The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-03-05
LAPS CHOOSE
 THEIR BRIDES
 FROM PICTURES


 In an interview with K. Karzaki. general secretary of the Japanese Association of America, a represen- tative of the Christian Science Monf- tor, obtained the Oriental viewpoint of the picture bride" episode.
 By a recent act of the Japanese government the so-called picture marriage'' has been abolished and one naturally desires to know just what is meant by picture marriage"
 According to MT. Kanzaki this cus- tum did not originate with the Japan csc, but was practiced by the English missionaries in India as long as 30 years ago.
 Those missionaries who were sta toned in India for a long period Of time, and who desired to become mar ried, pursued their courtship v'th English girls by the exchange of pno- tographs and the resultant marriage was sanctioned both by the state and by the church.
 Japanese men have immigrated to America in far greater numbers than Japanese women. and since the Japan ese have always been inclined to marry and settle down, some provi- sion had to be made to meet this in- clination. Harking pack to the ex- ample of the English missionaries in India, the Japanese adopted the cus- tom of the 'picture marriage"
 When a Japanese man, living in America, desired to marry, and was prevented by various reasons from returning to Japan, he wrote to his parents or nearest relatives. stating his case.
 q iG otss fo11 a 11cTJal g. toms and rules, would then make ef- forts to select a suitable bride for their son. In making this selection, the prospective 'in-Iaws'' spared no pains in studying the character, housewifely qualities, capabilities and eligibility of the girl, as well as in vestigating her relations
 Probably two or three selections would be made, and if, on investiga- ton, these girls seen. ed to stand the parental test, their photographs were secured and forwarded to the son in America, along with a detailed de- scription of what had been learned about the girls.
 The son, after perusing the picture and catalogued merits of the girls, would write to his parents, naming his choice. Then the parents would propose their sons marriage to the girls people, presenting his photograph along with the proposal. On the girls side every possible precaution would be taken as to the character of the young man himself, and his parents also.
 If these Investigations proved sat- isfactory, both to the parents and prospective bride and groom, the nup- tials would be performed at cefe- monial feast from which the groom would be absent, but which was at- tended by the bride and parents and relatives of both parties. The mar riage was then registered with the proper authorities. and has been re- garded as valid by both the American and Japanese governments.
 As soon as convenient, the bride crossed the ocean and was met by the groom, whereupon a secoI 1 marriage feast was held at which gathered the friends of the groom.
 According to MT. Kanzali, the ex- change of pictures was not an essen- tiaI condition of the marriage, but only minor phase of the ceremony.
 The number of picture brides in the seven years from 1912, when the custom first went into general prac- tice, to 1918, has averaged 65S per annum, with a decrease noted in each successive year. This decrease de- notes that the custom was not in- crcasing in popularity, but was rather in discord with the growing ideals of the Japanese themselves,