Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-11
Bre,.ch Of Promise Case In China.
HOW 1HIY MANAGE sucH THiSGs IN The GILES
TIAL EMPIRE,

TIAL ENTIRE.
From the Shanghai Shep pao1
In q country village near Marking lived two
men named Chen and Yu. Yu had daughter
who was formally betrothe,1i to Chen's son, aud,
probably on accornt Of her parents poverty;
was sent 70 aer future father-in.lawS house, to
be brought up there. After time yu, who is a
daughter came to pay visit to her mother.
The girl, who was now grown up, was very
discontinued with her lot, complaining Of hav-
ing to work in the fields and of her father-in-
laws rougbness and coarseness; and her par
ents began to repent of the engagement, and
determined to try and break 1t Off. Next door
to them was living scholar named Chin, who
was waiting for the next examinations, and Oc-
cupy1pg himself meanwhile as schoolmaster.
Constantly seeing the girl, he took fancy to
her, and formed an intrigue with her. The fu-
ture rather-1n-law, Chen, finding the girl was
not sent back to his house, and hearing ru-
NOR OF Chin's attentions began to suspect that
1u was trying to break OF the match. and sent
replied 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 him.
self with the match aker. but with no further
result than great deal OF mutual abuse. Chen
next flied petition in the magistrates court,
and 1u presented contemplation written
for him by Chin. The case came on for hear
ing, ard the magistrate soon elected the truth.
After rating 1u soundly, he turned to Chen
and said, "You can take the girl or not as you
like, but strongly advise you not to- chen
persisted in having her, and the magistrate Or
dered the two pal ties to draw up formal con-
tract. Chin, who was present in court, mo-
toned to Yu not to sign the contract he was
detected, however, by the magistrate In so do
Ing, and was called up and questioned. and
then cautioned that a man In bis position should
not mix himself up in case of this sort The
magistrate then looked up the almanac and
chose lucky day in June for the wedding day,
whereupon Chin stepped forward on Yu's be-
half and begged that the marriage might be
held In the Autumn. This interference thor
oughly eXaSperated the magistrate, who
thumped the table and ordered Chin to be kept
In confinement till after the marriage was COM
presented herself at Yu's house With the custo-
mary presents. When she was well ius,de the
door was closed, and father and daughter fell
upon her and beat her horribly. The woman.
after this foretaste, not knowing what would
happen on the real wedding day, appe lied to
the magistrate, who again called up the par
ties. 1u could only alleye In excuse that, the
son-1n-law had not come IN person ID the house.
Chen said that the custom was given up in the
country, and besides his son had not the money
to buy proper dress for the occasion. The
magistrate replied that the bridegroom should
certainly 60 to the house, and, as he wsS 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, II there was any
trouble the girl should be carried to the ma,
trateS 1amen and married there. When the
day came, the rc,icemen escol ted the pl. " }
the brides house and then back t. the BRIDE
mony had actually been performed, when they
retired