Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-23
MARRIAGE IN CHINA.
Some Of the Odd and Curious Custom,
There.

$50 sncSS, anu similar o1acu-
lations, the neighbors, who have
nocked in to hear the news, shave their
heads and noisily depart. leaving the
unhappy and disappointed father to
nurse his wrath. or vent it on the
miserable mother Of the unwelcome
OFFSPRING. Save one, the proud father
OF q son of three summers and his in.
rant brother. who sees in his friends
a kind providence to him.
self. In the shape Of a possible daugh-
He is in no hurry to be
gone, so takes another whiff of the
fraternal pipe, which has already cir
culated freely among the departing
callers. There is q pause of silent
sympathy, and talk on a dozen other
topics, before, with considerable
caution. the subject is preached. Ac-
cording to Chinese etiquette, the boys
parents must take the initiative in this
matter. which, however, cannot be
settled without consulting the
horoscopist. who must be furnished
with full particulars as to the time
and circumstances connected with the
birth OF the boy and girl. From the
day Of her birth, till she is about 16
years OF age, Chinese girl is an
eligible bride. but rather less than 10
per cent. are betrothed in infancy.
particularly among the
poorer classes, she is brought up by
her mother-in-law, but more often
the betrothed couple do not see each
others faces until the wedding day.
China is essentially land of
births. deaths and marriages" Before
these three important events, every
thing else sinks into oblivion. A war,
coronation. coup d'etat, a Boxer
rising-in these the average Chinaman
takes little interest, but the birth of a
son! who can estimate the Importance
of such an event? The occasion, and
its anniversaries, will be celebrated
with great joy by the whole household
OF more immediate importance to the
individual himself, however, is his
day, on which he attains his
majority. Henceforth he is entitled.
within certain limits, to manage his
own affairs. Yet not for one moment,
during the lifetime of his parents, is
he released from the obligation Of alb
solute submission to their will.
the command Of the parent
be reasonable or unreasonable, it must.
be implicitly obeyed. A mother, in "a
fit of passion commanded her son of 40
years Of age to lie down on the floor
and receive beating at her hands
and he did it!
All the world may see the spectacle
of the Emperor Kwang-Hsu setting to
his subjects an example of the highest
virtue China knows, filial piety, as he
sits quiescent on the throne, in
obedience to the will of his step
who, on account of her rela-
to the Emperor's late father,
assumes supreme control over her step
son. even carrying her authority so
far as to practically usurp the throne.
Hence the liberty which comes to
son on his wedding day is qualified by
the idiosyncracies of his parents.
The matrimonial arrangements are
made by the parents, through the me-
dunn of a ''go-between." This indis-
pensable and ever-welcOme news
monger travels from house to house,
the ages of sons and
hearing and coming their
virtues, pocketing fees, and perhaps
receiving specimens of the tiny shoes
worn by the girls, which more or less
determine the social position OF their
fathers. The higher the social posi-
ton, the smaller will be the girls
feet. or mangled remnants Of these
extremitieS.
1t is not unusual for Chinese parents
before contracting an engagement for
their children to give them the full
;,l, learned
from the "go-between," and allow
them to have a voice in determining
the matter. On the other hand, some
parents will heedlessly make most I'M
suitable arrangements without con-
sulting their children, or even in the
lace of their opposition. tears and en-
treaties. Thus an intelligent, refined,
well-educated girl may be betrothed
to a cook. with whom she has little IN
common. because he is earning good
wages, or, as is more often the case,
a student may be betrothed to an IL
literate girl who lives for nothing but
dress and show.
When a preliminary agreement mas
been arrived at between the two fam
lilies. they resort to the horoscopist, IN
whom great confidence is placed. III
his verdict is propitious. the boys par
ents announce the engagement py
sending a number of wedding CAKES
and fruits, prepared specially LOT tne
occasion, to the girls home. to be d.
vided equally among her relations.
The gold wedding bracelets'-or' II
Tho family cannot afford gold, silver
heavily plated with gold-and an even
number of dollars. usually twelVe'
twenty-four. orty-eight. or more-are
sent with the cakes; and last, but not
least a red document containing iuii
particulars as to the wedding ghts'
the date of the betrothal, ana 'he
names of the young couple, their par
ants and the "go-between." This doc
ument is carefully preserved for refer-
ence in case of a lawsuit or any o'h-
or emergency. The girls parents ac-
knowledge the receipt of these presents
On rcd paper. at the same time return
ing some of the cakes and fruits. All
er this there is no withdrawing .oln
tho agreement. To cancel Chinese
hetrothal is only possible when iam-
;lv is in disgrace, and is exceedingly
expensive. oon.