The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-08-07
NUMBER 33.
x.rr..,. Ls.-.--s.s.. Of rA.s. os-tsssssss

Marriage Lasss--Sesss Of fAsts osrSsssssss'
Before tho middle Of tho seventeenth
century. after the Roman law, husband
was empowered to givo his wife regulated
amount Of corporeal chsstisement (''to givo
his wife sharp fogging with whips or
cudgcls.") BY Charles lis time Il was
found convenient to repeal 20 unnecessary
a sanction, Hut English conservative Preju.
dice would not allow e to remain quite
dead letter fos, - Backbone naively OBJ
serves, the lower rank Of people, who werc
always lond Of the old common law, still
claim and sxsrt their ancient privilege.
The Chinese, though probably tho least
religious, that Is 10 say, the most material
islic people on tho face OF the earth, arc
scruPulously attentive to variety OF super.
stitions or rather ccrcmonious observsnces.
Like The Creeks and Italians Of old, they
are careful to fix upon fortunate day fos
their weddings: For this purpose the no.
roscopc Of both parties is. anxiously con.
suited to assure themselves that the planet.
ary influences Of their respective births do
not threaten any Unforeseen misfortuncs.
This point ascenaincd, preparations arc &C.
lively set OH foot, oiten Of long duration,
and engaging much thought, as II by q
present ostentaiious display to compensate
TO tho bride for her tuturo obscurity.
Yellow is the favorite national color and
this Is the favorite bridal choice also while
the attendant female supporters, usually old
maids or matrons, appear dressed In black:
Covered with powder, paint, musk, and
other scents, the bride, after previous cere-
monies, Is conveyed to her hiisband's house
in closely locked sedan, which tho igno-
rant lover alone unlocks, not always with
unmitigatcd satisfaction. Disguised, a u
might sometimes chance, at his first insPec-
ton of his mistress charms not invariably
realizing the brilliant picture drawn bv his
intermcdistrix, IL 10 uaid that tho exaspem-
ted husband is known to send away his re-
jected wife, together with her indignant
friends.
This catastrophe, Il should be added, Is
not Of frequent occurrence, inastnuch as
the friends take care to provide against any
such eventually by the terms Of tho con-
tract; besides, tho female agent, always
employed, usually knows her business bet.
ter, and is careful to have an inspection OF
the intended In her bath. What also causes
some confusion 10 the practice of contract.
ing alliances before tho principals IN ques-
ton appear upon the sublunary scene, whilo
yet in embryo since II happens that the an.
ticipaied pain does not always make its up.
pearance. As tho ring serves with us TO
mark the married woman, % does cropped
hair worn in . peculiar fashion, tho Chinese
inatr0n. ...
All over tho East, where maturity 10 soon
or attained, tho nup,isl period 10 n what,
with us, is an infan,ile age. Girls Of eight
or nine arc frequently married to youths Of
twelve the average periods, when mar.
riages ars entered upon early, being proba.
bly, twelve and fourteen respectively. Tho
civil law enioined twelve and fourteen ~
the nuptial age, adopted nominally in our
own laws, but psuctically modified, IN
northern climate by custom. In TACT h was
modified by the municipal law, which does
not recognize unions entered upon, without
consent Of guardian, under tvcnty.ono
years. BY the old laws Of France tho sgo
Of thirty Sfor the son, and twenty-five Tor
the daughter.
The Roman Legislators had enacted, that
if her parent had not obtained husband
for his daughter by the time she had reach:
cd twenty-fya ycars, and she aiterwaru
made slip, be should not on that account
have tho power Of dlsinheriting, "inas.
much US il is held she did that not by her
own but by her parents fault" No ago
was fixed by the mosaic code. Hence II is
to be presumed, the silence Of tho church
Tho canon law allowing Il to vary nc.
cordiny to individual fitness for matrimo'
ny.
iicsiod advises thirty rs the lowest at
which mar should take wife, fifteen as
tho feminine nuptial period;
'when you have numberui thrice ten years In Time,
The age mature when manhood dstes ih priue,
With caution choose the partner q your bei
Whom hasen springs have cownedi virgin vsd.
In his advice to his brother Pcrscs, time
of Iife which Plato deemed most suitable;
while Aristotle would have delayed Il still
later namely to thirty seven in tho case Of
man.-Ismple Bar.