The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-12

gifts. Then the brides parents send
presents in return, which Is equivalent
to an engagement, and an early day is
selected for the wedding. If the young
lady should happen to object, which is
not often the case. as she is guided en-
tirely by the wishes of her parents, the
go-between is notified before an oppor-
! tunity to send presents is given. When
the day for the wedding is selected the
trousseau of the bride and several ar
ticles of household furniture are sent to
her husbands home, and they are usu-
ally exhibited to the friends of the fami-
ly beforehand. The wedding gown is
always pure white, and the bridegroom
! is attired in kam!shimo. a peculiar dress
made of various kinds of silk in colors
according TO hs rank
The wedding ceremony takes place at
the house of the bridcsroom's parents,
and the friends of both families are in
vited to attend, The bride is escorted
there at nightfall by her parents and
other members of her family and the So
betweens, followed by servants bearing
| gifts to the family of the bridegroom.
! 1t was formerly the custom to light a
| bonfire in front of the gate of hc.' par
entail home and to lift her over il, the
ceremony signifying publication. The
/ bride is met outside the main door by
| the members of the groom's family. but
! he remains seated on a cushion in front
| of the tOhOnCma, q shallow recess or
alcOvc that Is found in all Japanese
! houses. and is used for the display OF
ornaments. When she enters the room
] she. is hCrnrta1 n haci,ln him
| The gO-tetweer sit at his right. and at
his left are usually two married ladies
or two little Girls dressed in white to
serve as brio, smads. When the party
is thus placed. Il chorus of voices in the
! adjoining room sing Japanese song
called "Utal." \ low table of white
wood that has never been used is then
brought in. and n tray is placed upon it
containing three cups, which one of the
! bridesmaids iinil with sake, or rice
/ brandy. The smallest cup is handed to
| the bride, who takes dainty sips from it
and then passes it to the bridegroom,
who does the same. The second and
| third cups are filed in similar man
ner, and the ceremony is repeated. AS
the bridegroom returns the third cup to
the officiating bridesmaid all clap their
hands, which is a salute of approba tion,
| announcing that the ceremony Is over.
| There is no kissing or embracing. but n
| great many congratulations are offered
| to the young couple and guests of liter
| airy attainments are expected to hand
them poems of their own composition,
which are afterward bound in a little
book as a memento of the occasion. The
| rnntl1p thpn rntirn fn nG bn 4
ding robes and resume their ordinary
garments. and afterward join the guests
at a feast, which is served with great
ceremony. When the guests have left
the house, the go-betweens take the
couple to their bedroom, assist them, to
remove their garments, and put them to
bed. After they are we'll covered up.
another cup of sake is passed around
and the final good nights are repeated.
In the morning the father of the groom
or the male So-between goes to police
| headquarters and registers the mar
riage, giving the names. ages, occupa-
tions, and residence of the couple. On
the third day after the wedding the
| bride returns to her fathers house. to
stay three or seven days. as the case
may be. If the first three days of mar
ried life have not been satisfactory to
| the bride, she notifies the go-betwc ems
of that fact, and does not return to her
husbands home, which is equivalent to
a divorce. If the husband on his part
is dissatisfied, he also notifies the go-
betweens, and they are expected to COM
municate with the brides parents. If
a divorce is insisted upon by either par
| ~ l,a I, . L..
! But such a proceeding is seldom resort
ed to, except where Misrepresentation
has been made as to the temper and
physical condition of either party. If
the bride or groom proves to be de-
| formed, impotent or diseased i'm any
manner, divorce is considered honor
able and legitimate and it is only neces-
sary to register the fact at police head
quarters.
| There are even causes, according 70
Confucius, for which a man may di-
vorce his wife. They are disobedlence.
a failure to bear children, unchastity,
Jealously, an incurable disease dishou-
| esty, and a sharp tongue. In other
words, he can get rid of her whenever
he likes, and by very simple pro-
cess. All he has to do is to write her
q letter, known as the three lines and
a half" declaring that everything is
over between them. and advising her
to return to her parents. Such a let
ter addressed to her father or her eld-
est brother. if she has no father, will
| answer the same purpose. Then he
must go to the registrars office and re-
port himself as a divorced man. For
similar causes a wife may get rid Of
| her husband If she desires to do so
but she will lose her social position
| If she has any, and is much more like
| ly to be respected and make second
! marriage If she is the defendant in
stead of the plaintiff in the case. MIR
! Curtis admits that this is somewhat
of paradox, but he maintains that it
| throws Il search light upon the social
| system Of Japan. What is there re-
qured above all from women is obed.
fence. That is the highest. of virtues.
! and no obedient woman would ever
| seek IA divorce from her husband for
| any cause.
| While divorces among members OF
the upper class of the japanese are
/ very rare, it is doubtful If there is any
| country upon earth. not even a Mo-
| hammedan country. where they are
more frequent among the common peo-
| pie. The author knows the superin-
! tenGent of the lighters of a steamship
company Of Yokohama, who has be
! diovrced nine times, and missionary
! from Chicago told him that his former
cook had hal seven wives in succession
when he left his employer four years
| ago, and that several had since hean
| added to the list. The official records