while the livery stableman's bill, allow
| ing only one carriage 10 every wedding. will
make $500 900 more.
| Finishing up the honeymoon we shall find
| another tOIerable sum to be added to the costs
OF matvimony. Here there will surely be
| diversity enough; every stage between he
| through Europe for year and the aaily
| laborer whose idea of bliss Is limited to day
| off. II we accept $50 as a reasonable average
| OF so many homogeneous we have . final sum