The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-12
BREACH OF PROMISE IN CHINA.
A Case Showing how Refractory Lovexs
nre brought to Terms.

A Case Showing how Refractory Lovoxs
nre Brought to Terms.
In a country village near Nankihg
lived two men named Chen and Yu: Yu
had a daughter who was formally be-
trothed to Chen's son, and, probably on
account Of her parents poverty, was
sent to her future father-in-law's house
to be brought up there. After . time
Yu, who is a weaver, went to live In
Marking, and his daughter came to pay
q visit to her mother. The girl: who
was now grown up, was very dlscon-
tented with her lot, complaining Of hsv-
ing to work in the fields and OF her
future father-in-law's roughness and
c-oarseness; and her parents began to
repent Of the engagement and determined
to try and break it off. Next door to
them was living a scholar named Chin,
who was waiting for the next examina-
tons and occupying himself meanwhile
as O schoolmaster. Constantly seeing
the girl, he took q fancy to her.
The future father-in-law, Chen, find
ing the girl was not sent back to MS
house, and hearing a rumor of Chln's
attention, began to suspect that w was
trying to break off the match, and sent
a matchmaker to hurry on the mar,
rage. Yu replied that he never accepted
any betrothal presents. and that no one
could make him take them, and that ne
would not give his consent to the mar
rage. Chen then went himself with the
matchmaker, but with no further result
than a great deal of mutual abuse. Chen
next filed a petition in the magistrates
court, and Yu presented a counter-petl-
ton written for him by Chin. The case
came on for hearing and the magistrate
soon elected the truth. After rating fu
soundly he turned to Chen and said:
"You can take the girl or not, as you like,
but I strongly advise you not to-" Chen
persisted in having her, and the magls-
trate ordered the two parties to draw up
a contract. Chen, who was present IN
court, motioned to Yu not to sign the
contract. He was detected, however, by
the magistrate, in 80 doing, and was
called up and questioned, and then
cautioned that a man in his position
should not mix himself up in a case OF
this sort. The magistrate then looked
up the almanac and chose a lucky day in
June for the wedding day, whereupon
Chen stepped forward on Yu's behalf
and begged that the marriage might be
held in the autumn. This interference
thoroughly exasperated the magistrate
who thumped the table and ordered
Chen to be kept in confinement till after
the marriage was completed.
In a few days time the matchmaker
presented herself at Yu's house with the
customary presents. When she was
well inside, the door vas closed, and
father and daughter fell upon erand beat
her horribly. The woman, after the fore
taste, Woodworking what would happe
on the real wedding day, appealed to the
magistrate. who again called up the
parties. Yucould only allege in excuse
that the son-in-law had not come in per.
son to the house. Chen said that the
custom was given up in the country,
and besides his son had not the money
10 buy a proper dress for the occasion
The magistrate replied that the bride.
groom should certainly 60 to the house,
and, as he was poor, the magi strate
would give him the money for the dress.
Moreover, when the day came, the mag.
istrate said he would send two police.
men with the bridegroom, and, ifthere
was any trouble the girl should be car:
ried to the magistrates Yamen and
married there. When the day came, the
policemen escorted the party to the
brides house and then back to the
bridegroom's, and waited until the mar
riage ceremony had actually been per-
formed, when they retired. -Gangh'
(China) Sheu Pao.