The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-05-08
A CHINESE MARRIAGE.

A CHINESE MARRIAGE.
The Alliance Of an Ensiish Interpreter
with Alice. the Angel
From the San Francisco Can.
Charles Jamison, an interpreter of Chr
nese and English. bonn in China, but
educated IN this city, was married last
night. a la Chinese, to yeung Chinese
girl named All Guy. which, being trans
lated, means, ''Aice, the Angel" This
is the first marriage according to Chinese
rites that has ever taken place in this
city. The marriage had been the subject
of conversation in Chinese circles for
several weeks. and those who looked for
ward to be invited to the wedding were
in fiutter of excitement. Miss All Guy,
who is about eighteen years Of age, was a
few days ago placed in charge Of two
matrons, who busted themselves In in
structing her in her duties as a wife. A
number of the relatives OF the groom
yesterday morning sent Miss All Guy
presents Of cakes, on which were stamped
notices, congratulations and wishes of
prosperity in her new sphere of life A large
number Of merchants and sthe president
of the Six companies visited Chinese
restaurant on Jackson street, where a BAN
auet was to be given after the ceremony.
and deposited with the proprietor sums of
money varying from 81 to $40, to be
donated to the groom. Each individual
donation was wrapped in n strip of red
paper and marked with the name Of the
donor, and the packages when Endorsed
were delivered 10 the groom, who,
according to the custom of his country,
was in duty bound to seek out the donors
and extend to each a personal invitation
to attend the banquet. One hundred
and eleven Cinnamon made donations,
and as the groom had to invite each
one of these ne had no light task before
him.
The groom had selected for his future
home two rooms on the first floor OF the
old Baptist church building on Washing
ton street. fronting on that street. These
he had prepared expressly for the occasion
and fitted in part with Chinese and AmerI-
can furniture. On the walls were hung
number Of large strips Of red paper, on
which were stamped Chinese proverbs re-
lating to marriage and married life. On
table in the first room were lacquered
trays containing Chinese dried fruits and
sweetmeats, while on Others weretlny cups
for tea. There were also on the table Chi
nese ornaments and several water-pipes.
Yesterday afternoon, at about clock.
the female chaperones conducted the girl
in their charge to the rooms of her future
husband, but before she crossed the thresh-
hold of the door they threw heavy hand
kerchief over her head and shut out every
thing from her sight This, they told her
was to warn her that in entering the mar
ried state she was cropping IN the dark flu
ture; but that, placing implicit faith in the
husband and relying upon him to guide
her, she need not fear of making a mis-
step. She was then conducted to the first
room and then the room adjoining, where
she met the man who was to become her
husband. He was standing by a bed in
the room, and as she approached the hand
kerchief was removed from her head and
both sat on the edge OF the bed. In sit
ting down he intentionally sat on por-
ton of the long silken skirt she wore. She
made no attempt to remove the garment,
and by allowing him to remain seated on
it gave proof that she was his captive
and willing to submit to his orders. Had
she, however, drawn the garment toward
her II would have been proof that she
would not be Submissive. and would not
obey him unless she felt inclined 10 do so.
The pair then knelt before a small altar.
from which hung ancestral tablets, and
each offered a prayer, after which they
went into the other room, where they seat.
ed themselves.
PECULIAR FANCY.
One Of the chaperones poured tea into
two of the cups and offered these 10 the
groom and BRIDE, telling each to take a
sip. This being done they took the cups
again. mixed the contents, and. returning
10 the pair, told them to drink, saying that
as their lips had touched the beverage
they would draw inspiration from each
other by partaking Of the mixture. The
bride, accompanied by the chaperons, fol-
lowed by the groom and some relatives,
formed a procession and lett the house,
amid the explosion of fre-crackers. and
marched through Stout's alley 10 the res
taurant on Jackson street, where the guests
had assembled and were waiting on the
third floor. As the party assembled the
stairs. an orchestra played an air which a
stretch Of imagination might construe into
a wedding march. As the BRIDE entered
the room where the guests were assembled
she was supported by the two chaperones.
and had her face hid IRON view by large
fan. She was then led around TO each OF
the guests, and as she approached she
courtesied three times. The guests re-
turned the courtesy and then recited a
proyerb, to which the bride replied. After
having gone this ordeal Ill times, the
party sat down to q banquet gotten up in
the highest style OF Chinese culinary art.
The fist course. which lasted nearly two
hours, being over, the bride was escorted
| TO her home again. During the evening a
Call reporter, who had attended the ban
quet, was asked by the groom 10 pay a
visit TO the bride. On the way 10 the
brides home the groom said: II have
been married in the true Chinese fashion
TO please my Chinese friends. The cere-