Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-25


apprehension by the quilt and the cakes
being retained in the house-the local
sound of the common term for bread ~
and a certain word meaning "to war
rant "to seCure,n being identical.
bridal PROCESSION.
Soon after this the bridal procession
starts en- route for the residence of the
other party, amid explosions Of fire-crack-
ers and the music Of the baud.
In front Of the procession go two men,
carrying two large lighted lanterns, hav-
ing the ancestral or family name Of the
groom cut in a large form out Of red pa
per, pasted upon them. Then come two
| men carrying similar lanterns, having
the family name of the bride, in similar
| manner pasted on them. These belong
1 20 her family, and accompany her only
a part of the way. Then comes a large
red umbrella, followed by men carrying
lighted torches and by the band Of music.
| Near the bridal chair areseveral brothers
Of the bride OF friends Of the family, and
several friends or brothers OF the groom.
| These latter are dispatched from the
house Of the groom, early in the morning,
/ for the purpose of meeting the bridal pro-
cession and escorting the bride to her
/ home This deDutation sometimes ar
rives at the house of the bride before she
sets out on her journey, and, II 50, ac-
companies the procession al the way.
About midway between the homes
of the bride and the groom the pro
cession stops in the streets, while
the important ceremonies of receiving
the bride is formally transacted. The
friends of the bride stand near each
other, and at a little distance stand the
friends of the groom, the eformerproduces
large red card, having the ancestral
name of the brides family written on it
the latter produces a similar card, bear
ing the ancestral name of the groom.
These they exchange, and each seizlng
his own hands, q ld ChinOis, bows to-
ward the members Of the other party.
The two men in front of the possession, /
who carry the lanters, having the anceS- !
trail name Of the groom, now turn about, |
and going between the sedan chair and 1
the two men who carry the lanterns hav-
ing the ancestral name of the bride, come |
back TO their former positions in tile pro- |
cessiOn, having gone around the party |
which has the5 lanterns with the brides /
ancestral name attached. This latter /
party, while the other is thus encircling /
it, turns round in an opposite direction, |
and starts for the residence of the family [
of the bride. accompanied by that part of /
the escort which consisted of her
brothers or the friends of her family. |
The rest of the procession now pro-
ceeds ON its way 70 the residence
of he bridegroom, the band playing a
lively air At intervals along the street
iire-crackers are exploded. IL is said
that from the precise time when the two
parties carrying lanterns having the an
cestral names Of the two families at
tached separate from each other in the
street, the name of the bride is changed
into the name of her betruthed; the lam
terms having his name attached remain
ing in the procession, while those which
have her former name are taken back
20 the residence OF her fathers family
From this time during the day she gen.
orally is in the midst of entire strangers,
excepting her female assistants, who ac-
company the procession, and keep with
her wherever she goes.
On arriving at the door OF the bride
gro0m's house, fire crackers are let off in
large quantities, aud the band plays very
vigorously. The tOrch-bearers, lantern
bearers and the musicians stop near the
door. The sedan is carried into the re-
cgptiOn room, and a sieve, such as was
used in the ceremony of sitting four
eyes, is put on the top Of il, over its
door. The floor, from the place where
the sedan stops to the door Of the brides
room, is covered with red carpeting, lest
her feet should t0nch the floor.
The groom, on the approach Of the
bridal procession, disappears from the
crowd of friends and relatives who have
assembled at his residence on the happy
occasion, and takes his position standing
by the side of the bedstead, having his
face turned toward the bed. When the
bride enters the room, guided by her as
sistants, he turns round aud remains
with his face turned from the
bed. As soon as she has reached hisside,
both bridegroom and bride simultane-
lusly seat Themselves, side by side, on the I
edge of the bedstead. Oftentimes the
groom manages to have portion Of the
skirt of her dress come under him as he 5
sits down by her, such thing being con-
sidered as a kind of omen that she viii be
Sometimes the bride IS very
careful, by proper adjustment of her
clothing at the moment OF sitting down, :
not only to prevent the accomplishment
lf such an intention on his part, but also
10 sit down, if possible, in such a manner 8
hat some OF his dress VIII come under =
ler, thus manilesting her determination
% preserve proper Independence, if not
o bring him actually to yield obedience
o her Will. After sitting thus in pro-
bAlftl et4niibt b0EGHitt-i lbi Z AtW lIlD-
nents, the groom arises and leaves the
'oOm. Before going out, the assistants .
,f the bride oftentimes request him to 1
ub The feet of his bride a little, under
he impression that il he should comply,
Ter feet VIII be prevented by that act 1
from aching in the future
CHJNEsE WIDOWS.
Widows are obliged, by custom, to
year a white, black, or blue skirt when
hey wear any skirt at all. They are
lUi allowed TO dress in = red or gaudy
kirt, as though they were married and
heir husbands living. Hence the eX-
,reszi0n, marrying the weaTer of
White skirt" applied to a man who mar
les a widow Poor families sometimes
uange to marry one of their sons 10
widow, when they feel themselves un-
Jie 90 procure Girl OF good charac
er, on account of the Necessary expense
Incurred in suoh a case. The expense
ttendant on marrying a widow is COM
aratively small. 1t is considered q dis
race TO a family for one Of Its sons To
marry a widow, no matter how intelli-
ent, interesting and handsome she may
e, as well as a disgracefal or shameful W
Jep on the part of the widow TO consent
o marry again, No rich and fashionable
3mily ever marries son to a widow. A -
'idOw is notallowed toride in a red bridal
hair c71 route from her residence to the
asidence of her intended husband. She
lust employ 4 common black covered
hair, borne by two men. Many fami-
es, which have widow connected
'ith them, are exceedingly unwilling
hat she should marry again, on account
{ the dishonur which such procedure
'ouid bring upon them, and especially
pom the memory Of her deceased hus-
and. Generally mis- relatives, if in good
circumstances, prefer TO assist in her
Ipport, or support her entirely, than
hat she should marry a second time.
Social life Of the Chinese; with an account
I their religious, gOVernmeHtal, educational
nd business customs aud opinions. BY Rev.
isl " lfs0slitle, fourteen years a member ithe
NhchaU Mission Of the American Beard.
BST Niilledgeville GA papers say