The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-06-11
COURTSHIP IN JAPAN.
WHEN A MAIDEN REACHES SIX
TEEN SHE is EXPECTEE
TO MARRY.
I: Is as Much Matter Of Course in 4
Worans Life as Is Death and Is
No Mere TO Be Avoided.


marry. She is usually allowed her
| choice in regard to whether she will or
| VIII not marry a certain man but Sne
| is expected to marry some one, ana
not to take up too much time IN max
| ing up her mind. The alternative or
perpetual spinsterhood is never con-
sidered. either by herself or by her
parents. Marriage is as much a mat
ter Of course in a woman's life as
death, and is no more to be avoided.
The courtShiD is somewhat after
the following manner: A young man,
who finds himself in a position to mar
~, speaks to some married friend.
and asks him to be on the lookout for
6 beautiful and accomplished maiden
who would be willing to be mis- wife.
The friend, acting as advance agent,
makes canvass OF all the young
maidens Of his acquaintance, inquirlng
among his friends; and finally de-
cides that so-and-so (Miss Flower, we
will say will be a very good matcA
for his friend. Having arrived at this
decision, he goes to Miss Flowers par
ent5 and lays the case of his friend
before them. Should they approve OF
the Slitor a party is arranged at the
house OF some common friend, where
tie young people may have chance
to meet each other and decide upon
tie others merits. Should the young
folk find no fault with the match pres
ents are exchanged a formal betroth-
al is entered into and the marriage is
FASTENED forward. All arrangements
between the contracting parties are
made by go-betweens, or seconds, who
hold themselves responsible for the
success of the marriage, and must be
concerned in the divorce proceedings,
should divorce become desirable or
necessary.
The marriage ceremony, which
seems to be neither religious nor le-
gal in its nature, takes place at the
home CT the groom, to which the bride
is carried, accompanied by her go-be-
tweens, or if she is of higher class
by her own confidential maid, who will
serve her as ier personal maid in the
new life in her husbands home. The
trousseau and household goods. which
the bride is expected to bring with
her, are sent before. The trousseau
will contain, if the bride be of well
TODD family, dresses for all seasons,
and handsome sashes without num-
Der; for the unchanging fashions OF
Japan, together with the durable quail
ity CT dress material. make it possible
fer q woman at the time of her marri-
age to enter her husbands house with
a supply Of clothing that may last
through her lifetime. The parents
Of the bride, in giving up their daugh-
ter. as they do when she 11arries, show
the estimation in which they have held
her by the beauty and completeness
Cf the trousseau with which they pro-
vide her. This is her very own; and
back to her fathers house the clothing
and household goods she carried away
as bride.
In old times the wedding took place
celebrated in the evening. The cere-
mony consists merely IN the formal
drinking of the native wine from a
two-spouted-cup, which is presented
to the mouths of the bride and bride
groom alternately. The drinking from
one cup is the symbol of the equal
sharing of the joys and sorrows of
married life. At the ceremony no one
is present but the bride and bride
groom, their go-betweens and young
girl whose duty it is to present the
cup to the lips of the contracting par
ties. When this is over the wedding
guests who have been assembled in
the next room during the ceremony,
join the wedding party, a grand feast
is spread and much merriment ensues.
On the third day after the wedding
the newly married couple are expected
to make a visit to the brides family,
and for this great preparations are
made. A large party is usually given
by the brides parents, either in the
afternoon Or evening. in honor of this
occasion, to which the friends of the
brides family are invited. The young
couple bring with them presents from
the groom's family to the brides in
return for the presents sent on the
wedding day.
The festivities often begin early in
the afternoon and keep up until late
at night. A fine dinner is served, and
music and dancing by professional per-
formers, or some other entertainment,
serve to make the time pass pleas
antly. The bride appears as hostess
with her mother, entertaining the COM
pany, and receiving their congratula-
tons, and must remain to speed the
last parting guest before leaving the
paternal roof
Within the course Of two or three
months the newly married couple are
expected to give an entertainment,
or series of entertainments as an an
nouncement to their marriage.
The young people are not, as in this
country, expected to set up housekeep-
ing by themselves and establish a |
new home. Marriages often take place
in early life, even before the husband
has any means of supDortirp a family.