Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-02-12
A CHINESE WEDDING.
A NOVEL SERVICE DEscRIBED.-A. NOV
AND A LOVELY DAUGHTER OF THE
FLowERY KINGDOM MARRIED
IN sHANGHAI--CELEBR
TED BY FEAsTING AND
FIRECRACKERs.

From the Shanghai Herald
The interesting ceremony ofa Chinese
wedding was performed in the pres
ence OF large numbers of foreigners of
both sexes. The bridegroom was the
second son of A-mow, the welLknown
storelSeeper on the French settlement,
and the bride was the daughter of
family of some estate residing in the
native city of Shanghai They are
only seventeen years Of age. The
decoration Of the premises for the oc-
casicn was carried out on an extensive
scale, and, as the wedding took place
at 5 o'clock in the evening, the effect
was much heightened by the inevita-
bic Chinese lantern, Of divers colors
and shapes, suspended from bowers of
evergreens and flowers, arranged upon
trellised bamboos. Several rooms IN
the store were prepared for the accom-
mediation of the guests, and stand out
side was erected for the convenience of
the musicians and singers.
The bride was attired sumptuously
in O parti-colored brocaded satin over
garment, which was Of course sur
mounted by the red cotton bridal veil
covering the whole head and face and
hanging some distance down, being,
however, slightly open at the sides to
permit of easier breathing The fash
ion of this attire was that Of centuries
ago-the top of the head.dress bullying
out in form very similar to that seen
in ancient pictures ofIsraelitish priests.
Around this she wore golden coronet,
studded with pearls, amethysts, and
rubies, while pendant from II were
numerous strings Of long glass beads
of several colors, the whole presenting
a novel, II not altogether charming
effect.
The bridegroom was clad in the en-
broidered silk robes of white-button
Mandarin. He betrayed not the slight
est anxiety to lift the veil that con-
cealed the brides face, but with a
stolidity remarkable in one 80 young,
allowed the ceremony to proceed and
himself to be guided by the old women
gobetweens with much resignation.
They placed the bride to the right Of
the family altar and the bridegroom at
her lett hand, both kneeling.
1t may not be amiss to explain how
the bride reached her father in-laws
house, where tho nuptials are always
celebrated. On the day which has
been found by the fortune tellers as
being propitious for the event, the
bridegroom sets out for the house Of
his prospective iather.in-law but he is
always met on the way thither by an
emissary, who entrcats him to return
to his own homo, and not waste his
time in seeking the root OF so humble
a parsonage as his future wifes father.
| All length, persuaded Of this, he re-
turns homo and sends the bridal chair,
accompanied by four, eight, twelve or
sixteen groomsmen, as the case may
be, TO ask for the bride. The bridal
chair is q sine qua non of tho wedding
ceremony. While the groomsmen are
being feasted, the bride is subjected TO
a little martyrdom of having some of
her front hair pulled out and her fore.
head expanded to that matronly form
which Is often seen in the case oi
amahs.
The gioomsmen having urged the
/ impatience Of the groom, and the long.
ing with which he is looking forward
to the happy hour, they take their de-
parturo, and the bride Is led forth TO
| her parents family hall to worship
lber ancestors - those lares OF the
Chinese family religion-and her pa
rents, the deities incarnatc Of this cult.
AT the termination OF these simple
| rites, she enters the bridal chair. The
music, the lanterns, the torches, the
red imitation Of Manda.
rims turnout-the numerous boxes and
trunks, bed clothes, and utensils indie
scribable, all shining bright and red
, that form the make mp OF bridal pro
ccssion, are familiar to every foreign
resident. At the brdegroom's house
, the family altar, as above stated, had
been prepared. Tws candles, tho nup
tial tapers, one covered with greer
and the other with red Grape, were
!, lying on the altar front, the object O.
which will be presently explained.
Tgna hr;da xvss reoeived at her new