Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-17

see gold. Thls appears ~ AS1 'n1'
makes you tired to LOOK az II. ~ ~ aeont
Not EVERYTHING ornamental, heaped up
tier after tier-gilt, real gold. JADE, silver,
silE embroideries, pendants, tasseis-ln
fact n nile of Christmas-tree ornaments
we;sb;ng several pounds. What must this
noor girl have suffered wearing IL all day
This crown is invariably hired.
The bridegroom's dress was also hired;
az the Young gentleman having alecte1
European clothes was not IN possession OF
a Chinese wardrobe. His costume was or
NH blue satin, heavily embroidered with
gold. the back beinf plain. with the ex-
cention OF a square of about ten inches De-
tween his shoulders of very rich gold en-
bro;derv which / thought at the time
would ina. mako :. nice anti-macassar. We
learned afterward that this unwilling BUS
hind had been obliged to return to China
bv his parents, who have supreme authori-
~ over their children hero; also, that ms
Queue or pietail was false, ana was last
ened inside his hat, removable Win same
TIE NATIVE CEREMONY.
L,,;ved AZ the house of the bridegroom,
80 tha eubstitute for il, the Chinese cere-
ynorv LS1,ns. The bride is accompanied
he her bridesmaids. her servants, and her
friends. who lead her up one SIDE OF the
reception-room. while her husband IL es-
corted by his friends up the other size.
In the centre OF this room IL q isrs taoie
,vi.h two seafs at one end, the rlgnt one
co. The bride, the left for the groom.
While the couple are proceeding to their
,,iacee n man. a relative of the groom,
stands by the table, and in the sooerest
manner. vet in sing-song tone, pours iorth
comnlirnentary speeches about the bride
md ali of her relations; while opposite to
him on old woman. representing the brides
family. does the same by the groom and his
relations. This simply amounts 20 an eA-
pression of mutual fattery. Inc taole Is
decorated with flowers, amongst which Is
n stone lar filed with money winch had
80, zen the bride. Besides this oil the
snestS are supposed TO make presents OF
money TO the bride, and IN many cases ehe
counle are dependent on these offerings 10
defrav the expenses of the wedding-in
fact that is what it IS for, Just like col
lection at church.
While the complimentary speeches are
beinr droned out with many BOWS and
much solemnity, some eataoles are Deihg
brought in by an old waitlng-woman ana
set upon the table in front OF the happy
mir These comprise about dozen dlshe
If oll kinds of Chinese foods rather de-
coratiye than Substantial, aud are
brouoht in for appearance only. 4 woman
approaches the bride, and with chop,,
sticks and bowl In hand, pretends TO Iced
her with some of the viands, but as the
beavv veil is never lifted, nothing what
ever il eaten. and only the appearance OF
II Is jndulged in. The same office is per-
formed by another woman Tor the BRIDE
groom, who, though aot veiled,l Is equaily
content with going through the motions.
Then glass Of native VINE IS pouIeu! ou uI
h. L
his lips only. The same cup IS then ap,,
plied to the outside of the brides veil, and
both are supposed to hsve partaken. Inc
connie are then tied together, always at
respectful distance, By two pieces OF color:
ed silk ribbon, red and green, the ends or
which are tied to the right wrist OF the
Groom and the left of tho bride. This, l
believe. is the nuptial Knot. In this POSI-
ton they remain for about a quarter OK an
hour. being subjected to the gaze OF al
the guests and inflicted with more music
by the band, which has by this time louhu
its way into the room.
In dina time-that is. when everybody's
patience is quite eIhausted-the couple
are released from their sllken bondage and
are conducted, each in the escort OF two
women, out of the room and upstairs 10
the bridal chamber. all the visitors fol-
lowing in the train. The chamber
contains, among other things Oed
Of great splendor-a complete museum
in itself. In shape it IS a very
larged-slzed four-pOster of dark-red, hard
wood richly carved. and with small, round
slabs of notified Chinese marble let IN
wherever there seems place Tor them.
But the principal feature Is the richly-em-
broidered curtains hanging from the top
of the frame down to the ground, but
made in such a way that the wooden frame
of the bed is allowed to be seen III front OF
the draperies.
Having reached the bridal chamber, the
company proceeded to examine the wed
ding presents. which were displayed on
the Chinese dresslng-table. These were
partly Chinese. partly foreign, but all very
nice and well chosen.
FINAL COMPLIMENTS.
The whole company. followed by the
bride and bridegroom, then descend 70
a reception-room, shortly TO be shown into
O long room furnished only with chars.
In the middle of the floor is piece of red
cloth; on one side are two bridal chairs,
very elaborate and colored red, stand
ing a little distance apart; and facing
these, on either side of the carpet
are two ordinary chairs for the recep-
ton of the guests each in turn. These
49,. Il
occasion, the guests remaining standing.
This part of the ceremony-it was more
like a scene IN q drama-was perhaps the
most characteristic of the Chinese ways
and customs. and was devoted entirely 70
chin-chinn or saluting. The groom had
taken up his place beside one of the chairs
and there stood ready to receive and pay
homage to the male guests each in turn
while beside the other chair stood the
bride, bowling TO the lady guests. -.
The gentleman who chanted the compli-
mentary speeches at the make-belleyt
breakfast-table now acted as master of tbs
ceremonies and brought In a male friend
placing him directly in front of the bride.
groom. Then commenced series Of
Oriental salaams the husband, the guests
and the master of ceremonies all on then
knees, and with hands clasped and raised
above their heads bow down to the GROUND
again and again. In order to enable thon
TO move together the master of ceremonie:
sings a doleful strain, rising and falling <
suit the action and apparently done TO en-
able the trio TO move in concert. The
moro influential or rich tho guest, the
more chin-chin" they receive.
The frat male guest having been dis
posed of the groom takes rest, and, oul
attention is directed TO the bride. She i.
assisted by sn "abma" Chinese nurse
who stands beside her and assists her tC
bow in q manner which seems more forci
bio than polite. A lady having been placec
opposite, the same show begins, and thu
same extravagant salutations are In
dulged in. Then the groom begins Will
another man, while the bride ha'
an opportunity to straighten out hel
back, and SO on, until all the celebrities anC
intimate friends have been done homag,
IL. 4 H. s..
are at an end, and tho festivities begin
Other portions of the wedding FESTIVITIES
are held on the next two or three days, tn
final festivity not taking place for som,
DAYS. 1t takes q long time to get married
in China.
The Growth of the South.
New York Herald, EditoriaLl
Statistics are said TO be dull and STUPID