Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 169, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1910 — Matchmaking of Japanese [ARTICLE]

Matchmaking of Japanese

Mr. Orlo Tamura, as we will call our young gentleman, is about twenty years old, an article in the Wide World says. He is an up-to-date Japanese, and has put off all thoughts of matrimony until this comparatively late date—for Japan—in order to finish his university studies. Now 3 however, he has finished his training, and has Intimated to his father, as a dutiful son should, that he would like to marry. That is all he is required to do, at present; it is the business of his parents to take the next step. Orio’s father, presumably, has some quiet talks with his wife on the subject, and then betakes himself to a professional matchmaker, or go-be-tween. These marriage brokers are a class apart—discreet men of the world, with a good deal of insight into human nature. For the sake of hie own reputation and future the go-between usually does his best to please all parties. Sometimes, in the east as in the west, love laughs at restraints, and somebody or other conveys a hint to the marriage broker that a meeting between Mr. A and Miss Z might not be unacceptable to both; in which case the task is easy. Usually, however, he takes time to look around him, and he in turn —how indispensable the ladies are in these

matters—consults his wife. At last, carefully considering the official and social position of the persons and families interested, he suggests that a certain Miss Chrysanthemum would make a most desirable bride for the “learned son of the honorable house of Tamura.” Once more Orio’s father consults his wife and sundry other relations, and, having no fault to find with the gobetween’s suggestion, instructs the latter to proceed. The marriage broker’s next step is to approach the parents of the young lady he has in view and arrange a formal appointment for mutual inspection—it is known as the "look-at-each-other meeting”—between the prospective bride and bridegroom at the house of the bride’s father, and in the presence of that gentleman and the go-between himself. The meeting usually takes the form of a conventional tea party, at which the prospective bride does the honors. It Is perhaps unnecessary to add that she does not wear the oldest clothes on this occasion. Here, for the first time in their. Hves, the young lady and Orio set eyes on each other. Etiquette forbids them to speak to each other, but nevertheless they are doubtless very busy taking “stock” of the other's appearance and manners.