The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-03-04
An Eastern
Marriage Law
II Is Especially Adapted to
SailOrmen.
By DWIGHT NORWOOD.

with a pair Of mild blue eyes and an
engaging smile. Moreover. there was
a lot of strength In his muscles, OF the
value Of which he was unconscious.
Such men are attractive to women.
and Jack was especially 50.
One fine morning while his ship the
/ Albania OF New York. was nj anchor
IN the harbor of Tokyo Haversham set
out from the shore a member OF lib
erty party. They all made for a tea
house where tea l. but u 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 stnlwart 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. aud. ~ Tor Jacks eyes. they
never left the gcisha 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. aud the more persons and
the longer they stayed the better-that
Is, 50 long as they spent money.
Japan l. 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 gcisha girl. Thinking
there was u chance To make Zee, 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 20 make
himself understood. He remarked
upon the beauty of the geisha girl, her
grace. her meIllnuous voice. then be
gan 10 extol her many virtues. Jack
listened to him. wondering what might
be the cause OF the mans interest In
her and why he praised her TO him.
The reason came out when the broker
asked Jack II he would like to marry
her.
While Jack had no intention of mar
rying any one he was not averse to
pursuing the subject 80 far as IL per
tanned 10 the pretty gcisha girl He
asked the broker whether he thought
she would Ike to marry him. to which
the broker responded that he did not
know. but he would undertake for a
consldera 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
Il was arranged that the sailor, whose
leave ended that night at o'clock.
should remain In Tokyo. taking what
punishment would be melted out 10 him
when he returned TO his ship. The In
PRODUCTION TO Apple Blossom took place,
and Jacks return 10 his ship was de
layed so long that she sailed without
him.
Whether Il 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 a
long voyage. expecting 10 spend them
on the liberty party. But his meeting
with Apple Blossom had turned him
into a different channel from his ship
mates. and he had spent very little.
SO he produced the money. consider
ing II marriage portion that would
remain In the family. So II did-in the
wifes family. for Jack was Informed
that In the marriage by which he had
been tied 10 Apple Blossom a fund was
required by the groom. which was paid
10 the parents OF the bride.
This was unwelcome news To Jack,
who 80 far as he had looked into the fu-
ture expected that this money would
ct least last him through the honey
moon. However. the amount required
for his father and mother In law was
not large. and he was assured that he
would not be expected 10 take care OF
them any further or be bothered with
them In any way. He had enough mon
ey over TO last him two weeks, and he
gave himself up TO the sweets OF In
cipient matrimOny,
When his money was gone, Jack real
ixing that there was no way for him TO
make a living In Japan-or ON land
anywhere for that matter-was Obliged
10 return TO the sea. His bride as well
as he bewailed the situation. but there
was nothing else TO he done. SO he
signed with an American ship trading
between the east and the west and.
bidding sdieu TO his Apple Blossom.
sailed away to be- gone the greater part
OF a year at least and possibly inden-
nitely.
II has been said that a sailor has a
sweetheart In every port. Jack Hav-
ersham had a wife In Tokyo. and Il
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