The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-01-03
anderson gnttlligsnte1.
A Chinese Wedding.

not be where there is absolutely no
social intercourse between men and
women where it is, in fact, a disgrace
for girl to be seen by any man save
her father and brothers. There are
no chance meetings ''comin' thro' the
rye," no strolls in the twilight, no
partings full of "sweet sorrow" at the
gate under moonbeams.
Absolutely separated by the insur-
mountable wall Of custom, the girl
totters around at her household task,
almost a cripple on her poor little de-
formed feet, while the boy stolidly
goes about his daily tasks, either in
school or in the fields, until it is de-
cided by their parents that it is time
for them to, marry. When that time
arrives the parents of the young man
go to the Ego between,' regular
matrimonial agent, who, for a fixed
stipend agrees to find him wife. She
inquiries about among her acquaintan-
ces until she finds girl whose parents
are willing to sell her (for sale it is)
for the sum offered by the family
of the young man as a marriage por-
ton.
When she has been found and the
preliminary negotiations have proved
satisfactory, presents are exchanged
between the two fam les, and also be-
tween the two young people. This
exchange Of presents constitutes the
betrothal and it is SO binding that it
cannot legally be broken under any
circumstances. Even should the
young girl discover (as she too often
does) that her future husband iB a
cripple, or insane, or that horrible
thing, leper, she cannot be released
she must go to him and obey his pa
rents as his wife.
Early on the morning Of the we'd
ding the girls mother goes out and
gathers flowers from twelve different
plants. These, are boiled and the
bride bathes in the water. She then
puts on an entire suit Of new clothes
and while dressing stands in round
bottomed basket. This is supposed
to bring good luck. Her. dress is red,
red gauze veil covers her from head
to foot.and around her forehead she
wears red band from which red
:frieze falls over her face. When
she is dressed she bids goodbye to
her mother and is taken into the outer
room by the go-between. Two male
members of the bridegroom's family
are waiting for her with a sedan chair
to carry her to her new home.
AS she is carried off custom de-
mands that she should cry and wall
aloud, and rocy child, she is ready
enough to do so, No members Of her
own family accompanies her. entirely
alone, she is leaving her home for
ever, her former friends and d;compan-
ions, she 3may never see again, and
alone she is about TO- enter on new
life among total strangers. She is
going to slavery as absolute and ir-
revocable as any that ever existed.
And more often than not, be it re-
membered, she is a child Of twelve
years old.
Arrived at the bridegroom's home
she is greeted and led into the house
by. the mistress of ceremonies" a
woman chosen for having large num-
ber Of children led by her into the
house, she and the bridegroom sit
down at table set in the main room,
and are served with collation. by her
and the go-between.
!. As thisis the first time that the
young people have been face to face,
it may easily be supposed that they
are naturally curious about each 9TH
er's appearance. Etiquette, however,
commands that the bride should sit
demurely with cast down eyes, and
as she still wears her red veil and
fringe she can see little and eat less.
The bridegroom, however, eats lit.
tie out Of all the little dishes that are
handed him.
When the meal is over the bride is
tremendously conducted to an inner
apartment which has been elaborately
decorated for her reception. Every
thingis covered with red the hang
ings are red, embroidered with differ
ent colors, and in this red room which
is to be her home (or her PRISON. for
the rest of her life the poor girl sits
alone for the whole Of the long day.
No one breaks in. upon her solitude,
no one speaks to her; occasionally
some one looks in at the door to see if
she is sitting immovabIe in her red
draperies by the side Of her red table
as etiquette prescribes.
Ali around the room are ranged the
red boxes containing her trousseau,
and perhaps even a Chinese girl can
derive pleasure under trying circum-
stances from the consciousness chat
for the first time in her life she has
more new clothes than she could ever
before call her own.
At sundown ahe males of the family
and their friends have an elaborate
banquet and after they have finished
and retired to the mems apartments,
the women come out of the stuffy lit
tie inner rooms, from which they have
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