Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1902 — Marriage Is a Lottery. [ARTICLE]

Marriage Is a Lottery.

"Marriage is truly a lottery to the Chinese girl, for she knows not what she is getting until she is actually married,” writes Sui Sin Far, in the Ladles’ Home Journal. “Sometimes it is a kind, good husband, an amiable mother-in-law, and much comfort! sometimes it is a tyrant, a mother-in-law who is eternally scolding, and a life that Is a weariness to both flesh and spirit. The ceremonies of betrothal and marriage cause much, trouble and anxiety. The young man’s family begin the negotiations. They engage a go-between, to call on the girl’s family and tender a proposal of marriage. If the"young man is considered eligible by the girl’s parents they consult a fortune-teller, who decides whether betrothal would be proper, if his decision is favorable the go-between is given a card on which is marked the hour, day, month and year when the girl was born. This is delivered to -the young man’s family, who in their turn consult a fortuneteller. If he also pronounces favoramp a festival is held by both families, the betrothal contract is signed, and the bridegroom makes a present to the bride of a pair of bracelets, but neither he nor she is present. The betrothal, however, Is not considered binding until a pasteboard card has been interchanged by the families. The bridegroom’s family provide two of these cards, one having a gilt dragon on Its face, the other a gilt phoenix. The phoenix card is retained by the young man’s family as evidence of his engagement, while the dragon card is kept by the girl’s family. The betrothal is then complete.”