The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-11-22
How the Chinese Marry.

On the wedding day the guests as
semble in the bridegroom's house.
Then procession is formed, consisting
of friends, bands of music, and sedan
chairs decorated in red and gold, with
bearers in red coats and dressed in q
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 tray, to
keep off malicious demons who may be
lurking on the street corners and in the
alleys. These denmons are supposed
to tackle the pork, and while they are
thus busted the procession passes on
without being affected by their evil in
fuence. All this time the bride is in
her own house, arraying herself in her
best dress and richest jewels. Her
hair is bound up and arranged in due
form and style by q skilled matrOn. At
ter this her headdress is donned. 1t
usually consists of some rich material
sprinkled with ornaments. A large
mantle is then 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
to her shoulders, completely hiding her
face. Thus rugged, 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 relative locks
the door and the key is given to the
best man. l suppose he turns it over
to the bridegroom on reaching his house.
The procession returns with more care
and more style. l saw one during a
ramble in Chinese town. AS the bride
was born past US we gave her three
cheers. [ dare say that all her children
will be either knock-kneed or bOw-leo-
ged, because of the cheer of the barba-
rians. Good luck to the poor bottled
up one. She had the best wishes of all
our party, as we followed the process
sion for some squares, to the great as
tonishment of all the Cinnamon on the
street.
AS the procession approached the
bridegrooms door band stationed
there struck up tune and firecrackers
were let off by the box until the bride
was carried within the gate. The 90
between then got the key from the
bridegroom and opened the door of the
sedan-chair. AS the bride alighted she
was saluted by small child at the side
of the old man. The groom was closet
ed 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 gravi-
ty. They both approached the ances-
tral tablet and bowed their heads three
times. They next took seats at small
table bearing two goblets, tied together
with thread and containing wine. The
go-between severed the thread, but the
bride failed to quench her thirst owing
to the 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 a look at her. After he had
looked at her for some minutes he call
ed in his friends and guests. They scru-
tinized her and made no bones of ex-
pressing their opinions concerning her
charms. The females gave their tongues
full scope, and had no mercy upon the
poor bride. She took it all without MAX
ing any disagreeable answer, for fear
the match would be considered an I'M
lucky one These cruel criticisms end
ed, she was introduced to her husband S
parents, after which she saluted her
own father and mother. The wedding
feast was then served, the sexes eating
in different apartments. The males were
served by the bridegroom and 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.
Marriage is very common among the
Chinese You hardly ever come across
girl Of 16 to Is who is not tied down
to some man. If woman commits
adultery after marriage she is decapitat-
ed under the law. The man, however,
is allowed to keep rs many concubines
as he can support, their children being
legitimate, but coming after the child
rem of the wife. If tho concubines live
under the same roof they are mere ser
wants of the wife. Some rich married
men keep concubines in separate apart
ments. Such positions are eagerly
sought by damsels of very fair parent
AQG.