The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-07-26
WE'D BY PROXY IN EAST
When Women Are Married To Trees
Plants and Flower Pots

considered unlucky for a woman to be
third wife. When, therefore, mer-
chant of Badson, in the United Prov
inces, who had previously buried two
wives, proposed for the hand Of
young girl, he was persuaded by the
latters parents to first espouse a doll
as his third wife, SO that misfortune
should not fall upon their daughters
head. This he accordingly did, and,
having inferred his inanimate spouse
with much ponp, became for the fourth
time husband by marrying the wo.
man of his choice.
On the other hand, such marriages
are, in regions more remote. where
civilization as we know 1t has not
penetrated, considered serious affairs
and as such not to be lightly dissolved.
Tnfidelity has before now been pun.
ished with death, and in the noun.
famous districts around Dehlie wives
who have been untrue to their sc.
lected husbands. such as oak. fig or
other trees, have been burned alive.
At Nepaul, too, drastic punishment
has in more than one instance been
meted out to the faithless bride, whose
fate has been solitary and subter.
anean confinement in chains for
several weeks.
The husband usually selected ap-
pears to be the honeysuckle, and such
women as are true to the plant are
held In the highest honor. Every
spring when the fragrant honeysuckle
first puts forth It's petals, great feast,
accompanied by solemn religious cere-
monial, is held. At this wives of the
flower take high place and are treated
with the most profound respect, while
their constancy is held up as an ex-
ample to be followed by all the young
women of the district.
Flower pot marriages not infre-
quently take place in China. When a
young woman loses her fance by
death she sometimes vows to be true
to his memory, and to ratify her oath
goes through form OF marriage with
a flower pot
The ceremony over, she takes up
her residence with her dead lovers
parents, who are by custom obliged to
provide for her needs. Some while
since q marriage of this kind took
place at Sutshau. when Chinese lady
Of the upper class, on the death of
her husband, the son Of the Vice Chan.
eellor Of the Imperial Academy at Pc.
kin. espoused a red vase.
An equally singular and very Grew.
some matrimonial custom Also, pre,
walls in China in the marriage OF, the
dead. A year or 80 back q missionary
was summoned to read the burial ser.
vice over dead man. He might, had
he cared. have also assisted at a
wedding, for no sooner had he retired
than bride for the deceased, In the
corpse OF a young girl. was brought
upon the scene and solemnly united to
the dead body, with which 1t was al.
terward Inferred.
Such marriages, arranged that the
departed spirit may not wander about
cOmpanionless in the world of shades,
are. It is said. not uncommon In
Shansi, where the above strange rites
took place.
An equally uncanny nuptial cere.
mony was celebrated seven years back
at K0chi, Japan. A young couple were
engaged and the day appointed for the
wedding was at hand. when the girl,
for what reason Is not stated, commit.
ted suicide by drowning.
The intended husband was inconsol.
able at his loss and on his fiance's
body being recovered was readily per.
suaded by the deceased's parents to
fulhll the VOWS that he had sworn.
Friends and relations were summoned
and In their presence living brige.
groom was united to dead wife.
Strange was the marital substitute
accepted not long back at the marriage
OF European Government official and
native woman at Samarang. The
bridegroom was himself unable to be
present at the ceremony. which was
performed according to local rites. SO
he sent his hat, to which, as is per-
mitted by native law, the bride was
duly united