The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-02-20
So PER ANNUM.


health upon her cheeks was lost in tho hot
bushes that mantled her face and beauti.
full neck when her mother, reproving her,
said, "Why, dear child, don't be excited
perhaps ne has come only on some every.
day business, after all. Be composed, and
get ready to take in the tea.
Nevertheless, Kiku took out her metal
mirror while the maid made the tea,
smoothed pretended stray hair, powdered
her neck slightly, drew her robe more
tightly around her waist, adjusted her
girdle, which did not need any adjusting,
and then, taking up the tray, containing
tiny teapot, half dozen upturned cups,
and as many brass sockets for them, has
tened into the front room, bowed with her
face on her hands to the floor, and then
handed cups Of tea to her parent and his
guest This done, she returned to her
mother. Whether Taro looked at Kiku's
cheeks or into her glittering black eyes
we leave even foreign reader to Judge.
Let it not be thought, however, that a
single word relating to marriage in the
concrete passed between the two men; no
such breach of etiquette was committed.
The visit over, the two friends parted as
friends, and nothing more, either in fact
or in visible prospect.
But, to be brief, notlong afterward Taro,
having selected trusty friend, sent him
as go-between to ask Of Nakayama the
hand Of his daughter in marriage. The
proposal was accepted, and when the 60
between came the second time to Kikus
home it was in company with two servants,
bearing bundles. These, being opened,
were found to contain splendidly en-
broidered girdlc, ,.such as japanese ladies
wear, about twelve feet long and foot
wide, when doubled; robe of the finest
white silk, from the famous loom. of Kan
azawa; five or six pieces Of silk not made
up; several kegs Of sake or rice-beer; dried
fish, soy, etc These were for the BRIDE
elect. For her father was a sword, with
a richly mounted hilt and lacquered scab.
bard, hung with silken cords. The blade
alone Of the sword was worth (it ism polite
to speak of the cost of presents, but we
will let you into the secret, good reader)
one hundred dollars and had been made
in Sagami from the finest native steel.
Kiku's mother was presented with rich
robe, which she recognized at once as being
woven Of the famous Derva silk. The
ceremonious reception Of these presents by
the parents signifed that the betrothal
was solemnly ratified, and that the engage
mcnt could not be broken. Nakayama,
the intended father-in-law, afterwards sent
to Taro present of jar of the finest tea,
from his own plantation in Shimosa; pair
of swords, and piece of satin, such as
that of which the bahama or trousers
which indicate the rank of the sdmurai
are made.
The betrothal was now published in both
families, and in both houses there were
festivities, rejoicing, and congratulation.
The marriago-day, n fortunate or good
omened one, was fixed upon as the twenty
seventh from the day Of betrothal.
The wedding night came. Marriages
rarely take place in the day time in Japan.
The solemn and joyful hour of evening,
usually about nine o'clock, is the time for
marriages-as it often is for burials in
that country. In the starlight of a June
evening the bride sets forth on her jour
ney to her intended husbands home, as is
the invariable custom. Her toilet finished
she stepped out of hor childhood's home
10 take her place in the norimoao or pal
anquin which, borne on the shoulders Of
four men, was to convey her to her future
home.
Just as Kiku stands in the yestibule of
her fathers house, let US photograph her
for you. A slender maiden of seventeen,
with cheeks Of carnation; eyes that shine
under lids not so broadly open as the eau
casian maiden's, but black and sparkling
very small hands, with tapering fingers,
aud very small feet, encased in white
mittcn-socks; her black hair, glossy as pol
ished jet, dressed in the style betokening
virginity, and decked with garland of
blossoms Her robe of pure white silk
folds over her bosom from right to left,
and is bound at the waist by the gold
embroidered girdlc, which is supported by
lesser band of scarlet silken Grape, and
is tied into huge loops behind. The skirt
Of the dress sweeps in trail. Her under.
dress is Of the finest and softest white silk.
In her hands she carries a half -shap-
ed cap or veil of floss silk. Its use we
shall see hereafter. She salutes her cou-
sin, who, clad in ceremonial dress, with
his ever-present two swords, is waiting to
accompany her in addition to her family
servants and bearers, and stops into the
Roriniono.
The four bearers, the servants, and the
samurai pass down along the beautiful
Kanda River, whose waters mirror the
stars, and whose depths of shade re-echo
to the gurgling of sculls, the rolling of
ripples, and the songs Of jewellers. The
cortege enters one Of the gate-towen Of
the old city walls, passes beneath the
shade Of its ponderous copper-clad portals,
and soon arrives at the main entrance Of
the Yamashiro yashiki, Here they find
the sticet in front and the stone walk
covered with mating and n friand of