COMMON SENSE IN WEDDING PRESENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2155, 1 May 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

COMMON SENSE IN WEDDING PRESENTS.

A. lady writer in the "Loader" says: — "Weddings are always of interest to the fair-«ex, and the wedding present* »r« by no means regarded as nn insignificant item. It is on few occasions, however, that we hear of such a present as that given by Mr Maokay, the Ainerio.m millionaire, to his daughter, on the occasion of her marriage with Prince Colonna. When the bride and bridegroom were, loaving Paris for their honeymoon Mr Mackay slipped into the hand of the former a cheque for £250,000. There in no instance on record of no Urge a gift being received by a bride, and Mr Mackays wealth may be estimated by it. It seems the fashion to give pre.-ents of money on the occasion of a weridiug, but, of course, such a custom can oulj- prevail among wealthy people, for a small turn of money could not well I c offered in mmy canes where an article of moderate value might be presented." We (Press) do not agree with the last of these remarks. It would be quite easy for a number of friends to join in making up a little purse to be presented, and even a very small purse would be of far more service than a number of extravagantly priced nick-nacks. We hope that the best people in Chrtstchurch will call to mind that the custom of giving wedding presents had its 'origin in a real necessity —that of giving to a young couple the stock and furniture, without which ((hey could hardly have begun their homekeeping, and will .accordingly and benevolently adopt this moat admirable custom, and make it the fashion amongst us. Here are some remarks from the "Leader's" London correspondent on the some subject : — " Talking of Miss Ghdstone's wedding, perhaps I may be allowed to interpolate a remark on the growing popularity of the custom of giving presents in ,"oush.' instead of in ! ' kind,' on- such occasions. No one for the future Hhould f-uffer from the unfortunate multiplicity of inkstands or accretion of biscuit ' boxes, of which *so many unhappy devotees of Hymen 'hive been the victims in times past. For the future, too, the would.be giver will be saved a world of torture in the choice df articlo ; coin, now that false pride' has been throw aside, beingn admittedly more acceptable to the objects of bounty, and certainly infinitely less trouUlesoipe to the bestower. If this beneficial change in social ethics should become the established custom, it will obviate in humbler circles the two common spectacle of young couples starting in life with heaps of usle3s and expensive baubles, but without the wherewithal to keep the pot boiling. The names of Lord Ro«obcry, Sir Charles Tennant, Sir Andrew Clarke (not your Sir Andrew, but the eminent physician), and Mr H. N. Gladstone figured in the list of presents as donors of cheques for £100 each ; whilst amongst the contributors of • modest fifties,' were Mr I. Holden, M.P., Lady Fredrick Cavendish, and the immortal ' Herbert ' whose gossoping, or possibly guided, tongue revealed the secret of his father's Home Rule projects. That political animosities ;ue not inconsistent with private friendly feeling was evidenced by the gift to Mi3< (J lads tone of a half a dozen silver • apostl : ' spoons from Lady Salisbury, whose husband the bride's father not long ago stigmatised as the apostle of ' red ruin, fire and sword,' and I dou'fc know how many other dreadful enormities in the European areua."