I. THE BETROTHAL. HINA, the land of contradictions, as we are wont to regard it, falls in line with all other Nations, in at least one particular, the importance which attaches there to the Mar

riage Ceremonial.

And elaborate and involved as are the customs relating thereto, those connected with "betrothal" are scarcely less so: therfore I shall describe both as minutely as I can.

It is true, I may not use as my excuse for so doing, the much quoted assertion that "all the world loves a lover" suggesting that all must be interested in my subject, for love or affection as we understand it, is an unknown factor in the Chinese marriage or betrothal. The preliminaries and in fact the whole affair are arranged between the parents of the

boy and girl.

These latter are not asked if they wish to get married or whether the intended partners are mutually agreeable. Opposition would be useless and is never attempted by the interested parties.

It is an ancient custom in China to betroth children of the tenderest ages, even two or three years. Mungtke the philosopher, who ranks next to the greatest in the Celestial Kingdom said: "To seek a wife for the newly born boy and to betroth a girl soon after her birth are prudent actions on the part of the parents." But very often this parental prudence turns out badly.

Frequently the family of the boy becomes impoverished and the well-brought-up girl is in consequence doomed to the life long sorrow of poverty.

ed. It could scarcely be otherwise for as a rule the parents of the betrothed do not know each. other.

What is perhaps more peculiar, the families are comparatively ignorant of each other's wealth and station, being apparently content to rely on the lying statements of the marriage broker who holds his office under sanction of the law.

the

I have often wondered that all goes with comparative smoothness; the girl may be and often is extremely ill favored and sickly boy poor and of undesirable connections, yet only occasionally do objections occur.

It happens sometimes that the groom objects because the bride is homely, or because their dispositions are incompatible, or which is more serious -- because the girl's feet are too large. Yet even in these cases, the son must obey his parents, marrying whom they will or relinquishing one who proves displeasing to them, even if she meet his own entire approbation.

Those upon whose consent the validity of the betrothal depends, are first the father and mother; if these are not living, the grandparents even to the fourth degree act in their place. Failing the latter, the affair is managed by the uncle on the fathers side or by his wife; is there no uncle, then the succession falls to the sister of the father - the older brother of the betrothed party - the older sister or the grandparents on the other side. In the absence of all these, other relations come in as may be determined. by custom. It is the rule that the nearest relative entitled to do so, invites some older member of the family who is also eligible; this one then puts his own name to the contract, standing in place of parents and is in case of any difficulty answerable for the arrangement.

The name of a woman does not appear upon the written contract, not even that of the mother, except at the marriage of a widow where the name of her mother in law is per

For the betrothal and wedding one of the so called marriage agents must be employed; most of these are women and they have usually not the best reputation, being held in contempt although regarded as instruments of fate. They lie and deceive most flagrantly.

A Chinese proverb says "Without lying, no man can carry out any suit or arrange any marriage."

I shall try to describe the national mode of procedure which is interesting because showing the Chinese as he is.

The Marriage agent (A) goes to the family (B) and says: "See your daughter is growing up, must you not be thinking of having her betrothed? I will secure for you an eligible party." B: "From what village is the boy?" A: "From your own, in the western part. He is well grown and about New Year he will go to school."

B: "Although we live in the same village; yet we have no intimate knowledge of his family: therefore we do not know how much land he has."

A: "I have informed myself upon that point, of course, from other people: according to current opinion they have 30 acres of good land everyone of which is worth 20 to 30 strings of money (five or six dollars). They also have a wagon, two oxen and a donkey, besides a cow; which has recently calved. Although the family are not rich neither are they badly off. As regards the buildings they have three Tjen

A: "All that you have said is not sufficient objection to the betrothal. As you know yourself: all married women have to suffer? One must be resigned to one's lot. Fate orders all things, man can do nothing against it,' says the proverb. When one thinks of this thing and that thing, nothing can be accomplished; so long as things are not unbearable, it is sufficient. Besides the daughters are just reasonable girls, not at all ill natured. The mother is good and according to my thinking not a woman who would abuse her daughter-in-law. But I will not take any responsibility upon myself, you can make your own inquiries. Talk it over with your husband. It is already late, I have to go to the next village toward the south, where I have a wedding to arrange. In the course of three or four days I will come again." B: "Do not go, it is too late, when you are here you are at home."

(A)remains for the night; in the morning she talks again about going, but (B) stops her and says: "You must eat something first, if you go without first eating something, it would not look well for me."

A: "I will dine with you on my return; I must go." (B) holds her back, and (A) remains with a flood of apologies. (It would seem that according to Chinese. customs, people like (A) get their living at the table of others.)

In the morning (A) goes

rectly to the house of (C).

particularly what the fortune teller has said in regard to the betrothal.

C: "He thinks it will do, the indications are favorable. There remains then only to name the day on which the contract shall be executed."

