New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-24
HER BRIDAL JOURNEY.

In sp,o Of these restraints her years slipped away
hanpis n the chinese who
America generally comes as bride having nsna
,ears in the States in Canada and has prospereh
in business.
She has never her future husband she has
never perhaps ventured outside her native village;
yet upon being apprised that for good ana vaui3le
Isaac of old when counting Rebecca sends presents
gu irdans Of his chosen she must leave home and
friends and native land. she cheertully sets ap9ut
preparing for her journey. She may shed Few
tears upon her mothers breast and surreptitously
hug her little sisters; but on the whole she *
Her companions and friends usually regard her
with envy. None but well-to-do Chinaman could
afford to send for bride across IN" sea me chicl
lea does not become subject to her husbands
strange land she is obliged to live with her nus,
bands parents and obey them as "A daughter: ana
unless is of yielding disposition or the mother
in-law Of extraordinary good nature the result -
often unhappiness. II there is = DISAGREEMENT IT
mothers part. and the wife is made TO novledse
herself in the wrong The chinese woman VINO
dress in richer costumes In China her ordinary at.
tire would consist Of cotton. or combination OF
silk and cotton. plainly made. The richly en-
brolercd dresses which the Chinese women who
are in China worn only by women of rank ana po-
The bride comes from n respectable mddle-class
Chinese family. Arstocratic wealthy people
would not give daughter to man living In exile;
wife IN hm lc feels hmsf too big to take xiii
from the laborng CLASSES. He wishes his friends
girl Of mean condition he might be rdiculed
The Chinaman knows little of natural selection;
though in his youth he had Il sweetheart when he
wants wife he sends for n stranger.
HER AMERICAN FURNITURE
The Chinese woman I'm America lives generally
in the upstairs apartments of her husbands dwell
ing. He looks well after her comfort and provides
ali her little mind can wish. Her apartments
furnished i'm American style; but many Chinese or
namcnis decorate the tables and walls. and on III"
sides of the room are hung long bamboo panels
covered with paner or silk on which are painted
cove of an inner room can be dsc"rned an Incense
vase an ancestral tablet. kneeling-stool pair Cf
candlestcks my lady from hinas private chapel
She Will show you all her pretty ornaments. her
ewelry and fine clothing but never invite you near
her private chapel There she burns ncerse to her
favoriie goddess and prays that may be BON
to her that her husband may he kind and that she
may live to die in China-thc country which heaven
loves
until she has been wife FOR ut least two years
Even then. II she has no child. she is supposed TO
her wall Of reserve IS lowered a litt". and II Is
proper for cousins and friends of her husband TO
drop In occasionally and have chat with THE
family
Now and then the women visit another: and
when they met ,Og rther there Is such clatter
ing of tongues one would almost think thoy were
place remark and scream at the smallest trihc:
they EXAMINE one another dresses and hair. tax
about their husbands. their babies. their food;
squabbc little matters and make up again;
they dine on bowls Of rice. minced chicken. bamboo
shoots and q dessert Of candied fruits
The merry making over. they bid goodby by clasp
ing their own hands shaking them up and down
and intcriacing their nnG"rS-lnsteai or shaking
ha nds with another.
II II Is necessary to pass room occupied by men.
they do so very dcmurely. holding open fans before
that side OF the facc-not because they are shy.
but because II is the custom OF their country.
Although she does not read nor 20 out 10 see the
sights the Chinese woman does allow time TO