The Opelousas courier., 1904-06-11
COURTSHIP IN JAPAN.
WHEN A MAIDEN REACHES SIN
TEEN SHE 10 EXPECTED
70 MARRY.
Il Is az Much O Matter of Course In a
Woman's Life as 10 Death ana ts
No More TO Re Avoided.

IL Is as Much O Matter of Course in a
Woman's Life as 10 Death and Is
No More to Be Avoided.
When a Japanese maiden arrives at
the age of sixteen or Whereabouts sne
is expected, as q matter Of course, 10
ma. She Is usually allowed her
cA- II in regard to whether she Will OF
wis not marry a certain man but sac
issr ,kpected to marry some one ana
mol to take up too much time In max
i'm PUP her mind. The alternative OF
Pei 5etual s~pinsterhood Is never con
81 ajred, either by herself or by her
1kents. Marriage Is as much a mat
+ Of course In a woman's LIE as
oath, and is no MORE to be avoided.
YThe courtship ia somewhat after
the following manner: Ayoung man.
who finds himself in a position to mar
ry, speaks to some married FRIEND
and asks him to be on the lookout for
a beautiful and accomplished MAIDEN
who would be willing to be his wife.
The Friend, acting as advance agent
makes a canvass Of all the young
maidens Of his acquaintance, inqulflng
among his friends; and finally de-
cides that soand-so (Miss Flower, we
will say will be a very good matcn
for his friend. Having arrived at thls
decision, he goes to Miss Flowers par
ents and lays the case of his friend
before them. Should they approve or
the sutton a party Is arranged at Inc
house Of some common friend, where
the young people may have a chance
to meet each other and decide upon
the others merits. Should the young
folk find no fault with the match pres
ents are exchanged, a formal betroth-
al isAentered into and the marriage is
hasfYned forward. All arrangements
betkeen the contracting parties are
maze by g~o-betweens, or seconds, who
hos i themselves responsible. for the
success of the marriage, and must be
hcerned in the divorce proceedings,
Aould 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 Of the groom, to which the bride
is carried, accompanied by her go-be-
tweens, or If she is of O higher class
by her own confidential maid, who will
serve her as her personal maid in the
new life in her husbands home. The
trousseau and household goods, which
tee bride Is expected to bring with
her, are sent before. The trousseau
will contain, If the bride be Of a we'll
TODD family, dresses for all seasons,
and handsome sashes without mum
Der; for the unchanging fashions OF
Japan, together with the durable quail
ity Of dress material, make it possible
for a 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 marries, show
the estimation in which they have held
her by the beauty and completeness
Of the trousseau with which they pro-
vide her. This Is her very own; and
in the event Of a divorce she brings
back to her fathers house the clothing
and household goods she carried away
as a bride.
In old times the wedding took place
in the afternoon, but it is nov usually |
celebrated in the evening. The cere-
mony consists merely / n 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 a 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 10 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
1t 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-
lions, 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
aouncement to their marriage.
The young people are not, as In this
country, expected to set up housekeep-
ing by themselves and establish q
aew home. Marriages often take place
IN early life, even before the husband
has any IA of supporting a family:
>-d .r ~ ~en&%a. 80 1o,,vrn a.