The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-22
How They Go a-Wooing in Siam $3.50
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groom gets speech of his bride. Early on
the morning OF the first day great feast
Is prepared ana crowds OF priests. Irlehos
and hired musicians assemble 10 do honor
TO the event Soon a sound of music is
heard in the distance, and the bridegroom
procession approaches. With him come
troops of friends and more musicians All
are dressed in orange. purple. green pink
and blue, making a merry medley Of color,
which gains in brightness from the ever
present sunshine. ThS bridegroom on his
arrival goes to his new house and eats OF
the betel nut and other good things that
have been sent by his future wife. Pres
emily the marriage service begins. but
screen separates the happy pair. They are
sprinkled with rice, scented oil and flowers,
and then the screen is taken away. The
priests pray and the couple kneel down TO
be bathed The chief priest present takes
a bowl of water and pours the whole OF its
contents over the head of the bridegroom.
after which he repeats the operation the
bride. He pronounces a blessing on them
| both and the ceremony is over. Feasting
ana dancing occupy the rest of the day. and
at eventide the visitors return TO their
homes. The young husband brings his band
of musicians beneath his wife's window,
and there. with weird strains from weird
instruments. celebrates the lsdy's beauty
and her virtues until the small hours of the
morning.
A TWO DAYS WEDDING.
The second day begins like the first with
feasting and song. But towards evening an
elderly and respectable couple go to the
new house and arrange everything for the
home coming of the newly married pair
The husband enters the house first, his ar
rival being preceded by procession of his
friends bearing torches Here he anxiously
awaits his wife, and about nine O'Clock she
arrives with another troop OF friends All
the people crowd around the pair and stay
with them for long time chatting and
chewing oetel nut and making themselves
ar nlrIH af Tlrrs all
an end at last and one by one the visitors
go home, leaving the young folks 10 them
selves for the first time in their lives
Never, we may be sure were friends so
gladly parted with those who call their
last good-nights as they step down the
bamboo ladder and take themselves away
into the night.
A Siamese often has many wives. IL "a
only in the case of the first or head wife
that all these formalities are observed. The
other wives are merely goods and chat
tells. and are bought with about as much
ceremony and consideration would attend
the purchase of house or horse. A man
may have many wives as he can keep
Hence in the poorer classes IL is customary
for each man to have but one wife
1t must not be thought that those wives
that have been obtained by purchase are re-
garded as holding a disgracefu position.
Not at all. Custom again declares that
their position is an honorable and respect
able But these subordinate wives do
not hold high social position as the
first or head wife. and they frequently occu-
py a separate dwelling. They can also be
sold or given away.
All the princes and noblemen have large
harems. The late King had eighty-four
children. who were the offspring OF thirty
five mothers.
The present King is the father of an equal
~ large family.
DIVORCE METHODS.
Getting divorced is easier than getting
married. Divorce is procured merely by
mutual consent. The wife then returns 10
her parents. taking with her all the prop
erty she possessed at the time of her mar
riage. and also all that she may have since
acquired by gift. purchase. or trade. She
takes the first, third and fifth OF her chill
dren.
Some women are good tempered. gentle
and winning in their manners and make eN-
cellent wives and mothers. They would pos
sbly make very charming sweethearts
| also. did custom permit them 10 adopt such
| a role. As it is they never have the
supreme pleasure OF alternately torment
! ing and fondling the one 10 whom they Will
one day intrust their happiness and their
| lives.
Copyright. 1901