The evening times., 1896-03-19
SPORT FOR HOTEL CLERKS
Many Embarrassing Franks Are
Played on Bridal Couples.
FRIENDS ARE UNKIND WAes
Letters With Ribbons Arrive at the
Hostelry as Advance N0tices-Tele-
grams Are Also Used by the Prac-
tical JOkers-The Young People
Meet With No Mercy.

When two young people make up their
minds to enter the matrimonial state
which, of course, means church we'd
ding, o.d shoes, rice and a bridal tour-tbey
do, as u rule, look forward with resigua-
tion to great many embarrassing Incl
dents that will befall them, especially on
the tour.
They expect to be leered at by railroad
conductors and train boys and jeered at
by cabbes and street urchins; to pay enor-
nous board bills and to be robbed right and
left; but in putting up their petition for
aid and guidance they omit to pray that they
may be protected from their friends, who
almost invariably subject them to the most
embarrassing experiences.
Especially at hotels is this determination
to make life burden to the ne WHY welded
manifested by their friends. The bliss
full couple usually find, when they reach a
hotel, that the clerk knows al about them.
They have mapped opt their route long be-
fore the event, and in unguarded moments
told at what hotels they intended to stop.
Their friends promptly proceed 10 fix
things SO that the people in the hotel are
put dead onto' them Letters and tele-
grams, with the widest and most ridiculous
inscriptions on The envelopes, will be sent
OH ahead to be held for them, and, accord
ing to hotel ethics, these must be shown to
everybody in the house. SO that the couple
will not feel when they arrive that they
are among strangers. Every conceiva-
ble device for placing the blissful pair at the
mercy Of guyers is adopted.
HERALDING THEIR ARRIVAL.
One OF these letters was received at
Wizards yesterday and shown TO Times
reporter. 1t heraIded the arrival of Mr..
md Mrs. Ike Newman OF Philadelphia,
and contained deal OF Information inter-
asting to the clerk and reporter. The letter
was inclosed In a big, business-like enyel-
ope and from the seal flap a strip Of
white ribbon was suspended.
On both the back and front of the en-
yelope were various inscriptions, such as
Bridal couple. watch for them, '.'Tootsy-
wootsy," Kids, watch 'em," Don't hold
hands, "Other people have been in love-
Travelling at children's rates." Total
weight OF the two, 176 pounds and SINH
.ar remarks OF like character.
The postman smiled as he handed the
envelope over the counter, and the clerk
smiled as he saw that 1t went the rounds
Of the hotel before it reached its box to
await the arrival OF the Mr.. and Mrs.
Newman. Their embarrassment, when the
.etter is handed to them, may be easily
una gined.
A short time ago a telegram, somewhat
similar in character, was also received at
Wizards and sent on Its way. as the couple
20 whom IL was addressed were not there.
1t contained on the envelope. besides the
address. the inscription, Him and her,
bride and groom" The bride is beautiful
bue-eyed blonde; the groom is a perfect
brunette, with curly hair and coal black
eyes 81, a-,,-- ~.
great many bridal couples commit the
grave error OF allowing their friends to
look after their baggage. and this frequent
ly comes home to them when they are fully
under way. They arelikely to be confronted
is pasted slippers. old shoes, bags of rice,
flowing ribbons and inscriptions Indicative
of turtle-dove existence.
No MERCY FROM CLERKS.
When trunks, thus carefully labeled are
received at hotels the clerk makes 1t
point Of honor to send them up to the rooms
Just as they are. In order that the travellers
may realize how much amusement they
have furnished for the people along the
road.
A great many other devices are adopted
to confuse the unfortunate bride and
groom. A short time ago one of the
clerks at an uptown hotel received n bag
OF rice through the mail, addressed to a
couple soon to arrive, and on the bag was
written the request:
please hit them with this
Instead OF complying, however, he SIM
ply handed the bag to the groom when he
showed up, and from the rosy blushes that
fitted across the faces OF both he decided
that 1t was a more effective and less
dangerous way OF making them as uncom-
Portable as bridal couples, according to gen.
eral CUSTOM ought to be made