The morning times., 1896-01-04
VERY SINGULAR.
Marriage Customs In Korea-wives
Never Seen After Marriage.
Ni.M NnrE Ini.r--r.,I
New York Jo,.r,,I

-
an imperial edict has been issued In Korea
prohibiting all niaTriageable girls between
the ages OF thirteen ana eighteen from Gun
tracing matrimonial alliance for period
oi For days. This edict wa issued becaus4
the King of X Korea is in need of a wife. am,
In consequence must have the pick OF his
kingdo ON.
Marriage in Korea amounts almost TO an
industry Fathers and mothers raise their
girls for the sole purpose OF marrying then,
OH. Hence 1t can be easily Imagined that the
imperial cdiCt Just issG ed is causing a nreitv
liutter through the entire kingdom. Thou
sands or deniure little girls are hoping that
the royal chance may faIl upon them.
Even III marriage arrangement h-.i
already been made for her and blocked
by the king order, it would not worry the
horean girl, ir shcthcucht there was a chance
oi her belng chosen. An American girl of
the right sort would he loyal to her first
lover, even If king tried to step between
them, but Korea n maid has no scruples
on this point, simply because she has never
oeen permitted TO fall in love Affection
rarely figures in her marriage: IL is simply
the result OF a business arrangement. Iut
Ior all this, the Korean girl usually ma kes
good wife. as wives 20 in that country
anu thebreath OF scandal seldomtouches her
once Korean girl is affianced her Sc
ciusion becomes more secure: only her ma.
rents AMI her sister tan see her and when
by exception, one of her friends is an.
t'"rtltd 10 come to See her, the visit is maid
III the presence of several women OF the
family, who watch the conversation
a woman is only born to be ma rried md
Tor that purpose alone does her father bring
her up. Thus, when the day of maria ge ap-
proaChes the young fianceer receives from her
parents these instructions:
In the moment you oYersteD the thr,s-
hold OF the parental house another life
commences for you: you must obey in every
Thing Your father-ln-law, your rnotber-in-
law and your husband, because from that
inoinent they are your true and only pa
rents
The day OF the wedding the young girl is
dressed entirely in white silk her dress is
covered with rich embroidery. which Is
also in white. In the afternoon they take
her To the bridegroom, where the agents in
troduce them mutually. Then both families
and some invited guests sit down to the
table. -
The drawing-rooms are splendidly deco
rated and Illuminated; the repast is album
uant ana delicate. Upon plates painted in
thousands OF colors and made OF boislauue.
the rice freshly cooked, the most sayory fiji
lets of dog. the pates 'holoturies, most ,lev-
efiy combined, the finest fishes, the niosy
beautiful fruits are served without iI.ier-
ruption; intoxicating drinks are very rare,
but golden tea flows abundantly. and every
body, after having finished his cup, pre-
ciously ornamented, soaks IL in 4 large vase.
OF water and exchanges it amicably with
his neighbor.
III the groom belongs to a noble family he
frees all the criminals on his estate: the next
day he goes with his wife to temple to
pray to the gods for blessing on their union.
The third day they pay n visit tothe brides
parents for the first time. From This mo-
ment The bride takes up her secludedIife. and
can neither go out nor receive. nor even
look out Of the window without permission
from h her husband.