The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-04-22

OF the ceremony began. The attendants
raised the brides small, draped
hands until they We're on a level with
her sightless eyes. Then, still sup
ported by the two women. she sank
in courtesy so profound that she
was almost in a sitting position. This
was repeated in a slow and solemn
manner three times, after which the
groom's turn came, and he responded
by three bows so profound that his
head almost touched tie floor. They
then took their seats on their respect
i've ends of the mat, and a table about
twelve inches high, filed with Korean
deilcacles, was brought out and placed
between them. These the bridal pair
ate and drank, the bride being fed by
her TWO attendants.
After the feast was finished the
groom was conducted to the bridal
chamber, where he changed his we'd
ding suit for clothes presented him by
the bride. and which were made by her
own fingers. He then came out and
the bride was taken into the bridal
chamber and seated upon her cushions
on the floor, where she sat in placid
meditation until Joined by the groom,
few minutes or a few hours later, as
il suited his convenience.
The life Of the Korean woman,
while secluded, is not as unbearable
as that of the women of many other
Oriental nations. They are poor, and
consequently compelled 70 work very
hard, but as rule are well treated
by their husbands. They have pretty
names, meaning plum blossom, treas
ure, etc, but after marriage are known
only as So-and-s0's wife, until they
have a son, after which they are known
as the mother Of that son.
AS a little lass the Korean girl is
taught all about domestic work,
and begins early TO assist her mother in
making the family clothes. If too
young to paste, she can at least hold
over the stove the long iron rod to be
used in pressing seams. The heating
of this rod is the first thing taught a
little girl. Later she learns how to
paste clothes together, then to wash
and iron them.
Now, this use of paste instead of
thread is a custom, so far as 1 know,
practiced only by the Koreans. 1t is
done on account of their mode Of iron
ing. To accomplish this difficult feat
they rip their garments to pieces be-
fore putting them in the water. After
the washing garments are laid on q
are beaten smooth with ironing sticks.
These sticks resemble a pOliceman's
club, and each ironer uses two.
Girls and boys wear their hair hang
ing in two plaits until engaged to be
married, after which the boy fastens
his on TOP of mis- head, and the girl
twists hers at the nape of her neck.
Koreans hold marriage in high regard,
and show a married man profound re-
spect, while a bachelor is treated by
them with marked contempt. 1 have
seen men greet a slip Of a boy wearing
a top-knOt with ceremOnious Difference,
saying to each other; He is a man;
he is about TO be married; while of a
much older man, and possibly a richer,
who wears his two plaits, they remark
that He is a pig. He cannot get a
wife. He will always be a boy
In the choice of his first bride the
Koreans leave everything to the go
between But all other wives, and a
Korean may have ten, the man makes
his own selection. 1t is seldom, how
ever, that a second wife is added to
the household, except where the first
wife proves childless. In such in
stances other wives are taken, but the
dignity always remains with the first
wife. Women are well treated, and as
a rule live happy, cOntented lives.
They are gentle. attractive little bodies,
and devoted to their homes"
LAFAYETTE M'LAWS.