Telegram-herald., 1890-10-18
COURTsHIP IN JAPAN.
12ca1sse Yo1sAs Wa0 Press Ehssr
suite Ln sprinx Poszy.
80 Lsss-s 4ks49 = D~as FArs4xh assfss-
L-zs-sAsl4s Uae AFs Eax.Es4
-Ezlssfsttsa 80 ~.
as@ey nsaa-


NargTea lis 10 tkpau = nost IA
seres1las saslset for Aussicaa Fe@5eFs.
because - sha AaaF bec4ll2r eussoaas
saa ssazss os4ceFailx - 4 se eoulen
Deosls. bsfess easeEing iaso ceasz@os
~ Earr. ags, 1s44-ly 4Es sag.xe1 -
s4ca stnef - the consent u tas parents
&a1 ga9 aelD of tAs zsdi4tors. 49, also
serve a. siznssses AMI a. sisers Usual
~ tns Esdiators are selected from tns
near sslaEivea CO frisnds, ana thsy
have 40 esG~ensaston- These mar
riages ara wsry di5essnt kiad fron
what are 4nswn as 5roxsrage marriages,
watch a-s aala~fal The narriags sgs
Is usually eighteen In the female and
tNengY-ons m the naie.
Coaraship i carried 0n In many all
fereat says. bas the most asaAi one Il
b. medistioa The duty % the media
to-s - - Investigate and iaform one
party In regard - The property. rePata-
tion and character " the orher. After
this Invests gzsion there Is 4 meeting of
the persons in tending % marry and there
thev are inErol uced 30 each other. They
may promise 70 marry as tais time. but
before the nRal consent Il given each
one must inyesslgsse TIE others char
Gebeg. II both are satisfied the mar
riAge ceremony will Do performed by
the help u the medistors. and the name
OF tne contracting parties must be re-
corded Ia ths ocisisl regissee. This Is
sonsidered a. a civil contract
The above - a prevailing custom
among tae common people. or middle
class; bat there j. one custom which "a
a yosy peculiar one Ia our country.
Nhen a child Is born the parent makes
a. engagement between 10 and child
OF some other family 1his Is usually
called pure engage nent. but OF course
is Is voidable when The child becomes
an adult TIE origin OF such an en-
gagemens Is probably found In the fact
that che usage OF our counsry sayors the
family rather than tho individual life,
pad therefore an engagement between
he parents Is necessary in order 20 pre-
serve family reputation and prosperity.
The custom also prevails among the
higher classes. but the Introduction Of
modern civilization Is changing this.
The only defect OF this custom is the
oppressiveness OF the advice or consent
OF the parent and although IL has a
powerful and influential enforcement, is
has no legal power.
There is = story told OF fashionable
lady She said: 81 intend % marry an
ideal man. but IL will probably take ten
years TO End him"
A gentleman ASKED her: What will
you do during the ten years? ?"
She replied; IL viii get married 10
somebody unhl the ideal man is found. "
This Is an example Of she corruption
which was forcibly attacked By the
press. This attack resulted in a reform
alton Of the social condition OF the peo-
pie. and at the present time the usual
k0rm Of coprtship necessary Is 70 gain
the consent OF the parents and the ad-
wiser.
The employment OF mediators is a
necessary ore. II they are not en-
Vloyod and the consent OF the parents
obtained it would DO considered an
animal-liko marriage By our people.
Therefore all the people in Japan are
obliged 70 follow this method notwith-
standing their rank in society. The
service OF the miidleman is considered
very honorable. and the Japanese term