The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-14
COURTSHiP IN JAPAN.
a Disxrsce for Anybody Past rwessy-oss
to- Remain siagIe.

To- Remain >iagle@
The social laws of Japan require that
O man shall marry at the age OF IL or
10. and i: is disgrace for a man or
L woman 20 remain single after reach
ing - or 81. As a consequence there
are very few old maids or cid bachelors
in the empire.
But a young man usually has an op-
pOTtunity 20 inspect the girl that 10
selected 10y his parents or nakodos be-
tore an engagement Is decided upon.
and il either is dissatisfied with the
appearance of the other tho arrange
ment may he declared OF. The meet
ing is called mi val" which means
literally mutual seeing"
According 10 etiquette the interview
may take place az the resid.nc- OF the
nakodos or az the house OF the young
lady's father; but among the lower
classes a picnic or a theater party. 4
boat ride or an excursion of some sort
serves the purpose. II the visit take
place ct the house OF the young lady's
father. the young man and bis nakasio
are received by the host They salute
each other with great politeEess. A
servant brings pot OF tea and ma
teriaIs for smoking. over which the
three gentlemen discuss politics. BUSH
ness matters. the condition of TIA. rics
marked. the newB from China, or any
other indifferent subject for awhile,
Then the host viii clap his hands and
the young lady in interest herself APP
pears. dressed in her prettieEt kimfno
and obi and BEARING . tray containing
three cups and n pot Of tea These shs
places upon the mat In front % the
guests and proceeds 20 serve the bev-
erage and sweetmeats which her moth
ct or a servant brings after her. Girls
ure trained 10 perform this duty with
the greatest degree Of grace. for tea
pouring IL regarded as the highest a.
comp!ishment a japanese woman can
acquire. and this occaSlon Ia naturally
Of the greatest Importance. She IA not
20 speak unless she Il spoken %. and
the responsibility Of beginning a con-
versation with her rests upon the na-
kodo. II he Is a gentleman Of tact hs
introduces some subject or asks souss
question that is calculated 20 bring out
whatever conversational powers tho
young lady may possess, and I'm tho
meantime she sits upon her heels and
endeavors 20 be sA charming a. poo
sibIe. The young man may engage 10
the eonverEation. but 10 in not rood
form for him 70 address his rvrnArks
to her. He may speak 20 her father os
her mother. but be usually remains "a.
tireiy silent during the ordeal. II The
, mi-ysi" Happens 20 be an excursion 90
Fsrved. He may look as much a. BE
likes. but IL f. bad manners for him
20 show the young lady any psrtieal.s
attention
After the "Hni-ysi- H. over the youss
man AID his nskodo retire for eonsuIts-
ton. he thinks the matter over. ard
If he decides that The candidate r. &C.
ceptatie his parents send her hand
come box Of zifts. Sometimes !; con-
tzins sills and other fabrics. ornaments
or jewslry. decorative works % sr.,
and. among The common people, Sab.
rssy~eei ard ~ Der forms a food. Thea
the brides parents and presents in ~
turn. which - equiFalest % an ~ngAs~-
m~nt. and 81 early day "a s~iect~d for
TIE wedding. II tie Young LADY should
happen - o. ret. which - not oftsa
IRE ease. a. she - guided entirely by
;he wishes - l.er parents IA this an: al
Trafa~Fz. tb~ nakodo - DOtis@d b-fors
sn ofportzzisy % I'D Yressz,A b
clssu--ChlcAeO EseoE1-