Telegram-herald., 1890-10-18

FAMILY LIFE
number of seven IA considered FORUM
sts one 4nOng al classes After the
exchange of presents Of yuinO, few
days are suffered 70 elapss aud then Is
esls0rz led the marriage ceremony. This
Il not % De performed In the church. bat
takes place in tho house, Is tue people
think the church Is a place for funerals
and not foe merry-mAkiag. The expense
OF the ceremony varies according 10 the
social standing OF the parties. At the
present time the ceremony Is 20 be per-
formed by the minister or public notary
and attended by the relatives friends
and large numbers OF other people.
After the ceremony refreshments are
served, a. which time an oath Is taken
By the betrothed couple before the
mediators, such an oath being called
''szn-san-kudo," which literally trans
lated means three times three is nine.
This oath Is said 30 be purified by the
drinking OF a certain wine called sacred
wine. The gentleman takes the first
swallow, then the lady the next, and so
alternating until all tho wine has been
drunk, the gentleman taking the last
drink, drinking in all nine times. The
quantity, one cupiul, is equal 10 table
spoonful.
The bridal party do not take the
honeymoon until two or three days after
the wedding day. The wedding dress
OF the lady Is quite interesting. 1t is
white. this signltying purity and chas-
tity. After the ceremony the dress Is
changed FOR a black one, which signifies
that similar to black IL can be changed
70 another color, and that she will al
ways remain true 20 her husband until
death. la the ancient times sone curl
Gus customs prevailed, among them shaw
ing the eyebrows and blacking the
teeth, bat these are gradually being
abolished. The wedding costume Of the
men is almost uniform.
BY virtue of the marriage the women
take the name OF tho husband, unless
man marries an only daughter OF an an
cicnt family. Then, in order 10 keep up
the family name, he assumes that OF the
wife. All the personal property can be
transferred 20 him, but not the realty.
However. there is no equitable settle
ment o. dover right, but the courts Will
oblige the husband 70 support and main
tain the wife according 70 his social stand
ing. The liability OF the husband and
wife is fixed by the usage or equitable
Justice OF our country. An aotrelating 10
married women will be published in
few years In Arril Of this year the
IL ~ frs11 D bs.
exception OF few subjects, among
which was this act. IL was omitted be-
/ cause the Legislature, realizing the i'm
/ portance OF the act. wished to take more
| time 70 consider its different provisions.
/ An act passed in '73 abolished the sys-
/ TEN OF concubinage. and the law does
! not at the present time recognize tho
concubine.
The duty of the wife IS to do the
housework and support his or her par
ents according 70 our customs. The
married couple very seldom separate
from the parents, but live near them,
but not in the same house. When the
parents become old and feeble, the
children are obliged to make them a
comfortable home called "Inkio" which
literally translated means resting
place This is customarily built in the
same place by the SON AT certain ago
the parents generally turn over rs a
gift their entire property TO their son.
a. this date many married women In
Japan are working in shops as dress
makers or entertainers Of guests. Their
amusements are principally music,
which is played on several varieties OF
instruments as the koto, sansen or
kooue. etc. or all the instruments the
sansen. stringed instrument some
what similar to the guitar. Is the most
+ popular on account OF its low cost
/ The honeymoon OF the newly-usrried
I couple generally consists in a journey to
/ the tbester or 70 a hot spring resort In
Japan there are a large number OF these
natural hot springs, which have FIVE
hotels connected with them, such as can
not be found in America 70 my knowl-
edge. They arc always crowded with
visitors. and one can end many strangers
who come from all countries One Of
these is an interesting place for an
American 90 Visit who wishes 20 study
TIE behavior q our people when on
4 their wedding trip it not only being
I very popular. but also quito inexpens-
iva. board only being two OF three dol
lars per week Probably tho most IA
nous resort FOR tho sumner time Ia
Rakone, and in tia winter Atami, both
places being continuously crowded.