The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-07-01
4 cn1xKss WEDDING.
hsses frsa . Letter wrisssa by . laval
O0eer % bis Father.


riage. In some cases children arc betrothsd %
soon as born; others At . moro advanced age.
say from to years; but ] am told that this
custom 10 on It's last legs. 10 many unhappy
marriage have arisen FROM thia practice
that parents are loath to engage their
children, before finding out some Of
tho attributes Of the proposed husband.
When the contract 10 once made only leprosy
or physical disability can annul IL. When their
children are 10 or II years old the parents arc
taxed with tho anxious task Of finding them
suitable partners for life The betrothai is en-
ttrsly in their hands. It - arranged through
the medium Of class Of persons who make 1t
their business to find out everything concern
Ing the families OF manageable parties. and
the characters and dispositions Of eligible
young men and women Their profession 10
considered highly honorable. Great conf
dence II reposed In their Judgment and ve-
racity. A their employment depends to q
great extent upon their reputation. they have
duct these nee9.iations Ths eo.bstwesns are
regular marriage. The father and elder broth
or Of the young man first send a D!ei-j,i 10 the
and to ascertain the moment OF her birth. so
that the horoscope Of tho two may bs sY-
Is taken. The boys friends send the go-bee
tween Oack 70 make an Oner OF marriage. II that
be accepted the glrls friends are requested to
| put their assent in writing Presents are then
sent s,, 70 the girls parents II ths parties are
next requests tho parents Of the girl to choose a
lucky day for the wedding. The preliminaries
going Of ssnainS Dsrty Of his friends e' VIE
'uTFssic : to , bring his bride to her new home
money MeSa Spsf small sre Hef
| he had to marry of more than two OF his chill
, drsn n one one year: Ths parents 60 into lilo
with proper scst they win e,hsr s S mostSSss
means From The ts Of tho t Sh
I'll marriage r. the Young LADY Is Required to
friends cali on her parents she must rotire at
once once to the inner apartment She is allowed to
viss S only nor relatives and then when she
must treat even their brothers and sisters witt,
cerning her intended. and the. outside world
allowed TO see eacl, otRSr The prncipsi for e
Mnlites OF a marriage are the same oil over
portions Of the empire which would appear
very singular at the capital. The marriage
Is'y mss Of hq S
bridegroom. There arc always presents OF
On tho wedding, day the guests assemble in
| the brilegrooms house Then a procession Is
| formed. Consisting Of friends. bands Of music.
| huu scuhu CuNlIS uecOE&l6u III ana goa.
with bearers in red coats. and dressed in sort
OF Livery. sometimes sonnet. wearing red caps. The
hsa Hs Sars s rs pes.
| on a tray, to keep on malicious demons who
may b. lurking on the street corners and in the
the pork. and while they are thus busted tho
procession pa passes on without being affected by
dress and richest ievcis.. Her hair Is bound up
s snd in AVE fGf Ell. n Ssr style M
aonnsd usually 'n eenai ss e 81 soms
Se h lSan Sso With hor
pletely covers her. Last Of all an enormous
hat. rs large "a an umbrella. is PLACED on her
pieteiy hiding her face. Thus ricsod, she takes
her scat In the red gilt marriage called kca
risd to her husband by four men. These mar
riaxe sed.ns are very expensive, II costs twenty
procession The eom@onep ones SRI run as low w, a.
s So They have h no windows the only ventiIa.
Is g ecasa Ss peo At hs
ed whom she arrives at her future home. Chi
n mes , Gir;; nowever. got accustomed to squeez-
M when the e'f Sads is seated in the chair her
and the key is given to the best man. sup
pose pos s, he turns Urn it over to the bridegroom on
ing ramble in q Chinese town; As the bride
oo sns ss. al h shTss s
ssrss q the ., cheers ss o, tho SssS.rians;
one She had the bsst p Wishes 0e Of al our
party. as we followed the procession for some
headed By number & the brides family wiz;
hats OTTER beys dressed smifa4
bore % ss There
sarrisd an u%b5slls to hold oyer ne bride
8 ss "s 1sSf
Tn. tables were canop!ed and were trimmed n
git and red. The first was covered with rolls
saen ws soes
ssa II s1s.s aSe: 81 s% ssa
rnfss and usciu Articles ali made 'esf ivory %
Another table was laden with fruit. cakes. and
last Of al tho sedan Of the bride. INV s'''m "A"
grooms door bsna stationed there Struck up
tune "a, and reeraekers wers let n by the box
Tho go.betwSen then got the key fro from nth; the
bridegroom and opened the door OF the sedan
chair Al q tnS bride alighted she was sauted
The groom WAS ciossted within the house. and
she went in to seek him; She still wore the
the groom he greeted her with groat gravity.
They both approached the ancestral tablet and
bowed their heads three times. They next
took seats at n small table bearing two eoblets
tied together with thread and containing wine.
The go.betwecn severed the thread, but tho
bride failed to Iuench her thirst. owing to.the
enormous hat and mantle.
The two were now man and wife Tho hus-
band took tho hat and mantle from the bride.
and for tho frs. time in his life had look at
her. After he had looked at her for some
Thcy scrutnized her and made no bones OF ex-
Dressing their Opin ions concerning hsr charms.
The females gava their tongues fan scope, and
had no mercy upon the poor bride. She took it
all without making any disaxreeable answer.
for fear that the match would be considered an
unlucky one. These cruel criticisms ended.
she was introduced to her husbands parents,
after which she saluted her own father and
mother The wedding foast was then served.
the sexes eating In different apartments. The
males were served by the bridegroom and his
ma her mother-in-law assisted by servants.
III. two sexes rarely sit down at tho same table.
y, Marriage is very common among the Chinese.
You hardly ever come across girl OF sixteen
or eighteen who IL not tied down to some man.
II woman commits adultery after marriage
she Is decapitated under tho law. The man
.