The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-24
MATCHMAKING IN CHINA.
WEDDINGS At WHICH THERE Are
OFTEN SAD SURPRISES

"when get married." Is a phrase that ain.
gle men, as we'll as single women, are fond OF
using. Crusty old bachelors are occasionally
taken unawnres with II on their lips. and even
they dwell on the words softly. sometimes re-.
grctfully. Tho young people of China do not
know this pleasure. And while many women
approaching the bordcrlnnd Of spinsterhood in
this country and many men who have been Il d.
appointed in some affair OF the heart may b,
inclined to think that marriage customs and
laws here are all wrong. It is doubtful II any on,
could be found in the United States who would
not most seriously object to substituting TN.
Chinese customs OF courtship and marriage
The fact Is that IN China the persons most In.
te.ested have nothing whatever to do with the
matter. The Rev. s. @. Miner. a missionary II,
China. says In . pamphlet issued for the in
formation o: his American friends that the
young people there are usually betrothei alta
very early are. sometimes when mere babes
This is the way they 40 about 1t. Frequently
q man having friend In similar station In
life proposes to give his daughter In marriage
to his friends son. They have matchmaker,
and GO betweens in China Just as here. but they
work In an entirely different way. II Is at thi,
stage Of the game that the matchmaker is called
in. The childrens horoscopes are cast, and for
some days the matter IL weighed by both fami.
lies. Tho fate OF the unconscious young peopl,
hinges on trihes during this period 10
any. accident happens IN either family.
such as break Ing n piece OF china or glass ware,
or losing triiing article, is regarded ~ q
bad omen. aud the match Is declared OF item
decide that the betrothal Is desirable. and i'm.
mediately presents arc exchanged, the parents
81 ns s 81. sS1 .xd IN tSI tse ss
the families. Ono Is ornamented witha rilt
dragon. and has written upon II information
relating to the good points and shortcofn.
are few s"' and far between. since S" Xxi:
beings by their parents. The other card /.
decorated with the picture OF phnuir. aud
thread OF red six With needle at tee each end !,
passed through each OF these cards. which a-e
preserved Nth u" bs,rothal paper: IN The two
people destined TO be married are tied together
with invisible cords Lovers 10 this country
degree Of happiness in marriage Is a poor one
unless their hearts are tied together in this way.
marriage. although the contracting parties may
be IN absolute ignorance OF the arrsneement
weddinrs 20 do they At American wedding.
or. rather: after them. for that matter. Bui
they aren't the same kind OF surprises Ere.
quently In China no communication takes place
between the two families from the time OF thu
betrothal until the wedding. Sometimes one Q.
the betrothed couple becomes a helpless cripple
or n victim TO ieprosy or some incuraOle disease.
an idiot; but nothing could prevent the
mrr5aSe s5 The he Ss' Sar cir,
There she 10 made to be servant for the family
until the marriage ceremony is performed.
mothers pie" II they have pies in China. she
has TO see her mother-in-law-elect prepare
years. More frequently. however. the two who
are To go through life together never see each
%is In s, u event ,e BRED. SIousS
to her new home on the wedding day In hired
bridal chair grand AFFAIR OF ~, flaming scarlet
les preceded by q band OF music. Two OF her
near relatives accompany Ter until they meet
two OF the bridegroom. nearest o: kin. when
they hand her over TO the care of her new pro-
tectors. Al her other relatives remain at home
burial instead OF her bridal. which. in most
countries; Is beleyed to be The happe., even. 81
ever attends the wedding.
upon her arrival q, the e,idss.oom': home
, I've Women H,tenarn,s stand ready 10 reeve
inony and festivity, The chair is set down. and
as they oren It child and an old woman who
and formally invite the bride to ACCOMPANY
them to the bridegroom's chamber. They md
boots The bride wears psrti- coo-ed garments
with large scarlet robe thrown over all 4 scar
With the assistance Of her attendants she trim.
across the scarlet carpet laid for the coca.
else. and takes her seat on the brideg rooms
right. He then removes her veil and crown.
the curtain Is drawn. and the two are supposed.
without 80 much as RlAncng at each other. %
sit ana ihinK. without speaking. until prepare
tons for the service are completed. Zen to one
they get pretty far idea of what each other
looks like out OF the tail OF their oblique eyes,
u they are anything like lovers the world over.
thing is ready the bridegroom re crowns his
bride and they walk to the reception room.
eraee New Yorker. with his idea OF what a re-
erption room should be. open his eye. The
mar he mi ms Ia fhatr
and by bowling their faces to the ground four
times worship heaven and earth. They then
Ancestors in Ike manner. H S ext they worship
each other. or pretend TO- and retire aGain q
are taken on for the last last time. her sN BAR
Is elaboretely dressed; ana the bridegroom
Tor hf5 .t time, Then the m.dan:
breakfast is served. Nobody 10 allowed to par
take OF II except the couple, and even the bride
sit there motionless and watch the bridegroom
enjoy himself. During the meal the mistress Of
sion. In which she predicts that every known
npp,iai blessing shall come to the young pair.
worship in the same manner as before ali the
groom's senior relatives, and worshipped in
The climax OF the days festivities is a grand
marriage feast after which the guests Of both
are to the sEdS a
her appearance OF her dress Every Chinese
bride has TO pass through this ordeal. and fur
scious of blame or praise OF harsh cri-
cism or friendly judgment, II has al
ways been said that the Chinese women
have most amiable dispositions. and they
must to stand this trial. II possible on tho
following day tho welded couple visit tho
brides parents. II she has n lot OF big brothers
woe to the bridegroom unless ne hands them
out good deal Of cold cash; he Is liable to have
something OF n serenade OF otherwise.
After month OF married life the bride may
visit her parents and relatives. Often tins visit
lisa very sad one. for the young wife has to ,el
Of cruel husband or mot her-in-law, who max 81
life burden to her. Life i so lightly vtlucd In
China that the taking Of il seems ia many only
very little thing. And, too frequently, unfor'
trnate youug wives take advantage ~ these
first visits home to put an end To Their
existence, \ man has been, known 20
drown himself because a neighbor pressed
claim for lees than $40. Again. only few
months ago man was caught stealing church
property in Foochow His son. In. law became
security for HIM and promised to have ihroi
man appear at the Consulate the next morn!nS
About daylight the son.in-law aroused Mr.
Miner and told him that his father-in.law had
taken opium during the night and gone ~ the
other world and asked him to help pay ne
funeral expenses. No wonder mn unhappy WHO
feels that she has right to take her life when
men kill themselves for such trifcs
Considering the strange way in which they