The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-12
COMEDY AND TRAGEDY OFTEN SEEN
IN THE PAYMENT OF WEDDING FEES
By WILLIS STEEL.

~ NE moment, one moment" sad
the clergyman laying his hand
gently but firmly on the arm
Of the bridegroom and proceeding to
open the envelope that agitated indi-
vidual had passed him, 81 like to
have the evidence of my own eyes.
All! all right, beg you to ex-
cuse my over caution 49,. but UNI
UNI :" He had caught
the CLEAN of a yellow back and in
serting It carefully in his pocketbook
he shook the new husband cordially
by the hand and explained:
when I was young IN the :.
the church 1 frequently had severe
disappointments. The gentlemen whom
I had just united in the bonds uni
versally held to be holy sometimes
handed me, in an envelope securely
sealed, dollar bill. which 1 accepted
under the misapprehension that it was
the usual marriage fee. This was, of
course, destructive Of my confidence
In the newly married man. l now
take the precaution to examine the
bill before the bridegroom vanishes
and if he has thumbed UNI,
an, so to speak. a one spot on me
return the same to him and make my
terms gratuitous. But any attempt
TO deceive annoys me and leaves me
fretful"
The fee that goes to a clergyman
for performing the marriage ceremony
is not legal one, but comes under
the head of unwritten law; it varies,
as will be ina gined, according to the
social standing of the bridegroom.
tbs the one certain expense which
he must meet, however. whether his
name figures in a register of the
society world or so far beneath it
that he belongs, II may be said. to
the nameless. In the first case II has
happened that every expense that a
society bridegroom may be put to is
assumed by the father of the bride.
and this generosity, free or forced on
his part. has been known to extend to
the wedding garment, otherwise called
the afternoon suit. But the rich and
free handed father-in-law never
thinks it is his privilege to pay the
clergyman's fee. And that is a real
expense in fashionable weddings.
800 Not Unusual.
A hundred dollars is not an unu-
sual honorarium for such events
where more than one clergyman Off
ciates and it is de rigeuer to settle the
bill before leaving the sacred edifice to
the gossip of guests who are to follow
to the reception afterward. The act of
presenting it in an elegant envelope
or in a jewellers box which contains
an additional gift is always left to the
groom's best man. The happy man
would not be expected to remember
this sordid detail at the ceremony it
self, but he is expected to provide for
Il long beforehand. Sometimes he
neglects to do so, and explains his
predicament in d hurried whisper Just
before he goes out on the altar to
meet his bride, who is already enter
ing the churciS What will I do, old
man? I forgot all about providing
the fee for DIR. -" And the "oid
man." that is. the bridegroom best
man, can do no less than whisper
back: Don't worry, old fellow. I'll
fix it,
There are several best men who are
still looking for the 500 they adj
vanced under similar exciting circum-
stances, for strange as it may sound
the last bill that a man wants to pay
Is one connected with his wedding.
But with this class the clergyman
need have no fear, If the bridegroom
proves slow pay there are several
ways to quicken him. 1t is with the
floating" population Of males that
have suddenly made up their minds
no longer to float alone that the mar
rying parsons deal suspiciously. To
them the price Of patrimo1ly is seldom
less than So, but until the clergyman
has tried to cash the check or change
the bill he is never really sure that he
has been paid.
A clergyman whose church or cha
pei is situated in the heart of the old
-