Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-12-05
RREACH UE PRONISE IN CHINA.
How They Manage such Things In the
Celestial Empire.
Shanghai Shon ran.


Shanghai Shep rao,
Ina oouotrv village near Naegkin
lived two mvn named Chen and Iu. Iu
mad u daughter, who was formally be-
trothed Ia Cheu'S son, aud, probably en-
account ct her parents poverty, was
sent ~ Ger future fathcr.i% laws house,
to I've thought up there, After ~ time
w, who Is y weaver, went u live in
Ranking, and his daughter came 70 pay
visit 10 her mother, The girl, who
was row grown M, WAS very discon-
tented With her lNL complaining OF nav.
ing to work IN tGe fields. and uf her
tather.inhw'S oushncss ami coarse
ness; and her parents hogau 10 repent
ut the eng cement, and dCtermluvd TO
try and break It OF Next door Is
them WAS u scholar named Coin, who
WAS waiting for tho next examinations,
and occupying himself meanwhile rs u
>choolmastcr. Constantly seeing the
S,rl, he took y fancy 10 her, and formed
an intrigue with her,
The future ialher.inlaw, Chen, find
lnS the glrl waS not scut back to his
house, aud hearing u rumor. OF Chm :
attentions, began 20 suspect that Iu was
trying to break ell the match, and sent
4 matchmaker Ia hurry ON the mar
rlage Yu replied that he had never
accepted any betrothal presents, and
that no one could mako him take them,
and that he would not give his consent
10 the marriage, Chen then went him
self with the matchmaker, but with
no further suit than u great deal OF
mutual abuse, Caen next flied pcti-
uon III the magistrates court, and lu
presented a counter petition written tor
him 10y Chin. The case came ON for
hearing, aud the magistrate soon
ehcued the truth. After rating yin
soundly, he turned To- Cneu and said /.
You can take the girl or not, as You
like, hut strongly advise yon not e.. V
Cnen persisted III having her, aud the
draw up n formal contract. Chm, who
was present i'll court, motioned to Nu
not To sigu the contract. He was de.
tec;ed, however, by the magistrate in SO
dong, and was called up and questioned,
and then cautioned that man in liza
position should not mix himself up
III n ease ot this sort. The magistrate
lhon looked up the almanac and chose
II lucky day IN Juno for the wedding
day, whcrenpon Chin stepped forward
and in Iu's behalf begged that the
marriage might lie held tor the autumn
This interference thoroughly eNaspor-
ated the magistrate, who thumpei the
table and ordered Chm 10 be kept IN
confinement till after the marriage was
completed, Ina few days timo the
matchmaker presented herself nj Iu's
house with the customary presents
When she was well inside, the door
was closed, and father and daughter
Tell upon h,r aud beat her horribly.
The woman, after this ioretasto, not
knowing what would happen on the
real wedding day, Appealed to the
magistrate. who again called up the
parties. lu could only allege IN ex.
cuse that the son.in-law had not come
in person To hls mousse. Chen said that
the custom was gwen up in the country,
and besides, his son had not the money
tn buy proper dress for the occasion.
The magistrate replied that the bride.
groom should certainly goto the house,
and, M nc was poor, the magistrate
would give him the money for tho
dress. Moreover, when the day came,
the magistrate said I've would send two
policemen with the bridegroom, and il
there was any trouble the girl should
he carried to the magistrates Yamen
and married there. When the dny
came, the policeman escorted the party
TO the brides house and then came
back to the bride groom's, and waited
TILL the marriage ceremony mad actually
been performed, when they retired.