The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-20
A MANcHu wEpprNo.
Christian and Barbarian Rites Gu
riously Commingled.


sFrom the NetO York Tribune.
All things to all men is evidently the rule
Of Christian missionaries in Manchuria.
They are making use In that savage country
OF the characteristic ways and manners OF
the people. and are ENGRAVING 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 II
function has recently been described by
London Daily Graphic correspondent.
1.-THE invitations to the festivities" he
says, ''wsre brought so US on large scar
let cards. Our arrival was preceded by
that or our servant bearing gift of mouey,
for each guest was supposed to contribute
a sum, nominally a wedding present, really
toward 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 weeks
before the ceremony my old newspapers
had been mysteriously disappearing. The
mystery Of their whereabouts was now
solved. My boy, or head servant, was
friend of the family; and the apartment to
be occupied by the happy couple was pa
pered with newspaper clippings.
"The BRIDE shrouded from head to foot in
| a long faded crimson robe, with a piece Of
| thick scarlet silk over her head and face.
| was seated on mat OF red fslt-red being
the lucky ooor-on the 'kang,' or brick bed.
The bridegroom. a youth Of 10, sumptuously
| attired in plum-colored brocade, a black
official hat with red tassel, and high mill
| tary boots, seemed but little impressed by
the importance of the affair His thoughts,
indeed, were centered rather on the coming
| vii
panlons Both bride and groom being
Christians, the religious ceremony was per-
formed by a missionary. The couple we're
seated side by side on bench covered with
scarlet felt. The bride was accompanied by
two elderly matrons. who literally pushed
her through the performance, scarcely leav-
ing her side and generally clutching the
nearest part Of her garment.
| The ceremony over. the bridegroom
speedily Invested himself of the finery hired
for the occasion and rejoined his playmates,
while the bride was conducted to the sacred
precincts OF the women's apartments. She
was then Invested Of her crimson outer robe,
and appeared in all her bridal fnery of
green trousers aud scarlet jacket with ems
broidered sleeves. She did not present
very attractive spectacle. Her hair, now to
| be arranged for the first time in matronly
style. fell in wild elf looks over her soulders.
| Her eyes 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 argu-
ment 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 -in-lnw brought
water in a shining brass basin, and a
portly matron proceeded TO operate upon
the unfortunate bride. A small payer, con-
tanning grayish powder, was next pro-
duced, 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
square forehead considered beautiful In Man
churia. The bride bore the operation with>
out wincing. The next proceeding was TO
dress the brides hair. 1t was drawn over a
wire frame SO as TO produce the effect of a
large Alsatian bow. Variously ornamented
silver pins quivering insects made Of king
| fishers feathers and artificial flowers were
stuck into her hair. and the ceremony was
complete. The poor bride was now left en-
tirely to herself, no one taking any further
| notice of her unless to make more or less
unkInd comments upon her personal APP
pearance. No wonder she looked miserable
| when handed over to the tender meroies of
her new mother iu-law. 1t Is not etiquette
for a bride to eat on her wedding day, nor
should she display a vigorous appetite until
she has been married for at least week.
after this the guests arrived fast, and
the inner apartments became thronged with
| q crowd Of noisy chattering danes in holi-
day attire. Scalding hot bowls OF green
tea, the weakest of the weak we're handed
round; long-stemmed pipes were passed
from hand to hand, or. more correctly,
from mouth to mouth. Children Of all sizes
tumbled about, cried, quarreled, romptd
and were noisy. The more important OF
the male guests were seated round tables in
the outer room, smoking aud drinking tea,
waiting for dinner. The younger ones
strolled about outside, or lOllsd on the
'kang,' trying not TO look hungry, and max
ing bad jokes at the bridegroom's expense.
Mingled odors from the cook house then
came fast and furious; tables were laid and
chopsticks, bowls and wine cups placed.
Warned by past experience Of Chinese
feasts. babe farewell. wishing the bridal
pair long life, health and happiness. Music!
at first distant, then gradually drawing
nearer till our ears are deafened by the
blowing Of horns, drumming of tom-toms
and clashing Of cymbals. People who pro-
fess to know say that the Chinese scale in
music approximates closely to the old Cale-
donian scale, whatever that may
be. Perhaps that Is the rea-
son why Chinese band always
has a strong flavor of bagpipes about it. In
| this instance the band preceded two queer
little ptgmies, escortiuR them to the veranda
steps. A tiny boy and girl, dressed in all
the colors OF the rainbow, trotted solemnly
along, hand in hand wearing enormous
plaster heads. They bowed politely, and at
a signal from their conductor the band
stnuck up and the quaint little pair began TO
execute a quaintsr dance. They capered
solemnly round and round, with difficulty
keeping their large heads from banging to-
gether, till, quite exhausted, they dropped
breathless on the doorstep. The camera
was then produced, and long wrangle en-
sued as 10 the amount for which they would
consent to be photographed, their leader.
like all Cinnamon, being an adept at bar.
| gaining The musicians struck up as soon
as the photographers head disappeared
under the black cloth, evidently thinking
their melodious strains would lend an
added charm to the picture. Finally the
little pair performed another pas de deuU.
and then departed laden with cash. The
origin of the pigmies is wrapped In mys-
terry. 1T is Chinese New Year. and we
want money was the only piece Of infor-
nation vouchsafed by their conductor.