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

We pass to the chapters on marriage
and divorce, and on the peculiar in
stitution known as the yoshiWara
There have been in the course of GEN.
turtles marked changes in the matri-
monial customs of Japan, but it ap-
pears that now. when a young man
wants to get married, he doss not Of
fer his heart and hand to the girl he
loves, but if an arrangement has not
been already made for him by his
parents with the daughter of neigh
bor, he goes to a discreet married
friend and asks that he and his wife
act as nakodos or go-betweens, for him
i'm the matter. The gentleman and
lady who undertake this delicate func-
ton assume responsibilities that few
people in the United States would care
to accept. They not only agree to find
q suitable partner for their friend. but
remain through life in the relation of
godfather and godmother to the young
couple. They are expected to assist
them If they get into difficulties or
suffer misfortunes. and to serve as n
p'"i" VI al -.
that may ariSe III .'u ."','"s'
10 say, thiS resPo''sio''''s 10 NV !"
ed in Japan.
AS RUE III 'i,e uppe' u'''c' VI ao
cie'S iiia'r'aSeH ',,, "
daughters of friendly families are ar
ranged by the parents when the CHI
dren are very young, and boy or girl
oiteh KNOWS Wio'ii ne VI sne SUNS
u marry ioi's peioie ei''iei u''
ehoush u 'ueis'a'o '''e ,,''"' y, 'ne
reie'ioh. i"es al. "o' ""oWeu ~" ~
ever u asso,,a'e WIN go o'
iucius .ausn. 'n'' ''ilu'en VI "a
years shou'o pe Hepa'a'eu ,,.i' coioiis 70
sex put the 1apanese are h'''e hioi.
hpcrai III ','o I'sie, "''. "
s'ris may p'ay 'o,se'ne' u''', ny az
zen VI '"eNe years VI as i'., '"a'
their associa.ioh IL iorpluueh' cour'
ing Is iinpossipie' an" eve" ''e ehi'u en
Vi iariiiies "iiose houseS ma! au1o.' ~,
grow up as s'iahs W cav" o'h.' ms
RUE aPpiies u '"e nearest ie,a.iohs
lnere can pe ho such 'h'hS as irieho-
snip between Eouhs men anu !o"hS
Woiiieh' II Is o'si epu'aoie ioi 'apa
nese young man " marry ior ivy
When young man anu young woman
are Known to ioNe each otnei' puoiio
sentiment places thehh yer! low III the
scale OF norais.
On the other mana. the social laws OF
Japan require that people shali marry
at the age OF is or w. ana IL Is as
grace FOR man or woman 10 remain
single after they are ~ or IL AS con-
lors or old maids in the empire. Al
though courting. as we have SAID, Is
impossible. young man usually hos an
opportunity to inspect the girl selected
by his parents or his nakodos (go-be-
tWeens) before an engagement is decid-
ed upon. and If either is dissatisfied
with the appearance OF the other, the
negotiation comes to an end. This
meeting Is called mi-yai. which means
literally. mutual SEEING According
to the etiquette of what Is called society
the interview may take place at the
residence OF the go-between or at the
house of the young iady's father; but
among the lower classes picnic or
theater party, a boat ride or an excur-
sion of some sort serves the purpose. If
the visit takes place at the mouse OF the
young lady's father, the young man
and his go-between are received by the
host with great politeness. After some
conversation on Indifferent subjects the
latter claps his hands and the young
lady herself appears. dressed in her
prettiest kaimono and obi trobe and
sash), and bearing tray containing