The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-07-17
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CHILDREN ARE BETR0THED.
An Exeeedingly Interesting Account
ss5 s9s; OFF, Queer Customs Still
Observed In the
s.s Far East.

avery man IN Ch1naitS expected anu
: expects to get married at rather
early age, and 1t is not unusual for the
. young men In school to so home for a
Il week or ten. days for this purpose and
then come back and resume their
work.
Frequently the boy is betrothed
while yet mere baby and most of
them are married before they evcnsee
4 their brides. In some cases, OF course,
this leads to discomfort and unhappi-
ness, but.the parents have seen and
made the choice, or If the parents are
dead, then the Oldest member of the
family living has matters Of this ma
ture in charge.
On two occasions that have come
within r.yy knowledge here the Chinese
iiave made propositions Of betrothals
or the foreigners. OF course they were
refused and in spite Of any eXplana-
tion made by the foreigners to the
effect that these matters were in the
hands OF the individual concerned after
they became Of age, the Chinese could
not fully understand it and felt hurt,
thinking that this was merely some
Subterfugc to avoid granting their re-
quest.
Here, as everywhere else, the mid
die man is the one through which all
arrangements are made and IN this
way it is not unusual that the prOpo-
sition is made by the girls parents.
In fact nothing is thought Of such
proceeding and it probably comes as
often that way as being made by the
boys parents. On the occasion Of the
completion of all the arrangements a
feast is given by the young man and
all Of his friends are invited in to re-
joice with him.
THE young man and his father and
friends are allowed to wear scmi-oili-
clal robes at this time and at the time
Of the marriage.
This feast may sometimes be many
months or years before tho actual mar
rage or it may in other cases be only
very few months; this depends upon
the age at which the betrOthal is
made.
Custom here is something that can
not be diSrcgardcd and it is Il custom
for the man TO send six things, usually
pieces Of jewclry Of gold or silver, ac-
cording to the wealth of the family
2 Sometimes less expensive things may
be sent, but the number must be Oh
served.
Following this comes the exchange
OF their pohsz or eight characters,
telling Of the year, month, day and
hour In which each was born; these
things each has its own Significance
for they determine whether or not the
match will be !; happy one or Il fruit
full one. Luckily combinations are III
ways sought after and the greatest
blessings are sure to follow when they
are obtained. Some days before the
wedding little gifts, including piece
OF the wedding cake (about 8 inches
l,ng, inches wide and inch thick,
made with rice flour, with nuts and
fruits in it, very gummy) in rcd
paStebOard box specially made for the
purpose, small pewter can filled with
tea and red paper bag containing
some wa atern1nlln lnn Good nir,a cand- t,.,..
or three English walnuts and Il num-
ber Of other similar nuts that are Chi
neSe. When this is brought in you
are expected to pay the bringer of it
about 10 per cent. Of its value us his
Tip, and be it said here that larger
part Of the pay Of most Of the servants
in large families comes from the tips
given by guests, and the reputation OF
that Chinese that does not do it is at
the mercv of the servants. Foreigners
IRE not held strictly to this rule as
lost Of them have thrown this or in
the very beginning Of their intercourse
with the Chinese.
0ft 6a
may expect an invitation, also on red
paper and in a red envelope, addressed
to you us great old father" which is
the most honorable title they can give
you. Now presents are in order and
They pour in thick and fast up until
the very last day before the wedding,
after that time it is not considered
good taste to send them. The pres
ents range about us they would in
America, but in some cases the money
Is given, and you must give at least
one dollar, and it should be wrapped
in red paper. Money is not given us Il
rule to the more wealthy couples, but
1t does come in very conveniently in
cases of the less wcll-to-do in Chinese
society circles. The brides father
often makes very extensive prcpara-
lions for the wardrobe OF his daughter
and even at times furnished much OF
the lighter household furniture; this
usually comes to the groom's house a
day or two before the marriage. The
brides dress is provided by the groom
and She sends him his hat and shoes
for this special occasion.
At last the day has arrived and all
is stir and hustle in the groom'S home
for all day long and most Of the night
there will be feaSting and rcvclry
there. At noon or before the guests
begin to come and they continue until
late In the evening. From about 2
O'Clock until 3 in the afternoon little
groups Of guests are served about in
the different little reception rooms to
dinner Of 20 or % courses, so, OF
course, trains Of servants are all OF the
Time pouring back and forth through
the house.
At $50 p. M, the bride is to arrive
so the chair Is sent out from The
grooms home in time to go to her
home and return by the appointed
hour. The chair is u large red one
decorated with mirrors, tinscl and
gilded wood and is closed tight so as to
prevent 1.-THE curious eyes along the