B: "Yes but there are too many children. The boy, of whom you speak, has yet four younger brothers, and two sisters: the youngest cannot walk yet, and the parents are just 40 years old. There will be little of the inheritance for each of the children. (In China the inheritance-land improvements are equally divided amongst the boys). Moreover the daughters are known to have bad dispositions. Wait until my husband comes home. We will talk the matter over together."

A: "The first half of the month is the best for that, to-day is the fourth; how would it be to settle it on the sixth? A fortune teller told me that the sixth was a lucky day. I will go to the family of the girl in order that they may have everything ready for the sixth."

C: "Now since the business is settled, you must not go away immediately, you must certainly dine with us, you have taken so much trouble on our account. We have not much in the house. Though indeed it is only three li (one mile) to the next market, but you are very busy and will not care if we do not stand on ceremony. Rest yourself a little upon the kiang (a bedstead built into the wall of the house). I

THE YOUNG COUPLE OFFERING THEIR HOMAGE TO THE PARENTS.

A: "Dont make anything extra; what is good enough for you is good enough for me." After eating she leaves, and three days afterwards she is again with the family of (B). She asks if (B) has yet discussed the matter with her husband.

B: "Yes! see if the betrothal can be brought about. If the family (D) of the boy agrees we are ready."

A: "Good, I will go to (D).” B: "Come back to dinner." Thereupon (A) goes to (D) and asks: "How old is your eldest? I think it is time to find a wife for him."

D: "Where is there one?"

A: "Here in the east side of your village at B's. The girl is neither pretty nor homely. She is, to be sure a little pockmarked but it does not show much on the face. Her feet are not very small, but again not very large, if you wish to have them smaller, I will tell her mother to bind them up tighter."

D: "We have more than 20 acres of land. For that we ought to have a pretty girl. But then if that one is industrious! What we look for in a daughter-in-law is that she should know how to turn the mill and how to handle fork, rake, broom and shovel upon the thrashing floor." A: "Then you will make a good catch in B's daughter, for she is a strong capable girl."

D: "Very well, it is late, let us dine." (A) makes the usual excuses, but remains nevertheless. And then (D) invites her to spend the night with them, and she accepts his invitation. The contract is soon drawn up.

The way in which the betrothal is carried out is regulated by law and custom. In the first place no espousal may be made between families of the same name; it would be void, as also any such marriage. Yet, people who do not interpret the law too strictly, often make betrothals between such families, providing that the male members of both do not trace their origin to one progenitor.

If another person takes the place of the one specified in the contract for instance, a sister in good health instead of an ailing one, it is considered a fraud; the marriage must take place between the persons first specified. If the person brought forward belongs to another family, then the espousal is also considered fraudulent.

Should the marriage with a substitute have been performed, the man may under these conditions, send the woman away. According to the Chinese law the marriage is unlawful if an old person (that is, more than double the age of the

The same thing happens if a sick man take the place of one in good health, the son of a concubine for the son of a legitimate wife, or an adopted child is presented as one's own.

All these facts must be made known beforehand. It is necessary for the solidity of a betrothal that both families agree to it. If a girl were already betrothed, then the new contracts would be void.

Should a father and mother living apart, have each betrothed one of their children, the contract first made is the lawful one, but if the wedding has already taken place then that is binding.

When both families agree to a betrothal, it is first necessary to call in the fortune teller, who casts the horoscop for the intended betrothed. This is done by the aid of the paze, that is the letters of the alphabet. The Chinese year is designated by means of two letters, so also every month, every day, and every hour. With eight letters the Chinese can denote the year, the month, the day and birth-hour of the couple. The fortune teller now compares these eight letters, first those of the boy, then those of the girl, with the five elements: He learns therefrom the lot of each. He sees further how the fortune of the future betrothed is related on the other: Metal will provide water, water wood, wood fire, fire earth, earth metal. Metal destroys wood, wood destroys earth, earth destroys water, water destroys fire, fire destroys metal. If the fortunes hold favorable relations to each other, then the fortune teller makes out a writing called the Huo-Such-T'ie, stating this fact. A lucky day is next named on which the interchange of betrothel cards (Chinese: Hia Hung Shu) shall take place. The lucky and unlucky days are set down in the imperial calendar (Huang Li), which appears yearly, and designates exactly the days bringing good fortune and those that bring evil, on which days it is lucky to sow, to plant trees, to build houses, to shave the head etc. The life of the Chinese and mercantile business are regulated by this superstitious non

sense.

The betrothal day is designated by the father of the bridegroom and he must notify the family of the bride in a special letter (Ding Zhin T'ie). When the day arrives, each family prepares a betrothal contract; if they cannot write they call in some one who can. Everybody responds gladly to this invitation, knowing that there will be a fine feast prepared. The marriage agent brings the contract to the house of the bride, together with the bride's gifts. These may have any value desired, but they must be designated at thei actual worth. Small articles, such as handkerchiefs etc. will not do as bridal gifts. If the bride dies, half her gifts are usually re