St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-10-15
Chinese Widows.

japanese widows are debarred from
no social privileges enjoyed during
the lifetime of their husbands. and
they usually remarry as soon as q deslra-
bic opportunity is presented. Among
the Chinese, widows wear deep mourn
ing for three years after the death of
their husbands. During that time they
are not permitted to use cosmetics, and
are restricted to a few jewels and
ornaments.
While she remains widow Il re-
spectacle Chinese woman will wear no
red garment either useful or ornamental;
and she always Displays some peculiar
style of headdress which proclaims to
! the world her bereaved condition. At
! the end of the legal term for mourning
she may remarry if she choose, although
to remain single is regarded as very
virtuous and honorable act.
Such widow, who is steadfastly
obedient to her husbands parents and
devotes her life to their comfort and to
acts of worship, may have an ornamen
tai portal erected to her honor after
| death, and if she lives a virtuous and
obedient life until she is is fifty years
of age, the portal may then be erected,
and she may enjoy the privilege of wor-
Shipping it.
These portals usually stand in con-
spicuous places, are built of stone, and
are inscribed upon the upright posts
and ornamental cross piece, with the
name and virtues of those whom they
commemorate, and with a few classical
sentences in praise of chastity and flial
piety. The Emperor's permission to
erect one of these monuments is always
accompanied with a small sum of money
from the Imperial Treasury which
forms the nucleus of fund to which
all the widows friends and relatives
are expected to contribute. When
sufficient amount is raised the portal is
erected upon some favorable spot select
ed by the soothsayers, and is dedicated
with religious services conducted by
same mandarin of low rank appointed
for the purpose by the authorities of
the district.
Among the very few charitable in
situations supported by wealthy China
men are soc cites for the relief of poor
widows. These are most usually
connected with the most popular tenn
piles, and the two or three of which |
had knowledge through the mission
aries were regularly endowed. There
is great deal of &c red tape about
their management, and the entire
amount received by any one widow
is very insigniticant-scarcely enough
to keep the wolf from the door. If she
have son her annuity ceases when he
reaches the age of sixteen, otherwise
it continues until her DEATH The
society meets the expense OF her
funeral. This charity is not always
bestowed upon the most worthy, for
any vacancy in the list of pensioners
is usually filled from the long line of
applicants by casting lots before the
image of the temple God.
Among the upper class the re-
marriage of widows is regarded as
dishonorable to all concerned; but the
fact that widow costs less than
girl, and the wedding expenses are
small, since custom admits of no dis
play on such occasions, leads poor
parents often to consent that their
sons marry widows, whose friends
acquiesce in such arrangement.
Sometimes widow will be sold by
her father-in-law to become the wife
of poor man or the concubine of a
gentleman. In this way troublesome
dependent is disposed of, and perhaps
money secured with which to purchase
a wife for a surviving son. Genteel
families, however, dispise any trans
action of this sort, and prefer the
trouble and expense of maintaining
their widows to the disgrace of a re-
marriage.