Oxford Democrat., 1915-02-23
;. An Eastern
!. Marriage Law
It Is Especially Adapted to
SailOrmen.
By DWIGHT NORWOOD.

tury. He was lovable sort OF fellow
with a pair Of mild blue eyes and an
engaging smile. Moreover, there was
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 q member Of lib
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 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 gelsha
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 a 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 melli1uous voice, then be-
gan to 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 If he would like to marry
her.
While Jack had no intention of mar.
rying any one. he 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 lie did not
know, but he would undertake for a
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. whose
leave ended that night at o 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 it was the persuasive elo'
quence Of the broker or the affection
of the young couple, which grew by
bounds, q 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 to spend them
on the liberty party. But his meeting
with Apple Blossom had turned him
into different channel from his ship
mates, and he had spent very little
So he produced the money, consider
Ing it a marriage portion that would
remain in the family. So 1t did-in the
wife's family, for Jack was Informed
that in the marriage by which he had
been tied to Apple Blossom a fund was
required by the groom, which was paid
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 Jaw was
not large. and he was assured that ne
would not be expected to 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
izing that there was no way for him TO
make a living in Japan-or on land
anywhere for that matter-was oDliged
to return to the sea. His bride as well
as he bewailed the situation. but there
was nothing else to be done. So he
signed with an American ship trading
between the east and the west and.
bidding adieu to his Apple Blossom,
sailed away to be gone the greater part
of q year at least and possibly indeh-
nitely.
It has been said that a sailor has
sweetheart in every port. Jack Hav-
ercbam had q wife In Tokyo. and 1t
was not long before temptation came
10 have another in his native ..Oun-
t1y. The truth is that for constancy
everything was against him. He was,
as has been said, especially attractive
to women and was constantly beset by
them. On returning to America the
crew Of the. vessel in which he had
sailed from Tokyo was discharged. and
Jack concluded to pay visit to bis
birthplace on Long Island before ship
ping again.
The day he arrived at home the first
person he met was Maggie Pixley.
whose complexion Of white and red
had been ripened under the sun and
sea breezes. Maggie noticed the hand.
some young sailor, and there was ad,
miration in her eyes. They had known
each other as children, but had great
ly changed since Jack when a boy OF
fourteen had gone to sea. But each
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