Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-08-22
Combination Of Occidental and
Oriental Customs. (
Features Of the Ceremony Copied From
the American Form-Men Dress
In Frock Coats and a Scarlet
Veil for Bride.


Veil for Bride.
A few days ago 1t was my good ror,
tune to be guest at a wedding tho
chief participants In which were a
young Cantonese man and woman ~
the more progressive type. The cer..
nony was not Christian one. ve,
many features were closely copied
i-om the American form. says a writer
ia Friend.
The young bridegroom was at one
time student in the United States
and is now aide-de-camp to the gov.
erLor general Of the province of Krong.
tung. His father was formerly Chinese
minister to Cuba, and later member
Of the bureau Of foreign affairs in
Picking. Both parents Of the bride.
groom speak English and Spanish flu.
ertly, in addition to their native
tongue. "
When I reached the house at about
2:3c p. m. there was already large
company OF guests present The walls
were Eayiy decked with scarlet fes
toons aud scrolls, on which golden
characters described the suspicious
event. and everywhere the word for
happiness vas displayed in gilt. Fes.
toons OF orarSe buds were strung from
wall to wall, and each guest wore a
gilt medal-soCsenir Of the occasion
fastened by a Scarlet ribbon to his
coat. .g
The guests were seated on both
sides of a central aisle, It the head Of
which small table was placed on a
raised platform. Before this table
and separated from each other by the
middle aisle stood bride and bride
groom with their backs to the audi.
ence.
The bride wore scarlet veil which
covered her entire person, but one
could easily detect the gorgeous wed.
ding dress beneath, made Of SCARLET
silk and deliberately embroidered in
thread Of genuine gold. The bride.
groom was dressed in conventional
frock coat and white vest.
Behind the bride and bridegroom
stood the IL ushers-six men and six
wonderland the six bridesmaids and
six groomsmen-24 in all. The men
were all dressed in frock coats, while
the young ladies wore light blue silk
dresses OF Chinese style. and their
hair was tied up In foreign fashion
with light blue ribbon, altogether max.
ing striking contrast to the gorgeous
costume Of the bride. Many Of the
girls had very beautiful faces.
One of the most pleasing features Of
the occasion was the music, which con-
sisted OF foreign airs beautifully play
ed on a piano by the sister Of the
groom. After several pieces had been
played the four guests Of honor ar
rived In sedan chairs and every one
arose as they walked up the center
aisle. These gentlemen were the GOV.
ernor general, the secretary OF war Tor
the province and the commissioners OF
foreign affairs and education, the last
being Christian. All were dressed
In frock coats. .st.5
The governor and secretary Of war
who acted as master of ceremony, sat
at the small table facing the young
couple and the audience. At the ends
of the table sat the two commission
ers. ,-
After a musical prelude, his exce'
lency, the governor. rose from MS
seat and addressing himself to 'ne
young couple, turning first to one anu
then to the other, spoke of the rela.
tions of man and wife, and pronounced
them marrilli:
He was followed by the secretary u
war, whose short address was reao 'o'
him by a secretary. The two commls
sioners, who were designated as tne
witnesses, then arose and IN turn Az
dressed the bride and bridegroom
Finally all four. together with the oF'o'
and groom, signed the marriage Ger
tificate and drank from four silver sou.
let's OF wine. The ring ceremony wac
then performed-bride and orioesfoo~
exchanging rings. -,
A hymn, Onward, Christian eo'
diers." was sung by the bridesmaids
then the formal greeting between or'oe
and bridegroom-not kiss, out wv,
ine three times. Then, turning aroulu
and facing the audience, standing s'a y
by side, the young couple bowed y
the guests and walked down the a.s =.
between the guests, bowling as LUCY =,
went They were followed by Two =,
the bridesmaids. They then returneu
to their former position. After 'n's
number of short declarations WEI
read and a sort of benedictlon pv
nounced. Another hymn was sua 10
and the guests we're invited ln.o 80 -
adjoining room to us-+ake OF some ,.s
Old China is being transformer m ,n~
a new and progressive country ,, t
customs and manners of the ocI ,uers
are creeping into the land, out al osahv
with Oriental notifications ~ns ausa
their foreign features are '
down.
h>.A.NaAnneSV,