Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-06-12
DAILY NIRGINIAN.
A We ding in China.
SHANGHAI. CHINA, Feb.

SHANBlAl, liIINA, req. lSoJ.
A short time since, was present nt the mar
rlnge OF Il Chinese couple, and as | was much in
terested in the proceedings ON that occasion, |
thought brief account of them might be agree
nblc, and afford you some entertainment. partic-
ularly should you be ms eager as most young Ia
dios are to hear aud everything connected
with 80 important II ceremony.
To premise must tell You that the bridegroom
is graduate of the Episcopal missionary school
here. and that, in addition to conforming to tho
peculiar customs of his own country, he had de-
sired to be married in tho Christian fashion. IN
consideration Of this, tho bishop lad duly ex-
pounded and Interpreted to the bridegroom the
nature OF our holy office OF matrmony. Both
parties were made sensible of It's divine iniunc-
tons and appeared to be- perfectly satisfied with
the obligations II mutually imposes. Tue bride
was especially pleased 10 learn, that 10y tho
Christian faih, her husband not permitted
To take more than one wife. She highly npprov
cd of tho restriction that prevents mon possess-
ing Us many wives rs ihci, means will support,
as is usual in China, aud expressed great delight
at the prospect of hnsng no rival to contend
with.
The novelty of the wedding, for this is the first
couple, the bishop tells me, that he has over
ioined together, attracted io the Episcopal chap.
81 largo number of both natives and foreigners.
had not waited long before the nuptinl process
sion arrived. 1t wnS headed by band of pecu
liar wind and string Instruments, ihut iscoursed
nnything but music to an American enr; nfier
which came tho scdans and boxes containing the
marriage fonst, all of them painted red, and their
bearers wearing rcd inckets In this train Of
Injuries, counted no le-s ihnn dozen hogs
roasted whole. and glazed aud gnrnished in the
most fantastic manner. \ gont that had also
been roasted, aud was ooniived that its hcnd
was constantly nodding, nude very whimscrl
appearance. These were succeeded by members
At LaT. i.;1
groom. little man, elegantly dressed, who strut
ed along evidently pulled up with "a vast idea of
his own Importance. Then followed an old man,
bearing large umbrella TO hold over the bride
when she enters and leaves her sedan; behind him
came boys prettly dressed, carrying lanterns
and bannors then the truys on which were seen
the brides troussonu, consisting Of silks s.jewelry.
&c; and lastly a close red sedan chair bcautiful-
ly gilded and embroidered, containing the bride
herself.
The bride soon appeared at the channel, in
company with the groom, and two maironly In.
dies hired for the occasion To comfort and assist
her She wore scarlet Grape dress, OF the
Chinese tashionnN ell of the same maternal hang
ing from her forehead, concealed her features;
very pretty embroidered shoes covered her little
feet scarcely four inches in length, and her hnir
was elnbora,ely dressed aud deoked with orna-
mcnts. The bishop knowing were all curious
to see II Chinese beauty, very CONSIDERABLY y raised
her veil, and plneed it on top of her head. The
exposure did not meet my ideas of loyliness, but
her simplicity aud modest deportmen. in this
trying position, and tho deep interest she seemed
TO take in the whole ceremony invested her with
charm engaging that | could not help feel
ing oncerned for her welfare and hoping all her
expectations of happiness might be realized The
service that was performed in the Chinese Lam
guage was solemn and imposing, and thought
impressed them with proper sense of the impor-
tanee Of the contract they were entering into. As
soon as the knot tied and the veil drawn over
the brides face, she was conducted to her chair
and carried in procession to the brdgrooms
house Here she was received by her husband
who handed her out and followed her into a room
where, with becoming gravity, he took off the
red veil; after which they pledged each other in
wine the cups being joined by thread an em-
bem of constaney. This most important part of
the Chinese ceremonial was ended by the pair
worshipping their aneestorial tablets, and salu
ting all the members of the family. The band
then struck up, aud the assembled guests sat
down to the feast, the men in one apartment, the
women in another had intended to witness this
curious banquet, but the unsavory odor of their
culinary compounds dscomposed the economy
of my stomach that was seized with uneasy
qualms and was upon the point of exhibiting my
indispositon in public, when, under pretence of
visiting very sick patient, took hasty depar-
ture, leaving the company plying the bridegroom
with liquor and in high state of convivia-
ty.