The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1858-01-28
Misrallanfu1la Rfahing.
A Chinese Marriage.

IN Tekln tue "DOard OF Rites buSled It.
self about many things /; and among Others
it sets apart two days in every month as
the days upon which alone marriage can
take place. To-day is one of these DAYS,
and in consequence thereof several gorgeous
palanquins, like miniature Lord Mayors
coaches taken off their wheels, and containing
ladies all splendid in jewels and gold, are
passing through the narrow streets. These
ladies have ejewelled crowns upon their heads,
and wells of strings of pearls falling over
their faces, and embroidered satin tunics.
and fans Of gold tissue. They are going,
properly accompanied, to their homes. One
of them is just entering the house Of dis
tller, with whom | have some acquaintance.
We shall be welcome let us 90 in. The
house is decorated for the .fete 1t is hung
with lanterns inside and out. The court
yard is full of relatives and hangers-on ;
and at the gate is the combrado, who re.
ceives the money offerings of the visitors /;
the principal room opening upon the cour,
yard is prepared for the feast. Lanterns
are hung from the ceilings, a small jose.
house, with candles and incence before it. is
at one end, and in the middle is the table
on which stand the small basins of sauces
and sliced shellfsh, and goose flesh and
sweetmeats, the cakes, which are the pre-.
cursive appetizers to a Chinese dinner
The bridegroom (the son Of the proprietor)
is lounging on chair in his shirt.sleeves
smoking; the bride is gone up to her cham.
Der, where she is sitting on her nuptial
couch and receiving her guests.
We may go up if we please, but it is less
trouble to wait and look about us till she
comes down. We crack joke or two with
the bridegroom, and he retires TO put on his
gorgeous array, and then the bride appears
followed by her retinue of bridesmaids, and
escorted by an old woman, the 90 between
who has made up the match. We present
ourselves in due form, and the bride, who,
IN spite of her high crown and embroidered
tunic and trousers, looks nervous and
twitchy and slightly convulsive, Just as she
might If her name were Brown, and If we
had accosted her at the door of the vestry
room of st. Georges. Hanover square, re
turns our salutation, and would like to pass
on. But such is not scion les regles. The
duenna insists upon our admiring the beau
ty OF the head-dress and the thickness of
the embroidered satin whereof her tunic is
made but, above all, che wiu pull up the
trousers to exhibit the faultless proportions
of the little feet. They are marvel ,usly
small. A flea couldn't find room to hop in
that slipper "Cbin, chin |" let us be off,
There is another decorated dwelling on our
way, but it is cottage, and presents diff.
ferent scene. Three men are drinking sam.
shu at table, while the bride, dressed in her
borrowed bravery, sits on a barrel IN the
most distant corner, alone and unnotced.-
Tomorrow, and forever more, she will be
beast Of burthen. Perhaps. however, she
will, in the fullness Of time, create her own
distractions. A few years may probably see
crowd of mangey brats, exhibiting every
form and specie of cutaneous complaint,
lighting and yelling over their rice basins,
and, aided by the mothers shrew voice, and
the grandmother's croak, making their
neighborhood unbearable.