, 1873-03-12
MARRIAGE IN CHINA.
Lecture by a CTsfnalnn1.

-, FROM TIC SDrH HIHetd liHssl Republican,.
The largo aufio neo that assembled at tho veB-
try Of tho sate Street Baptist Church to iston to
Alr. Lnisun, laBt oroning, gavo evidence Of great
interest in thoHubject Of Ills lecture. Tho speaker
had como from tho East, ho Eaid, but not
from tho land Of philosophy, and therefore would
promise hia audience nothing profound. Indeed,
tho theory that prevails in China Respecting tho
Organ from which our wisdosu or knowledge
comes is very different froul tho ono that Amori-
brain, wLiio We suppose 1t to be in the stomach
This may be boca,Eo tho two countries aro bouud
to hold contrary yiows. It would probably tako
mo about tllroo months to toll you all about tho
customs and manners Of tho country from which
I caIno, go Will con.ino nysof to ono subject
tho Chinese marriago ceremony,
Tho young man WHO wants to marry, but ID
babllf had bettor 60 to China. There the
WORT will all bo done for him by a go-botween.
professional matcl,-nalor will manage tho
entire negotiation for $40 or $40. But the Indies
would find it unpleasant there, for they would,
hnyo no voice III tho mattor. When son is
approaching maI1hood-sa ut tho ago OF 1G or
16-lia parants begin to look up n sutnble porgon
to become hie wife. The scrviccs Of match
makor arc secured and alo (for peraon OF this
profession is almost invariably q Womnu) recom-
monda soma maiden M a fitting person. She
datea OIL tic charms and excellencou Of tho girl,
describes hor fodt, ~ incheB long, and her deli,
cato hands. and, in gonoral, makes heS appear Us
well ~ possible; The mother, nftor consulting,
tho almanac aud Boleoting lucky day, mounts
hor sedan cha,r and goo9 to tho hosiao Of the
young laly, some intinations Of 4or visit having
been previously Bcnt. Sho is rocoired by Ger-
wants ia d Bitting-ha1l,. whore pllo smokes hor
ppo, IL Bho chancos to DO q usor OF tho wood.
a cup Of tea is brought. and sho is always OK
poctod. to tako at least aip Of it. Tho maidon,
WHOM presented, is tho object Of tho closest
scrutiny, which, howoyer. always onla in cona-
pli1nonts upon lcf feot, hnl,ds nnd other nlom-
fur features. Thoy arc ofton three inches in
longth; frequently, too, they a:e plated with
gold or e,lyor, both for purpoaca Of a;ornmont
and to prevent them from being broken.
ladyH lifo, writes out tho l,oroacopo Of llor sol
and both nccountS nro placed bofore tho housc-
hold god. Not infroqnontly,: alo consults
sootllsayer who is familiar with tho scicnoo Of
RsLrology. Tho signs Of tho zodiac are repro
so1itod III Chinn by animals, not tho aamo onea,
however, that wo lsHo. Ii ono Of tho prospective
parties to tho contract in born under tic Sign Of
tho tiger, md tho other nildor that Of tho rat,
tho tiger may ont up tho rat, and thcre will be
fuss III tho family; but tho soothsayer ia paid
for doing his work. and ho usually contriyes to
explain nway tho unpropitlouaa 1lgna, md get7
Tho youth ecndss \, beautiful prosont, to the
da,scl, accompanied bya np Of papor boarinG
simply word Which means "beseecl,." Tho
maid, in turn, makou him tho recipient Of g
gift, and sends with It tho oxprosrion II grant"
Tho parties, who very likely hayo noyor soen
each. Other, may l,ayo to wait ycars for tho con-
summation OF their hnppinesB. Sometimes be-
trothaiH nro made boforo tho birth Of tile por-
sons. Ii both Of tho expected cAillron aro
males, or both foma1os-why, thou tho wedding
novcr comes Off, Just boforo tho ri,lio Bot apart
for wodiuG- coromony, grand lolgo-cloauing
takes place. a grent deal Of money ig Bpont on
preparations; It costs tho ChinoBoa round sum
to marry or to lilo,
A pnrt Of tho preparatory corcu.ony is the
assembling, at tho houao Of the botrothel maid
on, Of hor intimate frlonllH, who bowail her
approaching departure into lnatrimouy. Tho
bride usually Coe8 to tho homo OF tho groom.
She is followed by, long procession, that
other musical Instruments. lilo expenses Of
such progress often amounts to $50 QUO or s40,-
UJ0. Tho brdo'H raco is conccnlol by II rel voil;
anu tho whole procession is dechod with rcd, for
tlAiB color is symbolic Of chastity. 4 lantcrn
carried alof1 bears tho namos. for example. Of
Ii about 10 marry. Miss Chang. Anybody, oven
tho highest official, who meotu tho process(on,
must turn. out and let it pasu. Tho bride, tho
groom, and tlloir friends moot around MI lltnr
erected at tho house which they hayo now
reacLca. On such MI occasion nB t!iia asono can 2.
anybody, except Tho Emperor, worbhip God d.
rcctly. Him they adoro around THO altAr by
knoolinE three tnen mud knocking thoIr lioada
ninn times asnuBt tho floor. Aftor that they
worship tho ancestors. Tllon tho brido and
groom 60 to lablo, whore II cup Of wine ia aot
loloro oaoh tho cups being nnitod by cord.
has power to do lt) and looks upon hts latly for
tho first time. but 1t In " long while hoforo tho
relations OF nau and vito become inttmate.
They tako no bridal tour, hayo no honeymoon
aud 1ho woman Affects grent stynosa, 4, toward her
lord. Buch coyonlony % this, said tho spoaltcr,
aocnis worry strange to Americans, but 1t IL 1ustt-
Ilablo, aud oyou noocasary, in THO present aemt-
ciyillxod condition Of China. Yhe rules Of eool-