Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-22
a JAPANESE WEDDING.
an Illustration or How They Marry In
Far-On Japan.

Far-On Japan.
japanese lanterns, huge japanese fans,
gorgeouslv figured screens and portleres
lent an Oriental bazaar sort OF air to the
sunday school room Of the Independent
Presbyterian church last night. The room
was fitted up especially for a Japanese
wedding and an audience OF 800 assembled
to see the ceremony. The tying Of the
knot lasted three-quarters OF an hour, and
it was conducted with a degree ofsolemn-
ity that mas never been grated upon the
performance OF the rite in this country.
Whatever apparent advantages the Japan
ese way may possess II is unlikely that It
Will become the rage in this country, Tits
true, as some one remarked, that the bride
and groom are not introduced until the
certificate is signed. That bars out the
romantic courtship episode which, it is
pretty certain, young Americans will not
give up.
Singing
Brightly dawns our wedding day;
Joyous hour, we give thee greeting"
eight maids, two fathers-in-law, two
mOthers-in-law, and the bride and groom
formed in a semi-circle on the platform.
The bride, Miss Ida Fleming, wore veil
that was said to be genuinely japanese.
Mr.. Thomas Clay's bridegroom suit was
cut according to the latest fasblon-plate
81 "Ko-K0," the leading tailor OF Titipu.
No two Of the costumes were alike, and
for variety aud coloring they would have
discounted a Kaleidoscope or new novel
lists description Of sunset.
After the singing OF the madrigal the
maids disappeared. The most important
functionary at a real Japanese wedding
is the dlrectress. Miss Lula Wilbur per-
formed the duties last night. She stood
in the background with the groOm's pro-
spective tather-in-law and mOther-in-law,
Miss Mamie Cox and Nr. Willie Dixon,
on her right, aud the brides father and
mother-in-law elect, Mr.. Lee Wiley ana
Miss Jessie Dale on the left. To these
the BRIDE and groom salaamed most rev.
erently. Then the contracting parties
took seats in the middle OF the group,
while the maids came out by twos and
made most profound sa'aams. The
maids were Misses Lille, Hunter,
Launev, Fleming, lngraham, Thomas,
Shelmau and Wilbur, AS they bowed
they seated themselves and presently the
directress brought in a small teapot and
a cup and saucer on tray. The groom
was served first and he drank three cups
of the beverage. Then the bride drank
three and so did the mas-in-law and pas
in-law. The maids got only one cuptul
each.
At that point the master Of ceremonies
led the presumably happy couple of the
platform, but came back again in a min
ute or two, when all had more tea and
rice cakes. The eating Of the cakes was
attended with more smackng of lips than
is considered good etiquette in this cOun-
try. The last feature was the chorus by
the maids and relatives.
''For he's gone and he's married Yum Yum
Yum Yumn'
There were no congratulations, no
minister, no fee, no promise ''to cherish
and obey" no ring and no remarks, eX-
cept by the audience.
All of the maids and the bride had fol-
lowed the instruction of the chorus in the
"MikadO," and had painted the pretty
face and dyed the coral liz. The bride
too needed Pitt Sings Injunction to ''sit
with dOwncast eve"
The entertainment was novel and inter-
| esting and amused the audience very
much. w nen it was all over the audience
| had a supper in the basement of the
| chapel. The bill of fare was a hand
| painted card that was kept as souvenir.