Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-03
ENFORCED WEDDINGS
STIR YOUTH OF CHINA
Educated of Both Sexes Revolving
Against Custom of
Ages.
Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Daily News

SHANGHAI, February 2.-when a
Chinese was dissatisfied with his
clustered wife in the old days. he
either committed suicide or added
more wives to his family.
Under the old style which saved
China from race suicide for ages. par
ents arranged the marriages and the
two principals might never see each
other until the day of the wedding,
even though they were betrothed In
childhood. Naturally adult. tastes
changed and plural marriages and
concubines were the accompaniment
of such system. The first marriage
was a business or family affair, the
important social unit in China.
The first wife was the head of the
home-at least, after her mother-in-
head of the next family generation
though all the other children of addi-
tional wives or concubineS were legal
heirs. The first Wife handled the
family purse and doled out tie pocket
money to the entire encourage. 1t
was rather hard on the wives and
widows. as the best they could 'ex-
pect was a family monument after
they died.
Informed of Marriage.
Mr.. Kao Ran-yung, once of Colum-
bia University and now a banker in
Shanghai. recently was informed by
his prosperous but old-fashioned ia
Kwai-ying, daughter. of another
prominent Chinese merchant. Mr.
Kao knew Miss Kwai, in fact, had
been quite intimate and fond Of her
but the marriage was news to him
He had selected another, preferable
fnr narSnna1 and financial He
insisted that he had never been mar
ried.
His father declared he had been,
that the wedding had been held, the
bride was there. the families were
there and the trif1ing fact that the
bridegroom was not present did not
matter in the least. 1t might not
according to Chinese customs. but
young Mr.. Kao. late of Columbia,
hired himself an American lawyer
though Chinese banker might rate
at least three.
One Ellis Himself.
Wang Teh-hsu, a twenty-one year
old student in the Chin Chow-fu mid
die school, was more old-fashloned:
To insure success he first poured
kerosene over his clothes, set hre
to the schoolrdom. stood on a chair
over the blaze, fastened a rope IRON
MS HSCh " Z" 1870
scatter my ashes in the Chin
Chow river in different directions
so my ghost cannot return TO my
hated home" he requested IN q note
to the school master, apologizlng lot
II was married to you by order OF
NV parents without my consent or
anproyaI. and our married llfe TOT
four years has always been misery
and quarrel" he wrote to the WIDOW.
you have insulted and ill-treated me
.Ien in the presence of relatives and
" hereby divorce you with my own
autograph letter." he concluded, mind
full Of the status of divorced WIDOWS
Girl Makes Protest.
In Picking Miss Chang Chin-yin
eighteen, and emancipated TO hlsh
school grade, has published news
paper advertisement notifying reia-
lives, friends and the public that 81
IS not betrothed. Miss Chang ex-
plains that the engea.ent was mace
when she was an infant; that ner
wishes were not consulted and tnat
she never has consented TO 1t. Being
a, high school student, obviously she
has acquired different views OF the
ma iesty of the sterner sex than those
in picture books or amahs stores IN
the secluion Of Sthe family yamen. II
heIps to explain why old China disap-
proves Of co-education, also OF chris
tianity.
of Chinese girls refuse to obey tne
parental mandate regarding a nus
band. In families of the gentry OF
wealthy almost invariably 1T means
that the girl, educated and WIZ
courage above that Of her sisters, IL
disowned and turned out of the fam
ily home. In the minds of her par.
ents, brothers and sisters she nj
longer exists and all others mus
ostracize her If they care to con
tinue as friends Of the family. Chi.
nese families do not tolerate dis
obedient mend ers. especially daugh
sers. They 1fst cease to be In thu
family.
Family Swallows Pride.
One unusually talented girl. VIII,
had this experience in Shanghai sew
oral years ago. managed to survive
Foreign friends secured work for he.
on an English newspaper. She sup
ported herself and in due time ad
vanced and she went to work for ,
bank and eventually was placed II
charge of a Chinese woman's depart
This was tso much for the family
Pride in such 6 marvellous daughter was
greater than the modification Of having
a disobedient daughter and the family
took her back. even swallowing 1t:
pride again when she married a mar
of her own Choice.
Such cases sare not numerous. Few
have the capsbility or courage to with.
stand the silent invisible pressure Of
age-old Chinese custom and even fewer
have the loysl friends to help them II