The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-10
MARRIAGE IN JAPAN.
Is Essentially Business and There Is
 No Sentiment.

From the Chicago Record-Herald.
 A Japanese marriage is essentially a business transaction. and it's celebration Is remarkable for total absence. of sem timent of any kind There is nothing characteristic of a religious ceremony about it. It Is regarded by all concern cd merely as civil contract; and the presence of a priest Is deemed quite un- necessary even by the most devout wor- shipers of Buddha.
 All preparations for marriage are un- dertaken by the friends of both parties, and the couple themselves are about the last persons whose advice is sought or whose wishes are studied. When young Jap reaches the age of 20 he begins to look around for somebody to share his heart and his little fortune of yen. When he has made his choice he fixes a sprig of lespedeza to the house of the ladys parents and awaits developments. If the sprig is neglected and allowed to wither away unnoticed he knows that his suit Is not favored but if the maiden appears next day with her teeth blackened he knows at once that his love is accepted. The young lady Is usually about 16 years old, this being the age at which Japan csc girls are expected to be able to un- dertake the duties of motherhood.
 The engagement which precedes the marriage IS or snort uuratlOn. SuCH q thing as an engagement ring Is quite un- known. In it's place the young man gives his betrothed rich sash of colored silk. The giving of presents is quite a curious feature of the engagement. These are given so lavishly that when the time comes to set up housekeeping the young couple find their resources almost ex- hausted. A bride receives no dowry, but she is provided instead with a trousseau n6 10 bnncphO1d Embroidered silks take the place of jew elry. which latter Is not worn by the women of Japan
 On the momentous day the bride al- most conceas her face under a thick coating of paint, and, in company with the bridegroom and all relations goes to have the marriage legally registered in the office of the kocho. or mayor of the town. The real celebration commences in the evening, when the wedding takes place. This feast Is more like. a dinner party than anything else. its chief feat ures being the changing of garments and the drinking of enormous quantities of ricewine known as sake.
 When dusk Is falling the bride is taken to the house of her father-in-law In pa- lanquin, escorted by alit tie procession carrying Chinese lanterns The brides relatives take their seats in one end of the principal apartment, while the bride groom's friends sit opposite. The bride, dressed entirely In white, is led into the room by two richly-attired young girls. The bridegroom, who has already taken seat in the middle of the room, makes no sign of recognition, but keeps his eyes fixed on the ground. while the bride seats herself opposite him. A table is then drawn forward on which Is placed a double spouted kettle filled with hot sake.
 Another table, loaded with eatables. Is placed before each person and the feast begins. The two girls who escorted the bride into the room hand cups of sake to the guests, who are expected to drain them to the very dregs for luck.
 After this ceremony the bride and bridegroom retire for a short time to change their costumes. When they re- turn the two bridesmaids fill three cups with sake and hand them to the bride and her parents-in-law, who then gives the vessel to the bride She in her turn drinks three cups, and receives a present from his hands. Another course, usually rice or fish. is now brought forward, and the bride goes through the same cere- mony of drinking with the bridegrooms s mother, afterwards receiving another present. A thin soup is then served and three more cups of wine are drunk all round 10A
 Then comes the great event of the evening. This is the almost sacred sake drinking by the married couple, which appears to constitute kind of marriage service. The bridesmaids bring forward the double-spouted kettle and present 1t to the lips of the married pair. These drink alternately from 1t until it's con tents have been exhausted the act being emblematical of the way in which they intend to share one another's joys and sorrows.
 When the happy couple have partaken of the sake the ceremony Is at an end. So well versed are the bride. bridegroom. and relations in their roles that the whole affair passes off quite silently. There is no confusion. Each person knows what Is expected of him. and does 1t in a mechanical way that gives the proceedings an air of monotony. After the marriage the bride continues to live In her fatber-in-law's house: for it is an almost nvariabe rule that a welded couple shall dwell during their first months of married life at the house of the bridegrooms father.