Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 137, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1919 — THE TROUSSEAU IN CHINA [ARTICLE]

THE TROUSSEAU IN CHINA

Mow It Figures When Plane Are Made for Marriage of Daughter of Family. When I was ten years ojd my serving woman made a mark here in the middle of my forehead. It was made with red face paint and had to be renewed every time/ I went outside the compound. That sign meant thnt I was old enough to become engaged, and that my parents would consider offers for me. Sooq after, an old woman came to see me. She made tny serving woman remove all my clothing. Then she looked me over. She made me thread a needle—rto test my eyes. She made me sew a seam —to try my skill. She looked at my teeth, and pinched my body all over —to see If I was healthy. Then she went away. One day. when I was twelve. I heard my mother talking about me—with the old woman who had been to see me before. They were talking about my clothing. The middle woman said I should have four pairs of silk trousers and three of cotton. I was also to have six white undergarments of cotton, and four linen for the hot A-eather. My outer garments were all to be of silk, and all must have embroidery about them. Two heavy garments were to be lined with silk, and padded with new cotton. These were to wear in the cold weather. They talked half a day about my trunks. The middle woman held out that I should have four, all covered with pigskin, but my mother was determined I should have only two. At last it was agreed that I should have three pig-skin trunks and two boxes covap£>d with plain cloth. ■ When they came to an agreement about anything a teacher wrote it down, so there would be no forgetting, after. He would read it over to them often and had to change the writing when one or the'others said they did not so understand. The middle woman grew very angry when they were talking about the bedding I should have, and left the court. A servant called her and she returned. All the while they were talking about me I felt most important, for I had never before had a value placed on me. Then I thought I had not understood my mother all my life. She had always treated me with unconcern, because I was not a boy, and now she was pointing out all. my good qualities and setting a value on each of them. Then they told me I was to be married. I was to marry a man I had never seen and they would not even tell me his name. I asked my mother if he might come to our court and play with me. She scolded me. He lived eight miles away, and could not come that distance just to see me. Silly child.—Asia Magazine.