The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-18

Tss Tls'0sa si1s Hsa ssae s ST11s, %ssa
the yo'irg pesple are in their tarly teens
in mirny ca6eS when they are much
younger SIatffInoniaf alliances between
fr!eLdly sariNG gre the most common.
In SOME $cd@bs of the country the as
sistancH~ef atpfofessional matchmaker is
called In Sh9lf marriage Is desired for a
child The Hgssf~especially if no suit
able all slrce wffh3A friends chnd = pos
ssble. Tie role Of marriage a Eolkr is
played hys womeP of the mfddley class
They go trom houte- ta1house. working up
the trade by tsiHrk NJ lie elsibles In diff
ferent fanilies<zYk tconsuited. their
iirst insiructieH E*5Issfs: Give me a
paper on which f5Fwritten the day and
hour of your ehild's BIRTH" Chinese ,&of1f-
en- generally are superstitious, aud as the
marriages are1lways negotiatea by wom-
en-, 1t Is nat<y@ Jiat jsgpersNtions prac-
tices should tE6onnetted 9th their sol
emnization. this scrap of paper tho
parent goes 70 aStorture teller and has
the horoscope of her child cast icon-
JUNCTION with those. Of possible Daftners
for him. n there appears. 70 be WiYthing
in the fate orff6+tnfle n tie two Young
Pc ople that would be incofisisffnt with
their mutoal happiness. pesptiations are
dropped at ofte. 1T .re only faiy to say
that these fof5tne .tellers often. hit the
truth SO aceufAely that he peoples faith
in them mig& almost seem to be justi-
fed -
BEi1kE IN OMENs.
The sutperstnldSs sometimes 90 to the
jess house AIS aas& ask advice of the
IDOL. This ts. .yy6ne by shaking bamboo
case, which Contains bamboo slips num-
bered consscS Stsse7y fand corresponding to
the numlyereS pages OF a book in which
are collected 1he sayings of the idol on
shaking the ase one of fhe slips falls
out and its Sqmber indicates the page on
which win b fetind the saying of the idol
applicable Ia $his case. TIE keeper of the
temple Will w33te it down. so that the in
quirer may bf.t.lt hom,F and say 10 his
emily: ''TodHz%went TO the temple and
asked if this girl win make good wife
for my son, and titie is the reply tha tsths
jess made me-
II all the ofnens are fayorable to thu
ma rriagE the engagement takes place. /,
is usually Effected by thr parents of the
boy sending elaborate pfesents through
the matchuakers, to the girls parents
Some time before, the marriage, a. still
lari er supply of gifts. usually in the form
of jewels. Ornaments and cakes, is dis
patched TO the BRIDES home. Marriage
itself is .layed until the age of puberty
so the engagement rs often of several
years duration.
The wedding festivities usually las;
three days. On the ddy pfeyious to the
marriage the girls parents send her dow
Try to the home of the bridegroom II She
Us rich, IL will consist of a great variety
OF costly articles. including household fur.
initure. clothing and precious jewelry Ear
ly on the dav of the wedding the parents
.of the briJc&r6om send a bridal chair tc
bring the BRIDE 20 their home. 1t is usu.
ally a yers gorgeous sedan chair, which
has been ted for the day. Musicians
larcornpany II and the matchmakers fol
ilcv. bringing more presents. Arrived a
the home of the bride, there is usually a
this tuncture long pause in the proceed
ings. The bride is In tears, and makes
great show of reluctance at the though
iof leaving her nome and her parents. Ere
,qrtntly six CT seven hours pass before sh'