The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-06-03

Before themiddle the ofsevcntecnth
century,. after the Roman law, nus
band was empowered to give his wife
regulated amount of corporal chas-
tisement ("to give his wife a sharp
logging with whips or cudgels. BY
Charles lis time IL was found conye-
nient to repeal SO unnecessary sane
ton; but English conservative preju-
dice would not allow it 10 remain
quite a dead letter; for, as Blackstone
navely observes, the lower rank of
people, who were always fond OF the
old common law, still claim and ex-
ert to their ancient privileges.
The Chinese, although probably the
least religious, that is to say, the most
materialistic, people on the face OF
tie earth, are scrupulously attentive
to a variety of superstiti0us, errather
ceremonious, observances. Like the
Greeks ard Italians of old, they are
careful to fix upon fortunate day for
their weddings. For this purpose the
horoscope ofbOth parties is anxiously
consulted to assure themselves that
the planetary influences of their res
pective births do not threaten any I'M
foreseen misfortunes. This point as
certained, preparations are actively
set Oh foot, often of long duration !;
and engaging much thought as if by
a present destinations display to COM
pensate the bride for her future OBJ
security.
Yellow is the favorite national col
or; and this is the favorite- bridal
choice also; while the attendant fe-
male supporters, usually old maids or
matrons, appear dressed in black.
Covered with powder, paint, musk,
and other scents, the bride, after pre-
yious ceremonies, is conveyed to her
husbands house in closely locked
sedan, which the ignorant lover alone
unlocks, not always with unmitigated
satisfaction. Disguised, as it might
sometimes chance, ct his first inspec-'
ton of his MISTRESS charms not in
variably realizing the brilliant picture
drawn by his intcrmediatrix, 1t is said
that the exasperated husband is known
to send away his rejected wife, togeth-
or with her indignant friends.
This catastrophe, it should be add
ed, is not offrcquent occurrence, mas
much as the friends take care to pro-
vide against such eyentuality by the
terms of contract besides, the female
agent, always employed, usually
knows her business better, and is care
full to have an inspection of the intend
ed in her bath. What also causes
some confusion is the practice of con-
tracing alliances before the principals
In question appear upon the subluna-
ry scene, while yet in embryo; since
it happens that the anticipated pair
does not always make its appearance.
As the ring serves with us to mark
married woman, so does cropped hair,
worn i'm a particular fashion, the Chi
nesc matron.
All over the East, where maturity
is sooner attained. the nuptial period
is at what, with us, is an infantile age.
Girls of eight or nine are frequently
married to youths of twelve; the av-
crage periods, when marriages are en-
tered upon early, being probably
twelve and fifteen respectively. The
civil law enjoined twelve and four
teen as the nuptial ages, adopted
nominaHy into our own laws, but
practically modified, in northern eli
mate, by custom. In fact, it was null
lifted by the municipal law, which
does not recognize unions entered up
on, without consent Of guardian, un-
der twenty-one years. BY the old
laws of France the age is thirty for
the son, AID twenty-five for the daugh-
ter.
No age was fixed by the Mosaic
code. Hence, it is to be presumed,
the silence of the Church; the canon
law allowing it to vary according to
individual fitness for matrimony.
Hesiod advises thirty as the lowest
at which a man should take wife,
fifteen as the feminine nuptial period:
"when you have numbered thrice ten years
in time,
The age mature when manhood dates its
With caution choose the partner of your bed
Whom fifteen Springs have crowned; viz
gin we'd
is his advice to his brother Perses, a
time of life which Plato also deemed
most suitable while Aristotle would
have delayed it still later; namely, to
thirty in the case of the man.
Temple Bar.