Year: 1879

In q country village near Nanking
lived two men named Chen and Iu.
Iu had Il daughter who was formally
betrothed to Chen's son, aud, probably
on account OF her PARENTS poverty, was
sent to her future tather-in-laW's house
to be brought up there. After u time
Iu, who is d weaver, went to live Ill
Marking, and his daughter came to pay
u visit to her mother. The girl, who


was now grown up, was very dlscOn-
tented with her lot, complaining Of
having to work in the fields, and of her
father-in laws roughuess and coarse


ness and her parents began to repent
Of the engagement and determined to
was IL scholar named Chin, who was
waiting for the next examinations, and
occupying himself meanwhile as IL
schoolmaster. Constantly seeing the


girl, he took a fancy to her, and formed
an intrigue with her.


The future father-inl law, Chen, find
ing the girl was not sent back to his
house, and hearing a rumor of Chin S
attentions, began to suspect that \ Il


was trying to break off the match, and
sent matchmaker to hurry on the
marriage. Yu replied that lie had
never accepted any betrothal presents,
and that no one could make him take


them, and that he would not give his
consent to the marriage. Chen then


went himself with the match maker,
but with no further result than a great
deal of mutual abuse. Chen next filed
a petition i'll the magistrates court, and
lu presented a counter petition, writ


ten for him by Chin. The case came
On for hearing, and the magistrate soon
elected the truth. After rating Yu
soundly, he tarned to Chen and said +:
You can take the girl or not, as you
like, but strongly advise you not to.''
Chen persisted in having her, and the
magistrate ordered the two parties to
draw up formal contract. Chin, who


was present In court, motiOned to Yu
not to sign the contract. He was de-
tected, however, by the magistrate in


SO doing, and was called up and ques-
toned and then cautioned that a man
in his position should not mix himself
up in a case Of this sort. The magis-
trate then looked up the almanac and
chose a lucky day in June for the we'd
ding day, Whereupon Chin stepped for
ward and in 1u's behalf begged that
the marriage might be held in the au-
tumn. This interference thoroughly
exaspeTated the magistrate, who
thumped the table and ordered Chin to


be kept in: confinement till after the


marriage was completed. In a few
days time the matchmaker presented
herself at Yu's house with the custom
airy presents. When she was we'll in
side, the door was closed, and father
and daughter fell upon ber and beat


her horribly.


Ihe woman, after this foretaste, not
knowing what would happen on the
real wedding day, appealed to the
magistrate, who again called I'D the
parties. 1u could only allege in ex-
cuse that the son-in-law had not come
in person TO the house. Chen said that
the, custom was given up in the country,
and besides, his son had not the money
to buy proper dress for the occasion.
The magistrate replied that the bride
groom should certainly go to the house,
and. as he was poor, the ma1istrate
would give him the money Tor the
dress. Moreover, when the day came,
the magistrate said he would send two
policemen with the bridegroom, and if
there was any trouble the girl should


be carried to the magistrates Yamen
and married there. When the day
came the policemen escorted the party
to the brides house and then back TO
the bridegroom's, and waited till the
marriage ceremony had actually been
performed, when they retired.