Arkansas weekly mansion., 1884-03-29
MARRIAGE IN CHINA.


Wedding Ceremonies-YounS Men En-
gagged for Years to Girls Whom The,
Have Never Seen.
The lad is early reminded that hi.
parents want grandchildren as soon ant
rs many as possible. His bctrotha
generally takes place when he is iron
seven TO twelve years of age, though
cases have occurred where prel minary
arrangements have been made between
parents before their children had seer
the light of day. \ professional elias:
call d go-bcJweHnS. who Inak" their liy
ing by matchmaking, are employed tt
carry on the negotiations between the
two fam lies. the initiative being takcI
by the parents of the boy For the con
ycnirncc of their clients these go-bc
tweens usually carry in their ockets a
list of candidates for matrImony. On
being solicited he list is consulted. ant
4 br de is selected according to the az,
or so 'ial position desired. subject, o
course, to her parent consent. The
go-brtwecn. in whose Vcracily and goOd
iu igment implicit confidence i paced.
is required to guarantee the reSpertI-
bilitv of the girl fam ". and above al
her freedom from luna Y, lcprp-v, oI
other hcreIitar, tuint He must give
hi word of honor that neither she non
her parents belong to that parIah class
called play-actoIs, bOat-l corle and
slaves. he girls parents also iu-ii-
tutc similar inquiries If the proposal iS
entertained Fortune-tcl.crS are con-
suited. a>trOlo@ers east the horoscope of
the pair. deceased ancestors are CON
suit .d and appeals are mad" to the pa
tron dc.tv of maiticns. Should any un-
lucky omen transpire. such Is the brsak-
inc of Il tea cup before her eyes. nrgo-
liationS v-,rild..bc almost certainly b~o<-
en- OF. The f:st"S are perhaps prOpi
tiou~. Cards are then exchanged. CON
tanning such particulars a. to the exact
nj ment OF b rth, the nam. clan and
condition If the infant pair. who in all
probability have / ever vet seen each
other and Will not for long years to
come, anl are indeed completely ,biiv-
iouS of these arrangements aticctinT
their destiny.
No SENTIMENTAL NONSENSE.
The Young people are considerably
rel eyed of the sweet embarrassment OF
first love All th" guI>h of question
popping. wocinr and tender embraces
are shut be onI their sense. TDcy
know nothing of quiet walks and pic
mics, IF sercma,isS and tc,e-,,-tc e. Their
done for them by their paren:S- When
the hetroihal IS settle-i tha father of The
youth writes n tender cpst I TO the IA
ther of the girl, eNtollinw the Iuaidcn's
beauties and virtues and expressing his
desire to- make her his son : wife This
letter is accompanied by boxes contain
ing cakes. pork. bracelets. eal-r ngS.
hair-p'us and other presents, on receipt
of viii ii the engagement - conSum-
mated and nothing but lrproSy- luna v
or unfaithfulncSS can dissolve the Sa-
cred and eternal bond. Next day the
lad NAV die, but tie engagement re-
ma rs unbrukcn. The unfortup Nte g.rl,
if she makes any ella III to responsibility.
must remain i'll virgin wIdnwt Ood all
her dav~. living at the house of his
I arrntS, min >tcrinC to their needs as a
lnvin" daughter in-law. confe$sinG ever
and anon that her crimes brought the
son tn 4 premature grave, and mourn
inc with many lamentations and paeu-
do-rrief over the loss of the unfortunate
youth, whom she had never SO much rs
seen, and perhaps never heard OF
During the whole period of her en-
gaCemcnt sh, must keep in close re-
tIrrment in the back artments- She
must he suiemnly reserved with the
brothers and sisters. She may not
form any attachments with other girls,
She must make no alluS:On whatever 10
the other sex. much less make any ref
crcnce to her unknown beau. She must
instantly cover her face with n fan
should a gentleman by accident come
near her, and when she goes olt of
doors it must be in Il closely covered Sc
dan or boat. OF course w.r,S occasion
ally rebel against this seclusion, so tar
rs to get some goSsipplng seam tres TO
tell bcr of the outside worlI or even dis
course upon the forbidden topi' OF mat
r,mDny, or to furnish her intorma-
ton upon the personal appearance,
home and propectS of her future lord.
CHOOSING THE DAY.
After minor ceremonies and the
lapse of 4 period varying from one to
Ell ht"en or twenty Wears, comes the
ceremony OF TiHJ n
I hie means selecting the day of mar
riam,,. uSully some day in the ninth
monkh of their calendar, and no time,
labor or expense is spared to insure Il
prup:tious dav. Fortune. .:ellcr-. AS
trolurerS, deceased ancestors. idols and
other oraclcS are consulted. to whom
are submitted the momentous questions
of mes and seasons for al ustlng the
positions OF the nuptial couch, cutting
the bridal garments and stcpp NJ into
the bridal sedan When the inf"rma-
tion has Eccn obtained 1t L. forwarded
to the girl ; parents, wIliten on red
paper. accompanied by Il letter of con-
graduation and presents of poultry and
wine. One of these presents Is n basket
conia ming Il goose and gander. en-
1 L s. foil D. f,,l np
birds being said To pair toge.h 7 every
season. The brides father perhaps sig
mites his approval, and preparations
are at once made for the marriage ccre-
nonv, which shouli take pla e in the
courSs. of another month. Immediately
after the day is fixed the bridegroom
sends the usual pies or cakes. called
ceremony cakes. numbering from a
score to n hundred and weighing about
a round each, to be distributed anon y
tl,e rcIat YES and fir ends of the parties.
The sum of money agreed upon at the
betrothal aS the price of the bride or her
dover is also sent at the same time
This sum varies from $50 to $500 :.
For a ride VINO is fat and pretty and
belongs to n good family sum OF
money will be asked which only rici,
man { an give. This mon2y. however,
must BE- all faithfully spent by the
brides mother in providing her trous
seau, household furniture. etc. the
bridegroom being only expected to lind
the Eare apartments of their future
home.
WEEPING AND wAILING.
For few days before the wedding
day the young lady, who has already
been told of the approaching event.
gives vent to her grief in orthodox fash
ion BY loud bellowings night and day.
The weeping damsel expresses at inter,
walls in conventional phrases the sense
of desolation she feels at the near pros,
fcxax-or from hai