The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-07-26

luticuct lot tutiI Hbit1, 1H1 ttic'c @@tHe'
are called nakodos or go-betweens. Be-
trothal sometimes takes place In the in
fancy or childhood Of parties, but u Is
very often deferred TIL they are old
enough TO wish 10 have some voice in
the matter themselves, which, however,
is denied them II they have parents liv-
ing. When, by reason Of the death Of
his parents, young man is left free 10
manage the matter in his own behalf, he
chooses pair Of go-betweens from
among the friends or acquaintance,
and through them makes inquiries for
suitable helpmate, and when they report
the discovery of one, he sends them TO
solicit her hand Of her parents.
II the proposal suits her parents the
bargain is made, and by their conniv-
ance meeting is arranged TO take place
among the young people at some tea
house, unless they already know each
other by sight, where the betrothed can
only cast sly chances Ut each other, but
are permitted TO hold no conversation,
as that in the present stage Of affairs
would lie breach Of Japanese eti-
quette.
In arranging matters for the wedding,
fixing the day for it, ETC., other go-be-
tweens are employed, whose Office ex-
pires only when the two are made one.
First, the young bridegroom sends the
go-betweens with the presents TO the
bride elect. These may consist OF =
variety Of things, varying according to
the taste or ability Of the bridegroom,
or his parents, provided only that GER
tain things are included in the number;
as, for instance, some edible seaweed,
and noshi, or strips of dried and pow
dered awabi. The preparation Of the
latter is made chiefly in the department
of Ise. II noshi can not be obtained,
a kind of dried fish will answer the pur-
pose. But, whether the presents be
few or many, the bridegroom must send
written list of the articles along with
them, for which specified form is fur
nished in the Japanese works on the
subject.
These presents being received, and
the wedding day being fixed between
the brides parents and the go-be-
tweens, nothing remains TO be done but
to await the appointed time. Meanwhile
the bride and her family are occupied in
preparing the numerous presents TO be
made by them to the parents and rela-
tives Of the bridegroom on the night Of
the wedding.
In the evening of the day set for the
nuptial ceremony, the bride, dressed
throughout in white (the color Of
mourning in Japan, is escorted in the
kango or norimon (palanquin) by her
parents and invited relatives TO the
house OF the bridegroom. At the pres
ent day she is met in the entrance OF the
house by certain females employed to
receive her, called machi-ioo-roo, who
conduct her into a separate apartment
where she takes little rest 1t should
be stated that she left her fathers house
having her head covered with wata-
booshi, cap made of floss silk, which
entirely conceals the head and face from
view, and is not removed until she has
become wife. When sufficient time
has elapsed for the bride to- refresh her
self, both she and the bridegroom pro-
coed separately TO the best room, where
the Young man seats himself at one END
OF the tokonoma, sort of open closel
or recess in the wall opposite 70 the en-
trance, which is considered the mos
honorable place in the japanese house
And the young lady takes her seat al
the opposite end Of the tokonoma. The
go-betweens also sit down, the male b,
the bridegroom and the female by thu
bride. Two other attendants, male and
female, usually young persons, eacl
bearing a vessel with n long handle
used as receptacle for sake, are like
wise present 10 wait upon the bride an'
bridegroom and fill their cups. Tn
long-handled TASKS have paper butter
fly fastened to each; large and SINAI
one represent male and female butter
fy. The attendants who bear them ar
therefore called by these names, AM
the idea expressed by the symbol Is
that as butterflies always go in pairs, .
the husband and wife should accompan
each other through life with like con
stancy.
Between the bride and groom is plae
: ed tray bearing three lacquered cups
one upon another, the smallest at IN
J top. The two butterflies pour . littl
} sake from both their TASKS into the ur
{ permost cup, while the bridegroom
: holds it to be filed, grasping IL wit
l both hands. He then sips the win
three times in very slow, formal mar
: ner, and passes the cup 70 the bride
; VINO takes 1t in her hands and take
three similar sips under cover OF ne
, veil, when she hands the cup TO the 4
Q male butterfly, who sets IL aside. In
second cup and the third are filled an
n emptied in like manner, so that eac
q party drinks nine times. Hence N
4 ceremony l. called san-son-hudo, an
4 forms the most important part OF u
y nuptial rites, for It makes the parti'
/ husband and wife. While this drinkin
= Is going on, one or two male singers q
J. seated behind tho screen In the san