The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-22
IADB EASY
The Chinese Minister Tells How It
L Desc i Chiss.


L
Mr.. Wa Ting-fans Is proving that he can
write a. cIeverly IS he can tall. In re-
cent contribution to Golfers Weekly" he
describes among other Interesting customs
Of hi native land that Of the marriage Of
the girls Of China-there do not seem to b
courtships.
Social entertainments IN China" he
writes. never revolve around dancing o.
athletic contests, a. they 70 frequently Do
in this country. Our IDEAS about the i'm
propriety Of the two sexes mirsling socially
would efectually prevent dancing from be-
coming form OF entertainment. Athletic
sports have not found favor in our eyes. but
games Of chance have . strong hold on the
popular heart
Among my people the choice Of partner
for life Is always left to the parents OF the
bridal pair. They have the interest and
welfare Of their children ct heart, and act
with the Judgment and wisdom that only
mature years can bring. The engagement
is usually made when the young people are
in their early teens-in many cases Tasn
they are much younger. Matrimonial allie
most common.
I'm some sections Of the country the a.
sistance Of . professional matchmaker u
called In when marriage II desired for .
child Of the house, especially II no suitable
alliance with q friends child Is possible.
The role Of marriage broker Is played By
women OF tie middle class.
THE wedding festivities usually last three
days. On the day previous to the marriage.
the girls parents send her dowry to the
home Of the bridegroom. II she Is rich, It
will consist Of great variety of costly are
ticles, including household furniture, cloth
ing, and precious jewelry. Early on the day
of the wedding the parents OF the BRIDE
groom send bridal chair to bring the bride
to their home. 1t Is usually very gorge
Gus sedan chair which has been rented for
the day. Musicians accompany IT and tho
match-makers follow. bringing more pres
ents. Arrived at the home Of the bride.
there Is usually at this julcture long
pause in the proceedings The bride Is in
tears. and makes great show Of reluctance
at the thought of leaving her home and
her parents. Frequently, six or seven
hours pass before she will consent to let her
maids adorn her in the bridal robes and
headdress sent her by the bridegroom's pa
rents. Slowly her finery is donned-the red
dress with its glittering gilt ornaments. the
ong red veil. the elaborate headdress with
~ AiA6S VI QcdAiS u6u5tuS ofcI uSk 1aCc.
With her hair no longer dressed in child
FOODS fashion. but arranged in the couture
peculiar to a-nlarried woman, she bids her
'amily fearful farewell. At last she gets
nto her chair and is borne away from her
I'D home. Her brothers follow her in sedan
hairs to the house Of the bridegroom. The
bridegroom, in gorgeous dress. comes out to
meet her. He bows. he opens the door Of
Ter chair. One OF her maids comes up and
;arries her on her back into the house.
There. the bridegroom lifts her veil and
ices for the first time the face OF his bride.
NO priest conducts the ceremony which
mites them. Together they kneel before
he altar of their Unknown God and be-
ore the shrine Of their ancestors, and burn
incense. and candles. Humbly they make
to the bridegroom's parents and
receive their blessing. II is as IL the
,ather said to his boy: I have brought
-ou up carefully. 1 have found you wife.
Now you are man. Be good and be
Happy There is no exchange Of words
N the part Of the young people. They
would not be SO bold.
The choice Of a burying ground is con-
idered a matter CT great importance In
lima. A class Of people who have great
influence there are the 'Geomancers,'
whose function II is to decide whether
lace is lucky for a burying ground or for
ui;ding house. Rich people spend
,reat deal Of time and money in going
bout selecting burial places for their dead.
ometimes they spend years In their
earch. When a lucky place Is found tie
ieomancer' may say. II you bury your
ather here you will be rich yourself be-
ore you die 1t is commonly believed
hat any good luck in the life Of person
ONES as a reward for burying his parents
r grandparents in the right spot
1T sometimes happens that the parents
lie before the lucky spot is found. and In
nat case a little house is hastily con-
.ructed and the body given temporary
.sting place there. No greater crime Ii
nown in China than that Of desecrating
graveyard. Because graves are found
rerywhere in China, the fiat railroad
1ilt there had to follow very circuitous
,ute in order to avoid them. 1t is better
hen the people are poor for railroads to
" them to move their graves. II the
sople are-rich and money is no consider
lion it is wiser to change the route Of
lilroad than to rouse the wrath Of the