Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 138, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1919 — THE TROUSSEAU IN CHINA [ARTICLE]

THE TROUSSEAU IN CHINA

Mow It Figure* When Plan* Are Mad* for Marriage of Daughter of Family. When I was ten years old my servtng.wdinan made a majrk th# middle of my forehead. It was made with red facie paint and had to be renewed every time 1 went outside the compound. That sign ifleant that I was old enough to become engaged, and that my parents would consider offers for me.- Soon after, an old woman came to see.me. She made my serving woman remove’hll. my clothing. Then she looked me over. She tpade me thread a needier—.to test my eyes. She ; made me sew a seam—to try my skill? She looked ’at m.f'teeth. and pinched'my body aH see |f i.was healthy. Then 6he~went-away. One day. when 1 was twelve. I heard my. mother talktag-about the—wttb- the old woman who had been to see me before. They were talking about my clothing.' The middle woman said I should have fqur pairs of silk trousers and three of cotton. I was hlso to have six white- pndergarrpents of -cotton, and four linen for the ’ hot weather. My outer garments were all to; be of silk, and ail must have embroidery- abouf 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 pig? skin, but my mother was determined ( should have only two. At last it was agreed that I should have three pig-skin - trunks' and two- boxes' covered with plain clotfirr' Witeur they came to an agreement about anything a teacher wrote it “down, so there would be no forgetting after. Hewould 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. AH’the while they” were talking about me I felt most import tant, 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 -L was not a boy, and now she was pointing out allmy 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.