The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-09-28
IN CHINA.
How the Bride is Delivered to the
Groom and How He Makes Her His

Groom and How He Makes Her His
Wife. =I"- 'r"-I .s Haa 70.
From the New York Sun. ...... e.:
On the wedding day the guests assem-
Die in the bridegroom's house. Then a
procession is formed, consisting of
friends, bands Of music and sedan
chairs, decorated with red, and gold,
with bearers in red coats, and dressed
in a sort of livery, sometimes wearing
red caps. The procession starts from
the house with q courier at the head.
He bears q large piece of pork OF a tray,
to keep off malicious demons who may
be lurking on the street corners and in
the alleys. These demons are supposed
to tackle the pork and while they are
thus busted the procession passes on
without being affected by their evil infu-
ence. All this time the brideisa Mt her own
dress and richest Jewels. Her hair is
bouud up and arranged in due form and
style by Il skilled matron. After this
headdress is donned. 1t usually consists
{ of some rich material sprinkled with
ornaments. A large mantle is thrown
over her. 1t completely covers her.
Last Of all an enormous hat, as large as
an umbrella, is placed on her head. 1t.
comes down 10 her shoulders complete
~ hiding her face. Thus rugged She
takes her seat in the marriage chair
called kwa kiau. When concealed in
this chair, she is carried to her husband
by four men,. !. zsa
When the bride is seated in the chair,
her mother or some other relative locks
the door and the, key is given to the
best man, lsuppose he turns it over to
the bridegroom on reaching his house..
The procession returns with more care
and style. l saw one during q ramble'
in a Chinese town. AS rhe bride was
born past us We gave her three cheers.
/ dare say tnat all her children vail be
either knock-kneed or bow-legged, be-
Good luck to the poor b%ottled-up one.
She had the best wishes of all our party,
as we followed the procession for some
squares, to the great as~tonlshilent OF all
the Cinnamon on the street.
AS the procession approached the
~bride-grOom's door a band stationed
there struck up a tune, and ii re crackers
we're let off hy the box until the bride
was carried within the gate. The go-be-
tween then gothic key from the BRIDE
groom and opened the. door ofthe sedan
chair. AS the bride aiighted she was
saluted BY q small Child ut the side OF
an old man. The groom was closeted
within the house, and she went in to
seek him. She still wore the enormous
hat and mantle. When she found the
groom he greeted her with great gravity.
They both approached the ancestral
table aud bowed their heads three times.
They next took seats at a small table
bearing two goblets tied together with
thread and containing wine, The go
bride failed to Quench her thirst, owing
to the enormous hat and mantle.
The two were nov man and wife. The
husband took the hat and mantle from
the bride, and for the first time In his
life had a look at her. After he had
looked at her for come minutes he called
in his friends and guests. They scrutin-
lied her and made no booes of
expressing their opinions CON
c%ernins her charms. The females
gave their tongue full scope, and had
no mercy upon the poor bride. She
took it all without making a disagree
able answer. for fear that the match
would be considered m unlikely one.
These cruel criticisms ended she was
introduced to her husbands parents,
after which she silnted her own father
and mother. The wedding feast was
chen served, the sexes eating in diff
ferent apartments. The males were
served by the bridegroom ana his male
relatives, and the females by the bride
and her mother-in-law. assisted by SER
wants. The two sexes rarely sit down at
the same table. 'tb &" y
Marriage is very common among the
Chinese. You hardly ever come across
i girl Of sixteen ors eighteen who is not
tied down, to. some man. If. q woman
commits adultery after marriage she is
sdecapitatedt under the law. The man
however is allowedto keepas many eon-
cubines as he can support, theft chill
'dren being legitimate, ibnt coming after
the children of the, wife, If the concu-
bines 1--we under the same roof, they are
mere servants of thu wife. Some rich
men keep eoncubinesin separate rooms.
Such positions are eagerly sought by
fdamsels of very fair parentage. H'Gi ~