Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-02-25
An Eastern
Marriage Law
1t Is Especially Adapted to
SailOrmen.
By DWIGHT NORWOOD.

Jack HayerSham was a sailor boT
back in the latter part of the last cen
fury. He was lovable sort of fellow
with pair of mild blue eyes and an
engaging smile. Moreover, there was
n lot of strength in his muscles. of tx
Such men are attractive to Nolli,i..
and Jack was especially so.
One fine morning while his ship, to
Albania of New York, was at anchor
In the harbor of Tokyo Haversham set
out from the shore member of IL liD-
erty party. They all made for a tea
house where tea is but small part OF
the entertainment. In these houses are
young girls who have been educated
to dance and sing for the enterta II
ment of those who frequent them,
The sailors spent some time in this
manner, finally breaking into small
groups of two or three with view to
seeing other sights.
Jack Haversham was finally left alone
In the tea house. One of the girls had
noticed the stalwart sailor, and the
sailor had noticed the girl. Words are
not needed to express admiration. In
deed, they are not to be compared for
the purpose to looks. While the geisha
girl was dancing and singing her liquid
eyes were occasionally thrown toward
Jack, and, as for Jacks eyes, they
never left the geisha girl.
Other persons came and went, but
Jack did not move on. However, his
remaining where he was so long was
not remarked upon. The place was a
public one, and the more persons and
the longer they stayed the better-that
A., SO long as they spent money.
Japan is full of marriage brokers.
who make living by uniting couples.
One of these brokers was in the tea
house and noticed Jacks eyes bent adj
miringly on the geisha girl. Thinking
there was chance to make fee. he
approached the sailor. He knew thai
Jack was either British or American
and that he would not un6elstan,
the japanese language But he knew
enough of the English tongue to MAX,
himself understood. He rema lleti
upon the beauty of the geisla gi.l. he
grace. her mellitluous voire. then lie
gan to eXtol her many virtues. Jac!
listened to him, wondering what mi. Ii
be the cause of the mans interest III
her and why he praised her to lin
The reason came out when the broke
asked Jack if he would like to nla.l's
her.
While Jack had no intention of mar
rying any one, he was not averse To
pursuing the subject so far as it p, 7
tanned to the pretty geisha gill. ii
asked the broker whether he thou
she would like to marry him. to which
the broker responded that he did 10,
know, but he would undertake for Il
consideration to discover whether she
would or not
Jack consented to an introduction to
the girl, whose name translated from
the Japanese was Apple Blossom. So
It was arranged that the sailor. who's.
zeave ended that night mt 8 o'clock.
should remain in Tokyo. taking VIA,
punishment would be meted out to HIM
when he returned to his ship. The i'll.
PRODUCTION to Apple Blossom took place.
and Jacks return to his ship was de
aayed SO long that she sailed without
him.
Whether it was the persuasive elo-
Quence of the broker or the affection
of the young couple, which grew by
bounds, a contract of marriage was
drawn up by the broker and signed by
the sailor and the geisha girl. Then
Jack was called upon to make pay
ment. When he had come ashore he
had brought all his wages during q
long voyage, expecting to spend then
on the liberty party. But his meeting
with Apple Blossom had turned hin
into different channel from his ship
mates. and he had spent very little
So he produced the money, consider
ing it Il marriage portion that woult
remain in the family. So it did-in the
wife's family, for Jack was Informed
that in the marriage by which he hat
been tied to Apple Blossom a fund wa'
required by the groom, which was pait
to the parents of the bride.
This was unwelcome news to Jack
who so far as he had looked into the flu
ture expected that this money would
at least last him through the honey
moon. However, the amount required
for his father and mother in law wa.
not large, and he was assured that hi
would not be expected to take care Of
them any further or be bothered will
them in any way. He had enough mon
ey over to last him two weeks, and hi
gave himself up to the sweets of in
cipicnt matrimony.
When his money was gone, Jack real
izing that there was no way for him to
make living in Japan-or on lant
anywhere for that matter-was obliged
to return to the sea. His bride as vel
as he bewailed the situation, but there
was nothing else to be done. So he