The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-10-23
BREACH OF PROMISE IN CHINA.

How They Mango saeh Things In tn,
Celestial Empire
Prom the Shanghai shan Pao.
In country village near Nankin hvet
| two men. named Chen and Yu. Yu hat
daughter Who was formally betrothed t.
Chen's son. and, probably on account Of
her parents poverty, vas sent toher future
father-in-law's house. to be brought NJ
there. After time Yu, who IS q weaver,
vent to live in Nankin, and his daughter
came to pay a visit to her mother. The
girl, who " As now grown up, was very dis
conted with her lot complaing OF having
to work In the fields and Of her father
in-law's roughnes, and coarseness; and
her parents began to repent OF the engage
ment, and determined to try and break 1t
off. Next door to them was living a
scholar named Chin. who was waiting for
the next examinations, and occupying
himself meanwhile as schoolmasfer.
Constantly seeingthe girl, he took fancy
to her, and formed an intrigue with her.
The future father-in-law, Chen, finding
the girl was hot sent back to his house,
and hearing q rumor Of Chin's attentions,
began to suspect that Yu was trying to
break of the match, and sent q match
maker to hurry on the marriage. fu re-
piled that he had never accepted any be-
trothal presents. and that no one could
make him take them. and that he would
not give his consent to the marriage.
Chen then went himself with the match
maker, but with NO further result than a
great deal OF mutual abuse. Chen next
filed petition in the magistrates court,
and Yu presented a contemplation writ
ten for him by Chin. The case came on for
hearing, and the magistrate soon elected
the truth. After rating Yu soundly, he
turned to Chen and said: "You can take
the girl or not, as you like, but strongly
advise you not to-" Chez persisted In
having her, and the magistrate ordered the
two parties to draw up a formal contract.
Chin, who was present in court, motioned
to Yu not to sign the contract. He was
detected, however, by the magistrate in
so doing, and was called no and ques-
toned, and then cautioned that a man OF
his position should not mix himself up In
a case of this sort. The magistrate then
looked up the almanac and chose lucky
day in June for the wedding day, where
upon Chin stepped forward on Yu's behalf
and begged that the marriage might be
held in autumn. This interference thor
oughly exasperated the magistrate, who
thumped the table and ordered Chin to
be kept In confinement till after the mar
rage was completed. In afew days time
the matchmaker presented himself at
Yu's house with the customary presents.
When she was well inside, the door was
closed, and father and daughter fell upon
her and beat her horribly. The woman.
after this fortaste. not knowing what
would happen on the real wedding day.
appealed to the magistrate, who again
called up the parties. Yu could only al
lege in excuse that the son-in-law had
not come in person to the house. Chin
said that the custom was given up in the
country, and, besides, his son had not the
money TO buy proper dress for the &C.
casion. The magistrate replied that the
bridegroom should certainly go to the
house. and. as he was poor, the magistrate
would give HIM the money for the dress.
Moreover, when the day came, the mag
istrate said he would send two policemen
with the bridegroom. and, if there was
any trouble, the girl should be carried to
the magistrates Yamen and married there.
When the day came the policemen es-
corted the party to the brides house and
then back to the bridegroom and wait
ed till the ceremony had actually been per-
formed, when they retired.