The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-15
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.
Rad is the Wedding Coics q the
CeiestisIo
CHILDREN ARE BETGcTEED.
AN Exceedingly Interesting sce"int
of Queer Customs Still:
Observed in the
Far East.

Observed in the
Far East.
Every man in China is expected and
expects to get married at I rather
early age, and it is not unusual tor the
young men in school to so home for I
week or ten days for this purpose aud
then come back and resume their
work.
frequently the boy is betrothed
while yet mere baby and most of
them are married before they even see
their brides. In some cases, of course.
this leads to discomfort and unhappl-
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 my knowledge here the Chinese
have made propositions Of betrothals
of 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
handsof the individual concerned after
they became of age, the Chinese could
not fully understand it and felt hurt.
thinking that this was merely some
subterfuge to avoid granting their re-
quest.
Here, as everywhere else, the mid
die man is the one through whlch 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
bows parents. On the occasion OF the
completion Of all the arrangements
feast is given by the young man ano
all of his friends are invited in to re-
joice with him.
The young man and his father anc
friends are allowed to wear Semi-oih'
cial robes at this time and at the time
Of the marriage.
This feast may sometimes be many
months or years before the actual mar,
riage or it may in other cases be Only
very few months; this depends upon
the age at which the 5eUrothal is
made.
Custom here is something that can
not be disregapaed and it is custom
for the ma2fo send six things, usually
pisae6s 5ewelry of gold or silver, &C
cording to the wealth Of the family
Sometimes less expensive things may
be sent, but the number must be OBJ,
served.
Following this comes the exchange
of their pohSz or eight characters:
telling of the year, month, day aud
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 fruit
full one. Luckily combinations are al
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 inches
l,ng, 5 inches wide and l inch thick,
made with rice flour, with nuts and
fruits in it, very gummy) in red
pasteboard box specially made for the
purpose, a small pewter can filed with
Tea and red paper bag containing
some watermelon seed, pine seed, tWo
or three English walnuts and a num-
hs- of othec similar nuts that are Chi
nese. When this is brought IN you
are expected to pay the brlnger OF 1t
about 10 per cent. Of its value as ms
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 mercy of the servants. Foreigners
are not held strictly to this rule as
most of them have thrown this OF IN
the very beginning Of their intercourse
with the Chinese.
Soon after the present comes you
NAV expect an invitation, also on red
paper and in a red envelope, addressed
t, YOU as great old father" which is
uhe 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 as 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 as a
rule to the more wealthy couples, but
it does come in very conveniently in
cases of the less well-to-do in Chinese
society circles. The brides father
often makes very extensive prepara-
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 reIelry
there. At noon or before the guests
begin to come and they continue until
late in the evening. From about y
o'clock until ; 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 allo the
time pouring back and forth through
the house.
At $50 .. m., the bride is to arrive
so the chair is sent out from the
groom's home in time to go to her
49,, ~ ri