The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-09
An Eastern
Marriage Law
It Is Especially Adapted to
SailOrmen.
By DWIGHT NORWOOD.

7 By DWIGHT NORWOOD. 4
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Jack Haversham was sailor boy
back In the latter part Of the last CEN
fury. He was a lovable sort Of fellow
with a pair of mild blue eyes and an
engaging smile Moreover, there was
q lot Of strength In his muscles. OF the
value of which he was unconscious.
Such men are attractive to women.
and Jack was especially so.
One fine morning while his ship, the
Albania of New York. was at anchor
in the harbor of Tokyo Haversham set
out from the shore a member Of a lib
erty party. They all made for 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 entertain
ment of those who frequent them,
The sailors spent some time In this
manner, finally breaking into small
groups of two or three with a 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
is. 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 ad-
miringly on the geisha girl Thinking
there was Il chance to make fee. he
approached the sailor He knew that
Jack was either British or American
and that he would not understand
the Japanese language. But he knew
enough Of the English tongue to make
himself understood. He remarked
upOn the beauty Of the geisha girl. her
grace. her mellihuOus voice. then be-
gan to extOI her many virtues. Jack
listened to him. wondering what might
b. the cause of the mans interest In
her and why he praised her to him.
The reason came out when the broker
asked Jack If he would like to marry
her.
While Jack had no intention of mar
rying any one, ne was not averse to
pursuing the subject SO far as 1t per-
tanned to the pretty geisha girl. he
asked the broker whether he thought
she would like to marry him. to which
the broker responded that he did not
know. but he would undertake for a
cOnsider,l ton 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
1t was arranged that the sailor, whose
leave ended that night ut y O'Clock,
should remain in Tokyo, taking what
punishment would be meted out to him
when he returned to his ship. The in
PRODUCTION to Apple Blossom took place,
and Jacks return to his ship was de
layed so long that she sailed without
him.
Whether 1t was the persuasive elO
quence of the broker or the affection
of the young couple, which grew by
bounds. 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 a 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 1t q marriage portion that wOult
remain In the family. So 1t did-in the
wife's family. for Jack was informed
that In the marriage by which he hat
been tied to Apple Blossom fund wal
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 fu
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 b.
would not be expected to take care o.
them any further or be bothered will
them In any way. He had enough mon
ey over to last him two weeks. and b.
gave himself up to the sweets OF In
cipient matrimony.
When his money was gone, Jack real
izing that there was no way for him T.
make living in Japan-or on liant
anywhere for that matter was oblige,
to return to the sea. His bride as wei
as he bewailed the situation. but Their
was nothiAg else to be done. So b
signed with an American ship tradin
between the east and the west anC
bidding adieu to his Apple Blossom
sailed away to be gone the greater par
Of a year at least and possibly indef
nitely.
lt has been said that a sailor has
sweetheart in every port. Jack Ha'
ersham had a wife In Tokyo, and
was not long before temptation cam
TO have another In his native couI