The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-02-20
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LIFE In FOREIGN LANDS.
NOBLE WEDDING IN JAPAN.
A SINGULAR CEIsEMoN


ln the great rus mJd Of Yedo, now
called Toxic, stood house Of rather hum
BILE pretensions, but with gate and ga<den
of dimensions betokening the residence of
n man Of rank. II was the home of Ma.
kayama, one of the eighty thousand hata-
moto (vassals) of the Shotgun, studious
gentleman, whose greatest pride was in his
two sons and his only daughter. The
former were not only manly and expert in
the use of the sword and spear, but had
the best education that the classics of
Confucius aud the Chinese college and
Herati in Yedo could give them. Next
to them in his love was his only daughter,
Kiku, seventeen years old, and one of the
faircst Of Yedo's fair maidens No vain
doll was Kiku, but inheriting her mothers
beauty, she added to il the inner grace Of
a meek and dutiful spirit Beside being
def at household duties, her memory was
well stored with the knowledge Of Japa-
nese history and the Chinese classics. She
had committed to memory TIE entire books
of the "Woman's Great Learning" and
had read carefully FIVE other works on
etiquette and morals, which her father had
presented to her on successful birthdays.
Faithfully following japanese etiquette,
Kiku had been carefully kept from the
company Of any Of the male sex since her
eighth year She never talked with any
young man except her brothers. Occa-
sionally, at family parties, she was address
ed by her unclcs or cousins Sometimes,
when gentlemen called to see her father,
Kiku would bring tea to the guests, and
was thus made the subject of compliments;
but as to receiving" male company, she
never did it. Kiku never went unless
accompanied by her mother or the maid,
who was like her shadow
In Japan, only the people in the lower
classes are acquainted with and see each
other frequently before marriage. The
business Of selection, betrothal and mar
riage, is attended to by the parents or
friends Of the pair, who carry on negotia-
tions by means Of third factor, middle
man or go-between. Children are often
betrothed at birth or when on their nurses
backs (there are no cradles in JAPAN
OF course, the natural results, mutual dis
like and severance of the engagement at
mature age, or love and happy marriage,
or marriage, mutual dislike and subsequent
divorce, happen, as the case may be. In
gcneral, when the parents make the betro-
thai of grown-up children, it is not proba-
BILE that the feelings Of son or daughter
are outraged, or that marriages are forced
against the consent of either, though this
does sometimes take place. In Asiatic
countries, where obedience to parents is
the first and last duty, and in which no
higher religion than filial lobedience exists,
the betrothal and marriage Of children Is
not looked upon us anything strange.
Between Nakayama, Kiku's father, and
Yamashiro, retainer Of the Echizen clan,
had long existed warm friendship and a
mutual high regard. Yamashiro, though
more fond of society aud good-liying than
Nakayama, was, nevertheless, like him, a
high-spirited and well-read man. He had
four children, two sons and two daughters.
The Oldest son, named Taro, was now,
twenty years old, Of manly figure, diligent
in study, and had lately acted as high
page, attending daily upon the person Of
Hitotsu-bashi, the then reigning Shotgun.
Taro, being the Oldest son Of his father,
was the heir to his house, Office, rank, and
revenue. Taro wanted wife. He had
long thought Of Kiku. OF course he
asked his father, and bis father twas will
ling" He told Taro to go to Nakayama's
house. Taro went. He talked to Naka-
yama, and limited faint compliments of his
daughter. It was enough Nakayama
also twas willing" clapping his hands,
the maid-seryant appeared, d falling
down and bowiug her head to the floor,
listened. "Make some tca and tell Kiku
to serve it,"
Had you been 10 the back rooms Of that
house, You would have seen Kiku blush as