The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-23
DOMESTIC LIFE IN CHINA.
HoW 4 CELESTIAL c0URTsHIP rs
CARRIED on.
Peculiar Chinese wedding Cersmony-Ths
Bride UsualIy Unhappy-Not Allowed
To see Her Mother For Years.


girl TO be seen by any man save he
father and brothers. says the Commerce.
Gazette. There are no chance meeting
comm thro' the rye" 10 strols In In
twilight, no partings fun of sweet sor
scw' at the gate under the moonbeams
Absolutely separated by the insurmount
able wall Of inexorable custom, the gir
fotters round In her household tasks
almost cripple, on her poor little deform
ed feet, while the boy stolidly goes abou
hia daily tasks either at school or in IN
Geld. until II is decided by their parent
that II Is time for them 10 marry.
When that time arrives the parents
of the young man go to "go-between,
Q regular matrimonial agent, who, foi
a fixed stipend. agrees 20 find him vile
She inquiries about among her acquaint
ances until she finds a girl whose parents
are willing 20 sell her (for sale 1t is) Tor
the sum offered by the family OF the
young man as a marriage portion. When
she has been found and the preliminary
negotiations have proved satisfactory,
presents are exchanged between the two
families. and also between the two young
people. The exchange Of presents con-
stitutes the betrothal and II Is 50 binding
that II cannot legally be broken under
any circumstances. Even should the young
girl discover las she too often does) thdt
her future husband Is a cripple or IN
sane. or even that horrible thing, leper,
she cannot be released; she must 80 10
him and obey his parents as his wife.
Early on the morning Of the wedding
the girls mother goes out ana gamers
flowers from twelve different plants
Th,se are boiled and the bride bathes
an the water. she then puts on an en-
tire suit OF new clothes, and while dress
inc stands in a round-bOttOmed basket
This Is supposed 20 bring good luck her
dress IS led. a red gauze veil covers he'
from head 10 foot and roand ner Iore-
head she wears a red band, from Whlch
"a red fri aze falls over her face Nheh
dr.ssed. she bids goodbye 10 her mother
and Is taken into the outer room py the
go-between. Two male members OF the
br;degrooms family are waiting ior her
with a sedan chair 10 carry her 10 heI
new home AS she is carried on custom
demands that she should cry, and wall
alord, and. poor child, she Is READY ehoush
10 do so. No member OF her own fanlly
eecompanies her: entirely alone, she Is
lesviug her home forever. her former
friends and companions she may never see
AGAIN. and alone she is about TO enter !
on "a new life among total strangers She
Il going TO slavery az absolute anu IT.
reyocable as any that ever existed. Anu /
more often than not. be Il remembered
she is a child of twelve years Ola or uhuef'
Arrived at the bridegrooms nome she
Is greeted and led into the house by tue
mistress OF ceremonies, woman
chosen for having a large number OF
children: led by her into the house she
and the BRIDEGROOM sit down at table
-et in the main room and are served with
collation. by her and the go-between. AS
mis- is the first time that the two young
oeonle ave been face TO face, II may redu-
Nv be supposed that they are naturally
.urious about each others appeaIaACe'
silhouette. however, commands that the
n,ide should sit demurely with cast-down
yves. and as she still wears her req
veil and fringe. she can see niue anu edt
less The bridegroom, however eats
something out Of all the little dlshes 'iia'
are handed TO him.
when the meal Is over the bride is cere-
nnoniously conducted into an inner apart
ment which has been deliberately deco
xttSI. FOR her reception. Everything Is
covered with red; the hangngs are red,
with different cOlors, and In
his red ROOM which is 20 be her home
or her prison. for the rest of her me-
ne moor girl sits alone for the whole of
he long day. No one breaks in upon her
no one speaks TO her; occa-
ionally some one looks In at the door TO
ee II she is sitting immoyable In her red
raperies by the side Of her red table as
tiquette prescribes. All around the room
re ranged the red boxes containing her
and perhaps even a Chinese
irl can derive pleasure under trying cir
umstances from the consciousness that
Or the first time tn her life she has more
ew clothes than she could ever before |
all her own.
AT shutdown the males Of the family
nd their friends have an elaborate ban
uet, and after they have finished and re-
red 10 the mems apartments the women
ONE out OF the stuny little inner rooms.
rom which they have been watching
trough chinks in the light walls the
avelry OF the men, and feast royalty on
he remnants. After all have finished the
o-between and mistress of ceremonies
o into the brides room. drag her to her
ct. and, throwing back her veil sup
)rt her on either side. while the men
1me and look at her Each man holds q
GIFTED taper. which he thrusts as far as
Dssible into the otherwise dark room,
nd by Its faint light carefully examines
Ie bride. Custom demands that she shall
ruggle TO free herself from those who
I'D her and To hide her face from her
servers. hut as this is the only time in
n life that she can receive admiration
ON men II may be surmised that her
sistance Ia not very sincere.
This concludes the ceremony, If cere-
ony IL may be called, and from this
ne she Is a member OF her husbands
'usehold, obliged to render implicit ODE
ence and service OF all kinds TO his
rents and grandparents, and also 20 Join !
IN him in the customary sacrifices and q
esents made TO his dead-and-gone an ,
sfors
The day after the wedding the brides
'angest brother comes TO inqIire after 4
4 and 10 bring her "A present from her I
)ther Of q bottle of hair-oil This is,
g the others. a custom so ancient that .
me know the origin Of It, No furthel
takes place between the -
lde and her family for three months =
len her mother sends a sedan chair and ! !,
Invitation 10 visit her. IL there has
en- neither a birth nor a death In her
Stands or her husbands house for 100 =
ys she goes and makes a short stay at
, Old home. This visit over. she cannot
her mother again until after her first q
IA is born, and not then should the "
I'd chance 70 be a girl Even then. II
re has been "a death In either family ~
visit cannot be made by her mother -
her. and there have been many in Z
noes where a mother and daughter
ing very near each other have not met p'
years.-Chicago Daily News. y
'geOus CDstumes-W and Felix Gre NJ
atl0ns. %