The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-03-03
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY. SATURDAY. MARC

absolute authority over the children de-
wolves upon the mother. 4 widow in
the higher walks of life is forbidden By
the law 10 contract second marriage;
but woman III an inferior rank may
do SO, i she chooses; but a widow rare.
Il ava,.s herself Of the permission, from
the sircomssance that were she to do SO.
she would lose her authority over he.
husbands children and property. ami
the reins Of government would be by
the next of kin
Early marriages are encouraged in
China. The age varies. Among the
wealthy classes. for males. it is FROM
sixteen to twenty years; and from
twelve 10 fourteen for females The
poorer class marry IS soon Is they have
scraped together enough 10 defrsy the
attendant expenses.
The parties about to contract mar
rage never see each other. the whole
matter being arranged by relations, or
sing the praises of the lady in glowing
terms, or the reverse, according to the
value Of presents which they receive.
One of their customs which, by-the-b BY,
is not unlike our fashion Of exchsn nRe
of portraits, is somewhat curious. As
the damsel cannot be seen, her shoe is
sent to the gentleman that he may be
enabled to imagine of the dimensions Of
her crippled feet-a small foot being
the beau ideal Of perfection.
The ceremony Of the marriage is
gone through at the house Of the bride
groom. Upon the day the bride leaves
her fathers house accompanied by O
numerous train Of attendants, she is
placed in a profuseiy gilded sedan
chair. No sooner is the lady seated
than the door is locked by hor father
aud the key given to confidential SER
want. who has orders to deliver it only
to the bridegroom. and,who walks close.
ly to the sedan. The procession is CON-
posed Of attendants carrying fags and
scrolls, gongs and wind instruments.
while her lHdyship's trosseau 10 borne
along quite open to the gaze of the
public; along with these came the pres
ents, and = grotesque lot Of things
there are; fat pigs. jars Of wine. and
cages containing mandarin ducks.
the emblem of conjugal fidelity. for it
is asserted by some that when one Of
these birds die the sorrowing mate COM
mits suicide by putting the head under
water and drowning itself, not choosing
to survive the lost partner
Atthe door Of his home stands the
expectant bridegroom, gaily sttired, to
receive the bride: the ladies Of the fam
lily cluster round the brides chair; the
bridegroom takes the key from the ser.
want, opens the door and raises the
brides veil (for remember no interview
has yet taken place.; if her looks do
not please the gentleman he is at full
liberty to shut the door in the laiys
face, lock her up and send her back
to her father, which sometimes hap
pens. Ali proceeding smoothly, the
bride is assisted to leave the sedan by
the groom, and is carritd over the sill
of the doorway. for it would be un-
lucky were her foot to touch the ground.
being an omen Of domestic misery, be-
fore she is close to the faulty shrine,
which she Is placed in front of, aud
then husband and wife PROSTATE them
selves before the household god. drink
cat Of the same cup. and sit down to a
feast; the newly joined couple sitting
at the same table for the .nrst an last
tims Ia their lives. At the conclusion
If the feast, the bride salu'es the ladies
Of her husbands family and is con
Quoted 10 the women's apartments to
amuse themselves as best they may.