Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-12-29
A Chinese Wedding.

to visit the wedding of young Chinese, %
relative of a high functOnary of Shanghai.
You are aware, perhaps, that polygamy is
not sanctioned by the laws Of China no
man can have more than one legitimate
wife, but he may have as many of what
are called hiic wives as his means enable
him to keep. The position of these inferi.
or wives is little better than slavery. All
the females Of the upper class are kept in
complete scclusion till their marriage !;
which is invariably settled by their pa
rents, and generally through the medium
of mci-jin, or kind of female matrimoni-
al agent, whose profession is considered
respectable. This agent makes all the
preliminary inquiries respecting the for
turc and position OF the parties, and then
consults a soothsayer as to the udvisability
of the match. This person casts the ma.
tivity of the young couple, and if he de-
clares the stars to be ptopitious, the future
bride aud bridegroom are introduced to
each other in the presence of their fam
lilies, but the lady is always closely yelled
till after the marriage ceremony is per.
formed. To return to the wedding l have
just witnessed On arriving at the resi-
dence of the bridegrooms father, l found
all the family assembled in the ancestral
hall, an apartment consecrated to rcligi
Gus festivals. When all the company had
arrived, the mel. jim, who appeared to act
as mistress of the ceremonies, requested
the head of the family to take his place,
an elevated seat at the end of the room.
and ordered the bridegroom to be intro
duced. The young man, on entering
salutcd the company with great respect
and Frustrated himself on the floor. On
rising in obedience to his fathers orders,
the youth approached the table in the
middle OF the room, took up a glass Of
wine, split few drops Of it, and drank
off the rest at draught. He then knclt
on the floor and listened to a long speech
from his father, acknowledged by bowipg
to show his respect and obedience. When
the father ceased speaking, he rose and
accompanied by his friends and rctainers,
went to bring his bride. As he stepped
into palanquin which was waiting at the
door, an astonishing concert of gongs and
brass instruments of all kinds began, ac-
compauicd by loud explosions of fire.
works. This deafening noise was kept up
till We reached the lady's residence, where
everybody alightod and entered the court.
yard. AS soon as the bridegroom had
been formally announced, his tathor.in-
law, leading the bride By the hand, came
out to receive him. l happened to be in
a favorable position for seeing the lady,
who wore a long cloak OF blue silk, orna-
mentcd with colored embroidery. She
had on also, | perceived, bracelets and a
necklace. Her Aead was covered by a
veil, but could distinguish her features,
and plainly saw that her checks had been
painted white, and her lips tinted with
carmine. After short prayer the bride
was conducted to her palanquin, the BRIDE
groom to his, and the whole cavalcado was
soon in movement. As the bride crossed
the threshold there was another fearful
outburst of gongs, trumpcts and fireworks.
Her palanquin advanced in the midst of
the musicians and a crowd Of persons
carrying lanterns and flags. On reach
ing her future home, she and her husband
knelt down in the ancestral hall, while
the marriage contract was read the
bonzc then performed the religious part of
the ceremony, which Terminated with Il
prayer repeated in chorus by all present.
The newly married pair were then con.
Quoted to the nupital chamber to receive
'hcir friends. The day concluded with a
grand banquet.
The first act Of the newly married cou,
pie at table, was to drink out of the same
cup. The bride merely touched it with
her lips, the bridegroom then drank off
tthe contents and broke the cup. After
partaking of great variety of dishes, the
company withdrew, and returned home
well pleased with what | had seen, but
stunned and stupofcd by the horrid din,
which had assailed my ears with but little
respite for SO many hours"
"Do YOU know what the people in Lynch
burg do when it rains ~ asked freight
boat captain ola farmer,
"No, | don't--do you :"
"Why, yes-thcy let it rain"
IT was said in oldcu times that the body