Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-08-25
A MANCHU WEDDING.
Christian and Barbarian Rites Cautiously
 COmminPled,

,huria. They are making use in that l savage country of the characteristic | ways and manners of the people, and are engrafting the rites of heathendom | upon the ceremonies of the church. | Such is the case in weddings, which, though solemnized by Christian minister, are conducted according to the ancient customs of the heather. Such function has recently been de- scribed by a London "Daily Graphic" correspondent.
 ''The invitations to the festivities" he says, ''were brought to us on large scarlet cards. Our arrival was preceded by that of our servant bearing gift of
 money, for each guest was supposed to contribute sum, nominally a wedding present, really towards the expenses of the feast. From an early hour the
 musicians had been hard at work, | drumming and trumpeting. The two professional cooks had had their share
 from morning till night for three days | previously-all the time up'to the elbows
 in dough, grease and garlic. For some l weeks before the ceremony my cid
 newspapers had been mysteriously dis | appearing The mystery of their where | abouts was now solved. My boy, or
 
 and the apartment to be occupied by
 the happy couple was papered with
 newspaper clippings
 ''The bride, shrouded from head to | foot in long faded crimson robe, with 7 piece of thick scarlet silk over her | head and face, was seated on a mat of | red felt-red being the lucky color-on 1 the 'kang,' or brick bed. The bride l 0f Ivy f | tired in plum-colored brocade, black
 official hat with red tassel, and high 1 military boots, seemed but little i'm
 pressed by the importance of the affair. His thoughts, indeed, were centered I rather on the coming feast and juvenile | sports with his companions Both bride
 and bridegroom being Christians, the
 religious ceremony was performed by
 missionary. The couple were seated | side by side on a bench covered with | scarlet felt. The bride was accompanied | by two elderly matrons, who literally | pushed her through the performance, l scarcely leaving her side, and generally | clutching the nearest part of her gar | ment.
 | The ceremony over, the bridegroom
 speedily divested himself of the finery
 hired for the occasion and rejoined his
 playmates, while the bride was con-
 ducted to the sacred precincts of the
 woman's apartments. She was then
 divested of her crimson outer robe, and
 appeared in all her bridal finery of
 green trousers and scarlet jacket with
 embroidered sleeves. She did not pre-
 sent 0 very attractive spectacle Her
 hair, now to be arranged for the first ! time in matronly style, fell in wild elf l locks over her shoulders. Her eyes I were red and swollen with crying, and
 her face entirely free from any vestige
 of the paint with which the Manchurian
 women smear their faces. A friendly
 argument now arose among the lady | visitors as to who was to have the \ honor of washing the brides face. This
 being settled, the newly-made mother l in-law brought water in a shining brass
 basln and a portly matrOn proceeded to
 operate upon the unfortunate bride. A
 small paper, containing grayish pow
 der, was next produced, and the powder rubbed on the brides forehead close to
 the roots of her hair. The operating female then began to pluck out great tufts of hair, so as to produce the high l square forehead considered beautiful in | Manchuria. The bride bore the opera } tion without wincing. The next pro- ) ceeding was to dress the brides hair. It ; was drawn over a wire frame, so as tC l produce the effect of large Alsatian bow. Variously ornamented silver pins, ) | uuivering insects made of kingfshers feathers, and artificial flowers were } stuck into her hair, and the ceremony
 was complete. The poor bride was now ! | left entirely to herself, no one taking ! H., of 3 more or less unkind comments on he1 personal appearance. No wonder she l | looked miserable when handed over tc r | the tender mercies of her new mother. : in-law. It is not etiquette for a bride y to eat on her wedding day, nor should
 she display avigorous appetite until she 8 has been married for at least week V After this the guests arrived fast, anG 0 the inner aSartmentS became throngcC t with a crowd of noisy chattering dame. t in holiday attire. Scalding hot bowl.
 of green tea, the weakest of the weak S were handed round; long-stemmed pipe: l. were passed from hand to hand, or t more correctly, from mouth to mouth V Children of all sizes tumbled about @ cried, quarrelled, romped, and wer, @ noisy The more important of the malt @ guests were seated round tables in tn, outer room, smoking and drinking tea O waiting for dinner The younger one a strolled about outside, or lolled on tn l. 'lzang,' trying not to look hungry, ant f making bad jokes at the bridegroom n expense. Mingled odors from the cook l. house then came fast and furious; ta blc O were laid, and chopsticks, bowls, an a wine cups placed. Warned by past cX
 | Derience of Chinese feaStS I bade fare s well, wishing the bridal pair long life s health, and happiness. Music! at frs 7, distant, then gradually drawing nearc d and nearer till our ears are dcafened b Il Il the blowing of horns, drumming ( t tom-toms, and clashing of cymbal. ,- People who profess to know say tha
 the Chinese scale in music approximate 1t closely to the old Caledonian scale, wha IT ever that may be. Perhaps that is tll d reason why a Chinese band alway a has strong flavor of bagpipes abo;