Ik-fore hastening Imck to a room full of
waiting brides and bridegrooms the First
Deputy gave some interesting figures from
his department. It takes about two min
utes to perform the service in the little
chapel on the floor above (he Marriage Li
cense Hureuu. Al*>ut one-third of the mar
riages for which applications for certificates
are made are performed In the city's chapel.
Fridays and the thirteenth of the month
are comparatively dull days for this cere
mony. A big day brings seventy couples to
the altar and the average day about fifty.
Sometimes, when there is a sis-dally large
erowil of anxious bridegnsims mid brides
waiting in the anteroom and the morning
has lieen a strain on Mr. Cruise's voice, he
sends an 8 O H to the Itrooklyn I?eputy
or the Richmond Itorough Deputy and gives
his vfs-al cords a little rest while one of
these marrying neighbors conducts the sol
emn rites.
Each Day Has Its Own
Classification of Couples
On Mondays from 2S to 30 per cent, of
the applicants for licenses are from out of
town, many of them coming from Pennsyl
vania, Mr. Cruise said. He calls II his trav
ellers' day. Tuesday the New York men and
women predominate. ftnd Wednesday Is the
favorite day for young i-ouples. Thursday is
Italy's day at the t?-idsl sltar, and Friday,
which la consiilered unlucky by white brides,
is. strangely enough, not looked upon with
superstition by the ucgro?**. who come to
have the knot tied by the city nflklal. Sat
urday, which is a half day In this chapel. Is
unusually busy. Mr Cruise calls it a cos
mopolitan day, as It s? < ms to have no spe
cial characteristic as to nationality.
