The morning call., 1894-09-23

named Jim every one in the village or
town would speak Of her as little Jimmie
Smiths mother.
woman never sees her husband before
she Darrles him. nor has she any part in
making the engagement. The matter is
carried on, as in China, through match
makers, and it is customary for the groom
to furnish the money for the brides ward
robe. The swan is the emblem of MARTA |
fidelity, and after the engagement has bee d
made the bridegroom goes in state TO the
house OF the father of the bride carrying a
white swan in his arms. There is usually
tent with spread table in it waiting for
him, and about this stand the matchmakers
and the BRIDES father. AS he comes In he
places the swan on the table and bows to
1t four times and half. He then goes to
the other side OF the yard, where the bride
sits In hall. She rises as he comes up.
and she usually has slave on each side f
her. holding her hand, so that her long
sleeves, as the hands meet in front of her
face, completely hide the face from the
groom. Then the two go through numer-
Gus bows. the woman still keeping her face
hidden, and the bridegroom finally going
down on his knees and humping his head
against the floor in front of the bride.
After this is over the bride and groom are
offered cakes and wine. They drink out of
the same glass, and IL is this drinking tina 1
constitutes the ceremony of marriage.
There is also marriage certificate about
as big as small tablecloth, which is sent N
the brides father in a ceremonial box, This
paper contains about seven lines. The first
Is taken up wi th the date. The second ex.
presses his wish for the brides fathers
health. The third and fourth read some
what as follows: my son and heir is old.
but as yet unmarried, and you have agreed
that your daughter should marry him. /
am much obliged to you for the compli-
ment. and l herewith express it In this let
ter" This letter is signed by the BRIDE
groOm's father, and the lines which follow
give the name of the grand ancestor and
the district from which the bridegroom
comes. 1t closes with the words 81 salute
you twice" This paper is folded up and
put into long envelope, which is sealed
with piece of ribbon. On its outside is
the brides fathers address, with all the
honorific titles that can be added to it,
After the ceremony OF marriage at the
brides house is over the bridegroom
Nhoue Oo MO WCuHluk ClOtuCo duu SITS uUWU
with the men of the family to feast.
The bride. meanwhile, goes back to her
apartments, and the groom later on goes
home. Following this the bride goes TO
the groom's house, and she is treated TO
dinner by the ladies of the family. The
first night that the couple begin their life
together 1t is the groom's duty to undress
the bride, and 1t is etiquette that she
resist In every way possible. After mar
rage the bride goes to the house of her
husbands father to live. She no longer
has any place in her own home, and she
is bossed by her mother-in-l Sheiscar-
ried to her home In closed chair, aud she
changes from the prison of her girlhood
TO the prison of her married life. Here
after she is practically the slave of her
husband, who can treat her as he will and
who can divorce her with little trouble.
Divorces among the higher classes are not