12500 WEDDING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 309, 4 January 1908, Page 3

12500 WEDDING.

USE CLERK'S KEUUD. It u claimed for Mr. K. J. who in November completed forty-lour leant' service aa parish clerk ofGreat lannouth, that during thai period he hu in his official capacity attended over 12jW weddings—a very large number, erem in forty-four years. A correspond ent alto states that he has "given away ■tore than 13W brides—i.e., that more 11... 10 per cent, of the brides are given away by the clerk, ilr. Lupson has ■erred under nix v»ear=, only two ot whom are to day alive. In these unique circonutances he has urn-tully noted juaiy atrange or amuaing words deedl A number of then, he embodied in a Tolume published some time back, entitled "Cupid's Pupils," but he says be has a record of many more. He tells m» good gtoriei of the blunders 01 couples when giving particulars tor the publication of the banns. •nc ) o • man when asked the nam.- ot his sweetheart's father replied: "lies dead at, present." A widow about to make a tliinl matrimonial venture brougb a note in which ehe described hermit as -Miss Mary Ann H., widow, aged »1M)one." One woman did not remember the name of her intended husband, and had to go and bring it written on paper Another young lady could not tell her future husband's father's name because "he had so many fathers, and in explanation added: "He verj when his lather died, and hi- mother married again and again." Mr. Lupson kas seen the fees paid in .-"pper- an< J threepenny bits. He al-o r.-memter* two widowers being marn.il on the -ame day, each twenty-one years old. I-"'" bride was aged eighteen. ll'' i voung woman who endeav.njr.-d « cure a withdrawal of the bann- * to obtain the return of the halt crov n fee. Undine she eould not regain tin money, she allowed matter- to A couple on arrival at the church fM bad to turn back, M an investigation into their financial resource, revealed that the groom had but a few I" ■ while the pocket of the bride naj ' "'J.* "' Another bride walked to church ''- "V in<r a box in which was her welding hat and with the aid of her bridesmaid

completed her toilet in th p P° rf ' '• - bridegroom was discovered in •' I about to light Ms pipe to the time, while one ma" ":" n smoking while waiting till •' ri " m nerviee was concluded. Odd pairs Mr Lupson lia- seen included a young woman »f ' t to a negro; a poor, weak -'rip ins ■ man to a bride of 6ft ' l '"- : a . man's 000 to a country l«l»mrer■ - 1 ■ - ter; and a rector of a ' '

daughter of a farm labourer. the bnrte ] Wing forty-two year? hi- junior. . lisli girU he has »• wedded . of the following nationalities - " rvv, ran. Swedish. French, Thiteh. ''* - 1 ' 1 " ,'' North German. Some hridegr'-oi''-found themselves almo-t in a ' ' n irmdition. other" have lnT»nie " ''l" 1 lww, a* if attending a burial rather hin n marriage. Others have actually been dying. The united ages <■' 'he voiuigc-' • collide totalled thirtvt li"' year-. ■' n ' of llie most ancient 1 A vouMi o twenty-six was married to hi- thir' wife, and a young wo-uan " f t'ventv three io her third hn-t-nnd. > •• idn« of fifty-air married for the sixth time found a hride of News."