Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-07-18

one from Intrusion or danger. Arriving
at her friends house Miss All Choi is
1T once s-sown to the inner apartments,
into which no male member Of tho
family dare lntrude himself. ard there
the ladies discuss the latest scandal,
drink tea and, of course, smoke the
pipe of peace.
After thus barmlessly Willing an
hour or two away our young lady re-
turns in time for dinner, which Is
served al o'clock, the chief dishes,
as usual, consisting of rice, fish and
vegetables The evening is spent in
reading, card or chess playing, music
and story telling, and perhaps the hus-
band and sou join the ladies, to whom
they relate all the topics of the day.
Tonight Mr.. Shun casually informs
his daughter that propitious day for
her marriage has been found. He also
gravely informs her that her horoscope
and that of her husband have been
examined by a fortune teller, who has
predicted fayorably regarding the
union. She also hears that Mr.. Leo
Foong, the suitor, has paid $500, which
will party be spent on her bridal trous-
seat, which is always sent with much
ostentatious display TO her future home
previous to her marriage.
The day for Miss All Choi 8 marriage
at length arrives. According to the
custom Of her country, she has spent
whole week in weeping and in
lamenting that she is Obliged to leaye
her home, SO her poor eyes ought to be
very red, but they are not.
At p. m. in compliance with the
instruction of an astrologer, the bride
appears In the reception hall attired
in rich scarlet silk robe, her face
being entirely concealed by thick
veil OF the same color, red being en-
blematio Of life and prosperity. Pres
emily the loud sound of gongs, flutes
and trumpets is heard as gay pro-
cession nears the house followed by a
crowd OF spectators, who cluster about
the front entrance.
One Mr.. All Sin now arrives, looking
very responsible and tanning himself
vigorously, and is escorted with much
polnp into the presence of the bride,
whom he presents with letter, written
on red paper tinged with gold, which is
from the bridegroom, urging her to
come. This epistle is an equivalent to
our marriage lines, and is kept us such,
and is the first and probably the last
billet doux she ever receives.
Without exposing her face she salutss
this matrimonial aide-de- camp and at
once enters the grand palanquin, which
Is Of red, gaudily embellished with
tinseled paper, silken tassels and
flowers, and is borne away, followed by
her younger brother, amid the clashing
of gongs, the squealsing flutes and
fddles and the braying of elongated
trumpets, and preceded by couple of
anahs. On arriving at her future home
the chair IS lowerd to the ground and
the bridegroom, who is waiting at the
door, comes forward and knocks with
his fan against the front screen, which
the male attendant now removes. The
deeply veiled bride now steps out. She
is Immediately carried on the back of
female over u charcoal fire, rice and
chopsticks being held in the meantime
over her head. The bridegroom mas by
this time taken his place on high
chair raised on a platform, where he
receives the bride, who prostrates her
self at his feet. Descending from his
throne he unveils her face, which he
now beholds for the first time. He ia
very pleasantly surprised in this case
And thus commences Miss An Choi q
future life of retirement as Mr.. Lee
Foopg's first wife.