The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-08-18
CHINESE WEDDINGS.
Queer Connubial Customs of the
Pig-Tailed Celestials.
The GroOm's Presence Not
Necessary During Marriage.

the marriages of China, according to
the Ostasiatischer Lloyd. The China
man who enters the harbor of matri-
mony looks upon the matter as full
filment of duty which lie owes to his
ancestors.
The custom of the Chinese, continues
the journal, to marry off their sons
and daughters at an early age does not
seem advisable to the Europeans. 1t
is also the rule in China that unions
only take place between families OF
equal social and financial standing.
Disregard of this rule would cause
subsequent trouble invariably. The
custom of early marriages is founded,
moreover, OH principles Incompetent
sible to the Western mind. The boy
and girl joined in wedlock do not
form new family, but rather the
youngest branch of the family tree,
upon which they are henceforth de-
pendent.
The duty of parents towards their
sons does not end with their marriage;
they are obliged to care for them
after that time also. There is great
disadvantage in this system. The
son, being under the eyes of the
parents as long as they are alive,
really never becomes Independent.
All members of the family live, when
possible, under one roof, and even
after the death of the parents the sons
continue, rs rule. together in the
family home. When the father dies
the oldest brother assumes his place
as the head of the family, and when
the mother dies the wife of the oldest
brother takes her place. But, again,
the system has many advantages. AS
the girls are married very young, they
are unacquainted as a rule with the
duties of housewife. But in enter
ing the households of their fathers-in-
law they learn the needful lessons in
family economy.
1t is nothing rare, adds the paper,
for boys twelve to fourteen years old
to marry. The physical, moral and
intellectual development of the con-
trasting parties has nothing whatever
to do with the matter. Other consd-
erations entirely regulate the affair.
An old Chinese aphorism says that the
great business of life is ended when
the sons and daughters are married.
The Chinese parents do not care to
run the danger of postponing the mar
riage of their children, especially or
their sons, until after their own death.
A Chinese engagement dates its be-
ginning from the exchange of red
cards between the parents of the con-
tracing parties. These cards in many
districts are immense documents
almost the size of horse blanket.
They are important for the reason that
they are used as evidence in case of
disagreements in the future. We sell
dom hear in China of broken engage
ments. Yet if a quarrel cannot be
settled peacefully recourse is had to
the law, and the judge usually imposes
a fine upon the party who has broken
the contract.
The chief incident in chinese mar
riage is the arrival of tho bride in her
bridal clothes before the house of her
chosen one. That is de factO full
fllment of the contract The we'd
ding day is determined by the parents
Of the groom. The Imperial calendar
names the lucky days. and on such
days the so-called 'red celebrations
take place, both in the cities and
country. The same bridal clothes
may be used several times.
That the chief part of Chinese
marriage is the arrival of the bride at
the house of the groom is illustrated
again by the fact that the sons are
often married without being present
at their own weddings. 1t is not be-
lieved to be fortunate to change the
wedding day when once decided. If
the future husband, therefore, happens
to be called away on the wedding day
the marriage takes place by sending
the bride to his house.