The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-30
BREACH OF PROMISE IN CHINA.
How They Manage Such Things in the Co
lostal Empire.
IJhnngl,al Eiten pao |

In country village near Nanting lived two
men named Chen aud Yu. Ylt hnd II dnugli-
ter who was formally betrothsd TO Chen's
son. and, probably on account Of her parent
poverty, was sent to her future father-in
laws house Us he brought up there. After n
time In. who Is u weaver, went to live In Nan
king. ard his daughter came to pay visit to
her mother. Theglrl WHO was now grown up,
WaA very diHCpntsntad with her lot, com
planning of having to work In the fields, and
or her fhther-in-inw's rouHhness and COARSE
ness; and her parents began to repent OF the
engagement, and heterminedt to try md hreal,
il off. Next door to them was II scholar named
Ohm. who was waiting for the next examtna-
tions. and occupying himself meanwhile ns n
sohoomnster. Constantly seeing the girl,
he took II fancy to her. and formed an intrigue
with her.
The future father-ln-law, Chem finding the
girl was not sent back to ais house, aud hear
Ing II rumOr 0f Cnlns attentions, began to
suspect that Yu Wills trying to break of the
match, and sent u mntch-maker to hurry on
the marriage. w replied that he had never
accepted any betrothal presents, and that no
one could make him take them, and that he
would not give his consent 10 the marriage
Chen then went himself with tho match.
maker. but with no further result than n
great deal OF mutual abuse Chen next filrtl
u petition In the magistrates court, and Yu
presented n counter petition, written for him
by Chin The Case came on for hearing and
the magistrates SOON eliclted the truth. After
rating Yu soundly, he turned to Chen and
said. You can take the girl or not, IA you
like. but ] strongly advise you not to-
Chen persisted Ia having her. and the
magistrate ordered the two parties to draw
mp u formal contract. Chin, who WINS present
In court, motioned to Yu not to sign the con-
tract. II0 Was detected. however, by the
magistrate In 30 doing and was CALLED up
and questioned and then cautioned that a
man IN his position should not mix himself
IN In II case Df thia sort The mapisstrntp then
looked up tho almanac and chose lucky day
III June for the wedding day, whereuppn Chin
stepped forward and In Yu's behalf begged
thnt the marriage might be- held In the au~
tumn. This interference thoroughly exas-
psratad the magistrate, who thumped the
table and ordered Chin to be- kept In conline-
mont Till after the marriage was completed.
In y few days time the matchmaker pre-
scented herself at fn'a house with the en- stom-
airy 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 foretaste not know
Ing what would happen on the real wedding
day. appealed to tho magistrates. who again
CALLED up tho parties. Yu could only nllege
in excuse that the soli-lr-law had not come In
person to the house. Chen said that tho GUS
tom WAS given no In tho country and besides,
his son had not the money to buy proper
dress for the occasion. The mngistrnte re-
piled TINT the bridegroom should certainty
~ To the house, and. as he was poor, the
magistrate would give him the money for the
dress. Moreover, when the day came, the
magistrate said he would send two policemen
with the bridegroom, and # there was any
trouble the girl should be carried to the magls-
trates Yamen and married there. When the
day came the policemen escorted the party to
the BRIDES house and then back to the BRIDE
groom q, and waited TIL the marriage cere-
mony had actually been performed, when
they retired.