European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 18, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Poge 16 the stars and stripes monday March 18. Dad does t always pay the Price by Walter Hennessey is new York Bureau never at a loss for a statistic the . Com Merce department has figured out that the father of the typical american Bride can expect to spend about r666 in launching a daughter upon the joyous Seand expect it he does since by tradition the gent who has the Honor of giving the Bride away wins not Only a son in Law but also a stack of Bills stemming from the wedding  off their daughters in fact costs u b. Fathers annually about $3 billion however manfully the expense is borne. Not even a president is exempt from the custom of bankrolling a daughter s nuptials As the present occupant of the White House can surely attest having footed the Bills for two glittering wed dings in the comparatively Brief Span of 18 months. No matter what a Man s station be he president or otherwise it s just the Way things Are done As any father of the Groom might obligingly Point  least it s the Way things Are done in the u.b., and for that matter Many another country. But there Are still some cultures where tradition smiles upon the father of the Bride in that each Marriageable daughter can reasonably be expected to bring a Bride Price from a prospective husband. The whole intriguing subject of what a suitor pays for a girl s hand in various areas of the Globe is examined in interesting detail in a special window display which has been attracting attention at the Chase Manhattan Bank branches around new York  the exhibit called the Price of a Bride Points out the payment can be substantial or merely a Token ceremonial offering depending upon the country and the social standing of the  where the remuneration is slight though Many a  father of the Bride might Muse that the Bride Price system has certain advantages Over shelling out for a daughter s fancy wedding and  the countries where it is practice the idea generally is to demonstrate that the prospective Groom insufficiently affluent to support a wife and to compensate pop for the loss of a daughter s assistance around the House As Well As for the Cash he spent in raising  the Cost of so Many things in these inflationary times the amount offered or expected in Many areas of Tiff Vor id is edging sharply upward. J. Illi going hate for a Bride in the Kara Moja District of Northern Uganda for instance is 75  swains in thai rugged african nation have taken to raiding the herds of neighbouring tribes to collect the cattle they must have to buy a wife. The situation became so tense last Spring that helicopter equipped Security forces were brought in to quell the bloody feuds among rival  modern influences on the ancient custom of the Bride Price can be seen today in Algeria where Young Man might have to Ante up a television set or even a car in Exchange for a mate. Some enter prising fathers have demanded Well furnished apart ments. Others wanted Flat $1.000  new Guinea the spectacularly plumed Bird of Paradise provides exquisite feathers which for generations have figured prominently in Bride negotiations. During the 10th Century Santa Cruz islander fashioned lengths of Money from the feathers of Liny Island Birds usin the Long meticulously crafted coils to buy their brides. In Fiji during the lust Century a single whale smooth could provide u Bride. Even today on Yap Island in the South Pacific natives Prie Hundred Pound Stone coins which in terms of the local Economy Are Worth 10,000 coconuts a Quarter acre of land or a  c i stain Eskimo tribes finely made hand if fhe Lovely above were a Bride in the Santa Cruz Island she d bring a Price of coils fashioned from tiny Bird Bealhert new York girls below Nole a sewing machine can be Brid Price in modern Day Algeria african Bride today costs Groom cattle goats pigs sheep. Uganda Bride goes for 75 cows. Tools Are still considered an excellent Means of Induc ing the Luid s father to extend his blessings. And the Tui people of Thailand traditionally Peg the Price of u Bride at 16 Silver pieces. So the custom of paying bridal expenses is not abit new. What it boils Down to actually is u question of who comes up with the dough pop or that hand some Young Gallant who Lias just found the girl of his  there is spine drastic social upheaval though . Fathers of this year s crop of Lun brides won the offered any Cuttle automobiles television sets or coins Stone or , they la get like their fathers in Law in fore them is Hills. Feathers from Bird of pen Mil figure in new Guinea negotiations for a Bride