Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-09-13
MARRIAGE IN CHINA.
How the bride 10 Delivered 90 the fsroom
snd How Us Makes Her His VvIfe.

Then a procession Is formed consist.
ing of friends, bands of music. and
sedan chairs decorated in 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 courier at the head.
He bears large piece Of pork on n
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 influence. All this time the
bride is at her own house, arraying
herself in her best dress and richest
jewels. Her hair Is bound M and ar
ranged in due form and style by a
skilled matron. After this her head
dress is donncd. 1t usually consists
Of some rich material sprinklcd with
ornaments. A large mantle is then
thrown over her. II completely covers
her Last Of all An enormous hat, rs
large rs an umbrella, is placed on her
head. II comes down 10 her shoulders,
completely hiding her face. Thus
riggcd, she takes her seat in the red
gilt marriage chair. called kwa kiau.
When concealed in this chair she is
carried to her husband by four men.
When the bride is seated in the
chair, her mother or some other rcla-
tive locks the door. and the key is Civ
en- to the best man. ] suppose be
turns il over 10 the bridegroom on
reaching his house. The procession
returns with more care and more
style. saw one during ramhlc in 4
Chinese town. As the bride Was borne
past MS We CAV" her three cheers
dare say that all her children will be
either knock -knccd or bow-leggcd. be-
cause of the cheers Of the barbarIans.
Good luck 10 the poor bottlcd-up one.
Sh" had the best wishes of all our par
Is. as We followed the procession for
some squares 20 the great a-touish-
ment Of all the Cinnamon on the
street
As the procession approached the
bridcgroom's door a band stationed
there struck up a tune, and Gre-crack-
crs were let of by the box until the
bride was carried within the gate
The go-bctwccn then got the key from
the bridegroom and opened the door
OF the sedan chair As the bride
alighted she was galuted by a small
child at the side Of the old man. The
groom was closeted within the house.
and she went in 70 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 tablet and
bowed their heads three times. They
next took seats at a small table bear
ing two goblcts tied together with
thread and containing wine. The go
between severed the thread, but the
brid" failed to qucnch her thirst, ow-
ing to her enormous hat and mantle.
The two were now man and wife.
The husband took the hat and mantle
from the bride. and for the first time
IN his life had look at her. After
he had looked at her for some minutes
-bc called in his friends and guests.
They scrutiniTcd her and made no
bones Of expressing their opinions con-
cerning her charms. The females
gave their tongues full scope and had
no mercy on the poor bride. She took
II all without making any disagreed
ble 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 feast was
then served. the sexes eating in differ
ent apartments. The males were
served by the bridegroom and his
maln relatives, and the females by the
females by the bride and her mother
in-law. assisted 10y servants. The two
sexes rarely sit down at the same Ia
BILE.
Marriage is very common among the
Chinese. You hardly ever come across
a girl Of sixteen or eighteen who is not
tied down TO some man. II a woman
COMMITS adultery after marriage she
Is decapitated under the law.
Whyl