The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-02-26
FACTS AND FICTION ~
- FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

living). The groom waits for the bride
in the reception room. He is seated
on a raised platform, before which she
must PROSTATE herself. He then comes
down to her level and, taking off her
veil, views her face for the first time.
No words are exchanged, and they
then sit down side by side, each trying
to sit on part of the dress of the
other. They think that the one who
does SO will rule They then go into.
the hall, and before the family altar
worship heaven and earth and their
ancestors. Dinner is served to them i'm
their own apartments. The guests
peep through the open door and make
remarks on the brides appearance and
actions. 1t is not considered good
form for the bride to eat anything, but
the groom may eat heartily. The at
PENDANTS then hand each of them in
turn glass of wine, and with the ex--
changed pledges the ceremonies are
at an end. On the third day after the,
wedding the bride pays the customary
visit to her parents, alone. After this
she lives what is literally the "life of a
frog in a WELL" and for the rest of her
days she can see no one but her hus-
| band, in her rooms, save at the New
| Year.
| The newly married woman, instead
of getting new name, has no name
| q a hr1f Op1U no fyuo of
her husband and father, so that when
these happen to be common ones it is
impossible to distinguish one from the
other by name. If a stranger addresses
Chinese woman it is even more en-
barrassing. In some places they use
the term "elder-sister-in-law" {sas-tynf,
for any woman, and in others "aunt"
| taniang) must be used; and in others
grandmother" (nai-naD. The mother
in-law is the ruling spirit in every
Chinese household, for the girls are
usually married SO young that they
have had no opportunity to acquire
self-control. The married woman must
call her mother-in-law mother" but
is also allowed to call her "mother-in-
law-mother." A husband may divorce
his wife for seven reasons, but he can
do nothing that will give the wife the
right to divorce him.
The affection Of most Chinese chill
dren for their mothers is deep and en-
during. The mothers death is the
| 10 milf no
: daughter. When this love exists the
visits of young married woman to-
her mother are by far the most pleasant
episodes of her life, and she endeavors
/ to go as often as possible, to which
) course her husbands people strenuous
ly object. To prevent this, they often
load her down with more sewing than
. she can do, or send her off with a.
r crowd of children, if she happens to
have them. When one reflects that
> every Chinese family consists of mar
: ried sons and several wives, each one
3 having been forced into the circle of a
r strong and untamed will, it is plainly
3 seen that little happiness can be ex-
8 pected.
In Chinese homes the sexes do not
: eat together, but eat in different rooms.
t The Chinese woman wears nothing
g that is tight fitting. Mandarins' wives
q have the same embroidered insignia
s on their garments as their husbands
wear, and their way of dressing strong
q ly resembles that of the men. 1t con-
d sists of loose fitting blouse, trousers
g and wooden sandals. Their couture is
sometimes intricate, and is filled with
q jewels and stick pins. They must
v sleep with their necks on a wooden
S block to preserve this as long as pos
d sible. A Chinese woman can rest or
e sleep anywhere, OF in any amount of
y noise. Her face is therefore free from
l wrinkles, even to green old age.-Good
s Housekeeping.