The evening world., 1908-11-10

NpDNGREELNNR r cc'v~, "I TO I ms
upon marriage.
I Incidentally, WI told OF his own WOO
ing. for he was in a mellow morning
mood that followed midnight motor
ride from Lakewood, where he had
spent Sunday. and was ready to talk
/ about anything not politics.
This. after he had sermonized me on
! the folly Of meat eating, pointing out
! Mr.. Wing, The Chinese Consul who ac-
companed him, as an awful warning
of its effects. For Mr.. Wa is vege-
tartan. a disciple of MIR. Christian, who
is a food expert and believes with the
Bible that all flesh is grass-or should
be, If you eat it.
NebuchadnezZar. who Is recorded as
eating grass. was. l believe. the first
vegetarian, but Mr. Wa Is the latest
and most distinguished of the cult.
Marriage he said in his clear-cut.
marvellous English. is according to
our ancient customs too restricted in
| China. In this country it is perhaps
| too free. / believe in what you call a
happy medium.
Two Extremes in Wocirg.
In China 1t is not the custom for
man to see his wife before he marries
her. All arrangements are made with
the parents. Here it is almost the re-
verse The young man makes all ar
ransements with the young lady, and
perhaps then he meets her parents for
the first time. Don't you think" he
| inquired tentatively, lit would be better
If the girl said 10 her mother, I want
to marry such young man. Find out
Tor me If he drinks. if he has any bad
habits before engaging herself def
! nitely? For OF course the girl Is in love
| She cannot learn these things. She
would not see his faluts If they were
before her The mother has more wis.
dom
Il saw my wife before I was married
to her." Mr.. WI continued. at least
thought | saw her. | could not be
sure. In China we have what Is called
go-between. matchmaker. an old
lady who goes from one family to an
other When my marriage was sug.
gested / said 10 her: But I must see
the lady first. She replied that II was
not the custom. / said: I know that.
but try TO arrange il for me- You see"
Mr.. WI explained, naively, 81 did not
know whether the lady was dark or
light. little or big. smooth or pock-
marked.
Saw Her with Others.
after about six weeks and much
negotiation l was told that IL would
be in the window of a certain house the
lady who was to be my wife would pass
under 1t at a certain hour, was in the
window, and at the time named. The
lady passed. but she was one OF three
women walking together and all three
had big umbrellas over their heads.
thought the one in the middle was the
lady who was to become Nine WI,
but was not sure because | could not
see under the umbrella"
And you think we see too far under
the umbrella?' | Intercepted.
Minister WI smiled his assent.
Yes" he said, Il think one country
should learn from the other. The GUS
tom 7 speak of is dying out in China. In
the future Chinese men will insist on see
ing their wives before marriage. The
women, too, are changing. Since the re-
form movement we are educating girls
better, and with education they make
more claims, They want equality with
men. 1t Is just"
Wise Mr. WI! Not every man even in
this country reads the handwriting on
the wall so well, And his in Chinese
handwriting, at that.
But In America" he reverted. the
young people should consult their elders
They should make their own choice, but
they should benefit by the wisdom years
have brought their parents. Is it not SOP"
WI Turns Interviewer.
! acquiesced to Mr.. Wu's suggestion.
whereupon. having told me the story
Of his life, he began little catechism
concerning mine Turn about was fair
play. so l answered him.
Was | married? Why not? Had |
ever had any proposals? How many?
Finally he pronounced sentence.
Every one has just so many OPP
portunities-in business or in marriage
If you let them go by You will regret
ii. Why do you do SOP" Then his eye
.shted suddenly OIL HE bis brown owl
which adorned the front OF my nat.
WHAT is that blrd2" he asked
1T is The answer 10 your question
as TO marriage | rejoined lippantly.
1T is the owl-the bird OF wisdom"
Too old a bird for YOU" reioined
WI CALAMITY. Il thought perhaps IL
was Merry Widow. Why Merry
Widow" he cogitated Widows should
De sad am sorry for them"
80 l. every other man" ! retorted.
"rhat Is why they are merry"
But no Merry Widows need write 10
Mr. VA. though 4e a. soEty Tor lnenl.
this country Moreover. abe came nom