Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-22
CHINESE WEDDING RECEPTION
How an Important social Function
Among the wealthy is Pulled
on In China.

and circumstance which attend the we'd
ding ceremonies of "a wealthy Chinese gem
tleman. and therefore the invited guests
at the wedding of the son OF Lau Chu PAX
participated in a unique festival and en-
joyed an experience which was all tho
more interesting because of its rarity. The
grounds were decorated for the occasion and
the interior OF the Ardmore was lavshly
embellished. In the early morning, from
: till 10 a. m. Chinese friends of Mr.. Lau Chu
PAX called and offered their congratula-
tons. From noon till 4 O'Clock the Eu-
ro2oans were received and there was
very representative gathering Of the Civil
Service and Government departments and
of the mercantile community at Mr.. Lau
Chu Pak's residence.
Mr. Lau Chu PAX. attired in mandarin's
dress with feather and crystal button. per
sonally received the guests as they arrived,
and introduced them to his son, Mr.. Bau
Wing Ching the bridcgroom-elect. who also
appeared in the costume of an official but
was distinguished by the red scarf which
was CROSSED like a ribbon on his breast.
while his headgcar was a fancy arrange
ment in scarlet.
The approach Of visitors was heralded by
fanfare OF drums and Chinese horns
which made people, oven those accustomed
to the blaze OF public opinion. vince in
embarrassment. The musicians seemed TO
divine a gust. for almost before he APP
peared at the entrance TO "Ardmore'
they struck up the high and shrill sounds
which set everyone on the qui vlve. Indeed
one OF the delights of tho function was
found in watching how different guests
attempted TO disguise their embarrass-
ment when they found themselves sud
denly on the stage. as it were. Before l
o'clock the drawing room was crowded with
people. and the weather being beautiful. an
adjournment made to the garden.
where seats and tables were laid out. and
the health of the bride and bridegroom
toasted. Facing the garden were num-
Der of scrolls bearing Chinese characters
all uniting ip wishing the bridegroom
good luck.
In the drawing room the guests were
introduced to Mrs. Iau and the ladies OF
the family. Mrs. Lau insisted that thu
male section should quaf a glass Of wins
with her in honor of her sons marriage
and there was a right royal response TO
the invitation. Indeed. nothing was left
undone to entertain the European visitors
and II is safe to say that a good many of
those present learned. for the first time
what Chinese hospitality really means,
and how a Chinese gentleman does honor
to his friends. There was an abundance
of refreshments, and to show how the
comfort OF the visitors was considered IL
may be mentioned that there were two
drawing rooms, one where the gentlemen
could smoke at their case, and another, a
beautifully decorated apartment, where the
ladies assembled and chatted with the host
and hostess
The walls OF the womens room were
hung with embroidered mathematical scenes
One banner, which was a present to thu
bridegroom from the scholars of the Ellis
Kadoorie school, of which Mr.. Iau Chu PAX
! is president. bore n pictorial design of four
! generations of males. The senior was rep
resented holding a pomegranate while be-
! hind the males was a Chinese woman tho
whole scheme being an illustration of tho
bliss and happiness which attend a con-
| tented mind and happy married life The
names of the donors of the banner were in
| scribed in letters of gold
| Allegorical scenes, which appeal so
| strongly to the Chinese mind, were on every
side. and many of the guests spent profit
/ able day In examining the designs and
| calculating their meaning The Chinese
present, when they were not catering to the
| wants of the Europeans. were engaged in
telling the stories which these allegories
| represented.
! many lnCluentS occurred dur
ing the reception. At one stage three little
girls mounted on white palfreys rode into
the grounds of the house and presented
gifts to the bridegroom They were am
bassadors from the bride, who thus made
propitiatory offerings TO her future lord and
master. II is usually said and believed
that the bride does not see her future hus-
band until the wedding ceremonies are COM
pleted, but that is very much a myth so far
as the educated class in Hong Kong are con-
cerned.
In the course OF the afternoon q Roat
gaudly dressed with scarlet ribbons was
led out OF the grounds and sent to the
brides house. The goat represented the
bridegroom, which may seem funny from
the western point of view. It appears that
in former days the bridegroom was ex-
pected to go to the house of the bride in
propria persona, but the duties of a bride
groom are so onerous and fatiguing that a
substitute was found In a goat. Later in
the day the bridegroom himself went to
greet his bride. accompanied by an i'm
mense paraphernalia of ornamental sedan
chairs, banners, gongs. horns and drums
Shortly before O'Clock the fireworks were
set OFF, and the ears OF those present were
cracking with the din long ere the pyro-
technc display had finished. Then the
bridal procession was formed and paraded
round the grounds that the guests might
inspect the varied exhibits.
This only the first day OF the mar
riage ceremonies Mr.. Lau Chu PAX and his
son had been busy receiving guests, running
hither and thlther In order that none might
be overlooked, from o'clock in the morn
ing; It was now o'clock in the evening and
they started on their travels TO the brides
residence. There was a big dinner to at
tend in the evening, and there were two
more days OF these festivities.
In the evening the majority of the guests
who had been present I'm the afternoon sat
down 70 a real Chinese dinner In one OF the
fashionable Chinese restaurants In the city.
Everything that one has heard and read OF
as constituting Chinese fare was 10 be
found on the menu.-IIong Kong Telegraph.
IL Took Him Aback.